Electrical installation requirements for hospitals, dental surgeries, clinics and other medical premises. Covers group 0/1/2 classification, medical IT systems, AFDD and RCD rules, and the SELV/PELV voltage modifications required by BS 7671:2018+A4:2026.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
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Section 710 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 covers electrical installations in medical locations — hospitals, dental surgeries, GP clinics, veterinary practices, ambulance stations and similar premises where patients receive examination or treatment using electrical equipment. The section sits within Part 7 (Special Installations or Locations) and applies in addition to the general requirements of Chapters 41-54.
Medical locations are classified into three groups based on the type of medical procedure performed and the consequences of an electrical supply interruption:
Annex A710 of BS 7671 provides informative guidance on allocating group numbers, but it is a guide only — Regulation 710.3 sets the actual classification rules. The risk classification must be made by the medical staff using the location, in consultation with the designer.
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Medical IT systems are isolating power supplies used in group 2 medical locations to supply life-support and similar critical equipment. The IT (isolé-terre) earthing arrangement keeps both live conductors isolated from earth, so a single insulation fault does not interrupt supply — critical for procedures where unexpected disconnection could endanger life.
Regulation 710.415 uses "shall not" — an absolute prohibition on additional protection by RCD on final circuits supplied by a medical IT system. The NOTE to Regulation 710.411.4.205 also advises that RCDs "should not" be provided for medical IT circuits (advisory language). Both point to the same outcome: RCDs on medical IT final circuits are non-compliant. If found during EICR, record as a C1/C2 observation and require remedial action.
BS 7671 Amendment 4 introduced wider AFDD (arc fault detection device) requirements across many installation types, but medical locations have specific prohibitions that override the general rules:
If during inspection an AFDD is found on a medical IT system circuit, the responsible person or installer must remove or disable it to comply with Regulation 710.421.1.7.101. The change must be recorded on the circuit documentation and the client informed.
Additional protection by RCDs is mandatory for final circuits in group 2 medical locations under Regulation 710.411.4.205(b). Sub-clause (a) also requires RCDs on circuits supplying group I medical equipment with a rated current not exceeding 32 A. Circuits rated above 32 A supplying group I equipment are not captured by sub-clause (a). The NOTE to Regulation 710.411.4.205 uses "should not" (advisory) for medical IT circuits — distinct from the absolute "shall not" prohibition in Regulation 710.415 for medical IT final circuits.
Where SELV or PELV circuits are used in medical locations of group 1 and group 2, BS 7671 modifies the standard extra-low voltage limits. Regulation 710.414.1.101 reduces the nominal voltage that may be applied to current-using equipment to:
Maximum 25 V AC RMS, or maximum 60 V ripple-free DC. These limits modify Regulations 419.2 and 419.3 and apply specifically to current-using equipment supplied from SELV/PELV circuits inside group 1 and group 2 medical locations.
Functional extra-low voltage (FELV) shall not be used as a method of protection against electric shock in medical locations, irrespective of the voltage value (Regulation 710.411.7). This is an absolute prohibition specific to medical locations.
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Where automatic disconnection of supply (ADS) cannot be achieved within the required times in group 1 or group 2 medical locations, Regulations 710.415.2 and 710.419.3 require that the conventional touch voltage Uc shall not exceed 25 V AC or 60 V DC. A supplementary protective equipotential bonding system installed in accordance with these regulations is deemed to meet this requirement.
If fault loop impedance measurements confirm that ADS disconnection times cannot be met in a group 1 or group 2 medical location, supplementary protective equipotential bonding is mandatory under Regulation 710.415.2. The bonding conductor resistance must be measured and recorded — it cannot be assumed from visual inspection alone.
Regulation 710.535.1.101 introduces a mandatory selectivity requirement specific to group 2 medical locations. Selectivity (discrimination) between overcurrent protective devices shall be required for any prospective overcurrent. In the event of a short-circuit on a final circuit, the incoming circuits of the upstream distribution board shall not be interrupted.
Selectivity for group 2 distribution boards must be considered at the design stage. Retrospective changes to achieve discrimination (replacing devices, adding current-limiting fuses, redesigning boards) are significantly more disruptive than designing for it from the outset. Check manufacturers’ co-ordination tables and record the evidence at verification.
Medical locations require additional inspection and test items beyond a standard EICR. Verification covers:
IET Guidance Note 3 recommends a maximum periodic inspection interval of 1 year for hospitals, and 3 years for surgeries and clinics. Group 2 locations supporting life-support equipment may require shorter intervals based on a risk assessment.
Practical sequence for an electrician or designer working on a hospital, dental surgery, clinic, or veterinary practice installation.
Before any design decision, agree the group number (0, 1, or 2) with the medical staff using the location. Document the classification — every subsequent protection decision depends on it. Refer to Regulation 710.3 and Annex A710.
Trace every final circuit in a group 2 location to determine whether it is supplied from a medical IT system or from a TN/TT system. Medical IT circuits have specific prohibitions (no RCDs, no AFDDs, L1/L2 marking required) that override general rules.
For group 2 final circuits NOT supplied by a medical IT system, install 30 mA RCDs (Type A minimum, not Type AC). For medical IT final circuits, do not install RCDs or AFDDs. Document the rationale on the circuit schedule.
In group 1 or group 2 locations, any SELV/PELV current-using equipment must be limited to 25 V AC RMS or 60 V ripple-free DC. Confirm equipment ratings against this limit before specifying.
For every distribution board supplying group 2 circuits, confirm full discrimination between final-circuit devices and upstream incoming protective devices (Regulation 710.535.1.101). Use manufacturers' co-ordination tables or time-current curves to demonstrate that a final-circuit short-circuit will not operate the incomer. Record the evidence — staged fault tests or documented analysis — in the O&M pack.
If fault loop impedance measurements confirm that ADS cannot achieve the required disconnection times in a group 1 or group 2 location, supplementary protective equipotential bonding must be installed per Regulation 710.415.2. Measure bonding conductor resistance and record in the Schedule of Test Results to meet Regulation 653.2.
Measure total leakage of the medical IT transformer plus all final circuits with no load. If above 10 mA, the installation does not meet Regulation 710.555.201 — locate the offending circuit and remediate before sign-off.
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