Body-protected vs cardiac-protected: what is the difference?

Both are classifications for patient areas under AS/NZS 3003. Body-protected is for rooms where equipment connects to the body: dental surgeries, treatment rooms, procedure rooms, imaging. Cardiac-protected is the higher level, for rooms where a direct electrical connection to the heart is possible: cardiac catheter labs, some operating theatres and intensive care areas.

Cardiac-protected areas need more: equipotential earthing of everything in the patient environment and, where required, isolated supplies with line isolation monitors, on top of what a body-protected area has. They are hospital territory. Almost every private practice room is body-protected.

The green sign shows which one a room is. The symbols are different, so if your sign shows the cardiac symbol in a dental surgery, something is wrong with the sign.