Lasers in Surgery

Q: Are lasers in the operating room required to be on the LIM panel?

A: According to NFPA 99-2012, section 6.3.2.2.8 says wet procedure locations shall be provided with special protection against electric shock. It goes on to say ORs are wet procedure locations and says specifically that ORs defined as wet locations shall be protected by either Isolated Power Systems (i.e. LIM) or ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). So, you have the choice; LIM or GFCI, it must be one of them.

There is another option, though. Section 6.3.2.2.8.5 says in existing conditions, the requirements to have either LIM or GFCI shall not be required when a written inspection procedure is accepted by the AHJ, and it continues to describe the requirement for this inspection procedure. The problem with this option, is you need permission from all of your AHJs, not just one. So, you would need written permission to not have LIM or GFCI from:

• CMS

• Your accreditation organization

• State agency in charge of healthcare design & construction

• State fire marshal

• Local fire inspector

• Insurance company

It is not likely that you will receive written permission from all of the above AHJs, so I suggest you bite the bullet and get the laser on a GFCI or LIM protected circuit.