Over the last few years, UL has initiated important changes to the regulations associated with oxygen safety that impact nurse call accessories. Curbell Electronics has invested a great deal of time and resources to ensure that the nurse call accessories we manufacture continue to meet all oxygen safety compliance standards. In addition, many of our nurse call accessories have been tested with the OEM Nurse Call system to meet UL listing requirements. Most manufacturers in the marketplace cannot make this claim.
Because of the regulation changes, healthcare facilities have been struggling to understand oxygen safety regulations and labeling. It is because of this confusion that Curbell will be working to educate the market on what the oxygen safety standards are for pillow speakers and other nurse call accessories.
E-mail us if you'd like to request copies of our publication, "A Guide to Understanding Oxygen Safety (and how it relates to your nurse call accessories)".
Click Here to request additional information about Oxygen labeling relabeling.
Q. What does it mean when nurse call accessories like pillow speakers and call cords are called “Oxygen Safe”?
A. It means the pillow speakers and call cords have been tested for safety and no spark or fire will occur when the product is used as intended in an oxygen enriched atmosphere.
Q. How is an oxygen-enriched atmosphere defined?
A. Greater than 23.5% oxygen by volume (normal atmosphere is 21%).
Q. How do I know if the nurse call accessories in our facility are oxygen safe?
A. A pillow speaker or call cord that is safe for use in an oxygen enriched atmosphere should be labeled in one of two ways:
Q. What is UL?
A. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that was formed in 1894 to help ensure public safety by reducing injury, loss of life and property damage. To that end, UL scientifically investigates and tests thousands of types of products, materials, constructions and systems to evaluate electric, fire and casualty hazards; burglar resistance; or ability to detect, control or limit fires.
Q. If a pillow speaker or call cord is not labeled with a UL Listed mark, but is labeled with oxygen permissive language, how can I be sure these products are really oxygen safe?
A. A non-UL listed pillow speaker or call cord should only be labeled as safe-for-use in an oxygen enriched atmosphere if it complies with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 99 Standard for Healthcare Facilities, Section 10.2.9.3. Electrical Equipment in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres.
Q. For nurse call accessories, what testing has to be done to prove compliance with the NFPA 99 standard?29.45+150
A. According to Section 10.2.9.3 of the NFPA 99 Standard, there are four ways to prove compliance such that electrical equipment can be labeled oxygen-safe:
1. “Be listed for use in oxygen-enriched atmospheres.” (This requires listing to the UL 1069 Hospital Signaling and Nurse Call Equipment Standard.)
2. “Be sealed so as to prevent an oxygen-enriched atmosphere from reaching electrical components.” (This is not applicable to nurse call accessories.)
3. “Be ventilated so as to limit the oxygen concentration surrounding electrical components to below 23.5 percent by volume”. (This is not practical for nurse call accessories.)
4. “Have both of the following characteristics:”
a. “No hot surfaces over 300°C (573°F)…” (This can be tested.)
b. “No exposed switching or sparking points of electrical energy that fall to the right of the curve for the appropriate type of circuit…” (This can be tested by characterizing the electrical performance of the nurse call system while the accessory is plugged in.)
Q. When a nurse call accessory is labeled with the UL Listing mark, what besides oxygen safety has been tested?
A. The UL 1069 Hospital Signaling and Nurse Call Equipment standard requires a representative
sample of the nurse call pendant be tested by a UL certified lab. The required tests are:
• Drop
• Impact
• Humidity
• Temperature (of components when operated)
• Endurance
• Over/under voltage operation test
• Leakage current
• Static discharge
• Strain relief
• Normal operation (compatibility of accessory with the specific nurse call system)
• Current and voltage measurements
• Overload
• Variable ambient temperature
• Internally induced transients
• Dielectric voltage – withstand test
• Component failure
• Polymeric tests – aging and flame
Q. What is the difference between UL Listed to the 1069 standard and UL Recognized to the 1069 standard?
A. A product that is UL Recognized to the 1069 standard has not been tested for oxygen safety, and has not been tested for normal operation with the system it is intended to be used with. All other tests are performed.
Q. If a pillow speaker or call cord is labeled with a UL Recognized mark, is it oxygen-safe?
A. The UL Recognized mark does not ensure the product is oxygen safe. A UL Recognized nurse call accessory has not been tested with the nurse call system it is intended to be used with, nor has oxygen safety testing been completed.
Q. If a pillow speaker or call cord is labeled with a UL Recognized mark and oxygen permissive language, is it oxygen-safe?
A. No.
Q. If the words “UL Approved” appear on the packaging or labeling of a nurse call accessory, does that mean the product is UL Listed?
A. No. The product must be labeled with a UL Listed mark. The words “UL Approved” or “UL Certified” are not an indication of UL Listing or oxygen safety.
Q. What happens after UL 1069 testing is complete and UL authorizes a manufacturer to label the nurse call accessory as UL Listed?
A. Once the product earns the UL Mark, UL field representatives located nationwide make periodic, unannounced visits to each manufacturer's production facility to ensure products continue to meet UL requirements. A product must continue to meet safety requirements in order to bear the UL Mark. If a field representative determines that a product no longer complies, the UL Mark is removed and a product recall could be ordered.