K-Tag K920

Electrical Equipment – Power Cords and Extension Cords

This regulation establishes requirements for the use of power strips and extension cords in patient care settings, specifying UL standards for power strips based on their location and use (patient care vicinity vs. non-patient care rooms), restricting power strips in patient care vicinities to qualified-assembled movable patient-care-related electrical equipment (PCREE), and prohibiting extension cords as substitutes for fixed wiring. Facility operators must ensure all electrical equipment meets applicable NFPA 99 and NFPA 70 standards and that temporary extension cords are removed immediately after use.

K920 Electrical Equipment – Power Cords and Extension Cords 
Power strips in a patient care vicinity are only used for components of 
movable patient-care-related electrical equipment (PCREE) assembles that 
have been assembled by qualified personnel and meet the conditions of 
10.2.3.6. Power strips in the pat ient care vicinity may not be used for non-
PCREE (e.g., personal electronics), except in long-term care resident 
rooms that do not use PCREE. Power strips for PCREE meet UL 1363A or 
UL 60601-1. Power strips for non -PCREE in the patient care rooms 
(outside of vicinity) meet UL 1363. In non-patient care rooms, power strips 
meet other UL standards. All power strips are used with general 
precautions. Extension cords are not used as a substitute for fixed wiring of 
a structure. Extension cords used temporarily are removed immediately 
upon completion of the purpose for which it was installed and meets the 
conditions of 10.2.4. 
10.2.3.6 (NFPA 99), 10.2.4 (NFPA 99), 400-8 (NFPA 70), 590.3(D) (NFPA 
70), TIA 12-5 
Form CMS-2786R (07/2018) Page 43 

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