Common questions
What is a body-protected electrical area?
A body-protected electrical area is a room wired so that a fault in a piece of medical equipment can’t pass dangerous current through the patient it is connected to. It is the classification used for most dental surgeries, GP treatment rooms, skin and cosmetic procedure rooms, and imaging rooms in Australia.
In practical terms: every outlet in the room on a sensitive 10 mA RCD, with the RCDs in the room; equipotential earthing where the classification needs it; the protected outlets identified; a green sign in the room; and a cleaners’ outlet on a separate circuit so cleaning gear never plugs into the protected ones. The requirements come from AS/NZS 3003.
The room is tested before it is used on patients, signed off the way the state requires, and tested at least every 12 months after that.
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More questions
- What does a new dental surgery need electrically?
- Do I need an electrician to move a dental chair?
- How often does a medical or dental room need electrical testing?
- What is the green sign in a dental surgery or treatment room?
- Can a GP consult room be used for ECGs?
- Who certifies the electrical work in a dental or medical fit-out?
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