In the healthcare industry, it is crucial to ensure a safe, continuous, and dependable power supply to avoid any potential risks to patient, and hospital staff, safety. Traditional electrical systems, whilst effective in numerous applications, are not suitable for medical environments due to the increased vulnerability of patients.
Initially, continuity of supply in the event of an earth fault must be provided. Patients in hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, are often at higher risk from electric shock because of a reduction in body resistance due to a variety of medical conditions. Quite low currents, of the order of only a few milliamps (mA), can cause fatal electric shock. Therefore, provision must be made to mitigate these risks and provide protection against any possible electrical leakage currents. This reduces the risk of a shock hazard occurring, ensuring the protection of patients and hospital staff.
There may also be a risk from failure of the electrical supply, with potentially life threatening consequences. Areas where applied parts (i.e. electrical equipment in direct physical contact with the patient) and failure of the electrical supply may create a danger to the patient life are defined in BS 7671:2018 Medical Locations.
A secondary power supply is critical to ensuring that patient safety is maintained in the event of power failure. Even a momentary drop in power in the event of mains failure could have catastrophic consequences as it could result in the shutdown of medical devices, interruptions to critical operations, and risk to patient life… medical locations cannot afford to risk this!
Most hospitals and medical facilities have backup generators on-site, but in medical locations such as Group 2, further resilience is required.
In Group 2 medical locations:_
• An IT system must be used for the final circuits
• The system must be equipped with insulation monitoring
• In case of a fault or a failure of supply, a total loss of power in a Group 2 medical location shall be prevented
These requirements can be generally satisfied by installing a suitable Medical Isolated Power System (MIPS)
To address this issue, advanced technologies such as Medical Isolated Power Supply (MIPS) systems are used to enhance patient safety standards by providing an isolated power source for medical devices, minimizing electrical hazards, reducing the risk of electric shock and an uninterruptible power delivery system for mains electrical failures.
Understanding the Need for MIPS:
In conventional electrical setups, such as those found in homes or standard buildings, the earth is typically connected, establishing a live, neutral, and earth connection, commonly known as the TNS electrical installation in the UK. However, in medical environments, especially those catering to critically ill patients, electrical faults present significantly higher risks of shock.
Therefore, to enhance patient safety, the BPC MIPS solution introduces an IT configuration away from the traditional TNS arrangement that eliminates the presence of neutral wire and disconnects earth. This technical adjustment is aimed at minimizing the risk of electrical shocks and represents a strategic move towards a paradigm shift in earthing arrangements in order to ensure patient safety by minimising the risk of electrical shocks.
Understanding the Need for MIPS in Meeting Government Regulations:
In the medical domain, adherence to stringent regulations and standards is non-negotiable.
The Health Technical Memorandum 06-02 (HTM 06-02) is the UK national standard used for electrical installations and wiring safety, providing crucial guidance to duty holders (healthcare managers, electrical safety groups, design, and operation managers to name a few), detailing the precautions necessary to mitigate the risk of death and personal injury.
Healthcare establishments, governed by these regulations, are required to provide as much resilience as possible, as medical electrical systems pose a significant risk to patient safety due to the possibility of inadvertent contact with live wires. Additionally, medical environments are incorporated in Part 7 (Section 710) of BS 7671 18th edition regulations as it works in conjunction with the HTM 06-02 guidance and so, installations must adhere to both.
BPC MIPS is designed and engineered in strict accordance with industry benchmarks such as the HTM06 standard and BS7671 18th edition, providing a robust electrical system that mitigates electrical medical risks and allows medical facilities to uphold the highest standards of care.
The Role of MIPS in Patient Safety:
The fundamental objective of MIPS is clear: to safeguard patients from electrical hazards in medical settings. Unlike standard electrical systems, where accidental contact with a live wire could result in potentially life-threatening shocks, MIPS employs a sophisticated insulation monitoring mechanism that prevents the flow of electric current to patients. This proactive approach drastically reduces the likelihood of electrical accidents, ensuring a safer environment for patients and healthcare professionals alike.
That is why BPC ensures our medical IPS solutions feature a supply switch that increases resilience and monitoring and alarm circuits that ensure continuous operation during normal and abnormal conditions. Our Medical Isolated Power Supplies are carefully designed for medical locations and with complete compliance to medical regulations and safety standards.
Most importantly, our MIPS solutions are designed to:
• Ensure patient safety,
• Reduce the risk of electrical shock hazards,
• Minimise tripping of breakers during earth faults.
How is BPC Taking the Lead in the Medical IPS Industry?
In a market characterized by its emphasis on patient safety and regulatory compliance, BPC Energy emerges as a beacon of innovation and reliability. Our MIPS solutions not only meet but exceed industry standards, offering unparalleled levels of safety and performance.
Here’s Why BPC Stands Out:
BPC Energy is a comprehensive solution provider. Unlike traditional suppliers, we offer both uninterruptible power supplies and medical IPS solutions, which are often sought after in conjunction with each other in medical facilities. Simply put, BPC provides the complete package. From UPS to MIPS, we offer a holistic approach to power management, ensuring seamless integration and performance across the board.
Additionally, BPC combines superior technology with competitive pricing, delivering exceptional value for money by eliminating the need for multiple suppliers, streamlining procurement processes and therefore, reducing operational costs.
Furthermore, our commitment to customer satisfaction extends beyond product delivery as we offer integrated monitoring and control systems, providing real-time insights and alerts to facilitate proactive maintenance and troubleshooting.
With BPC Energy, clients and key decision-makers enjoy the convenience of a one-stop solution for all their power management needs. From initial installation to ongoing maintenance, our dedicated team ensures uninterrupted support, keeping critical systems operational and patients safe.
Tailoring MIPS Solutions to Unique Requirements:
Recognising that every medical facility is unique, BPC offers customized MIPS solutions tailored to specific needs and requirements. Whether it’s a small clinic or a large hospital, our diverse range of options caters to facilities of all sizes and complexities. Recent projects have showcased our ability to deliver bespoke solutions that address specialized demands, including separate circuits and advanced insulation monitoring capabilities.
https://www.bpc-ups.com/products/medical-ips More information on Medical Isolated Power Supplies
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare technology, BPC Energy stands at the forefront of innovation, spearheading advancements in patient safety and electrical reliability. With our Medical Isolated Power Supply solutions, we’re not just safeguarding lives; we’re shaping the future of healthcare delivery, one resilient power system at a time.
