2012 NFPA 99 – 4.1 Building System Categories

A4.1 – Four levels of system categories are defined in this code, based on the risks to patients and caregivers in the facilities. The categories are as follows:

1. Category 1: ;Systems are expected to work or be available at all times to support patient needs.
   
   
2. Category 2: ;Systems are expected to provide a high level of reliability; however, limited short duration of equipment downtime can be tolerated without significant impact on patient care. Category 2 systems support patient needs but are not critical for life support.
   
   
3. Category 3: ;Normal building system reliabilities are expected. Such systems support patient needs, but failure of such equipment would not immediately affect patient care. Such equipment is not critical for life support.
   
   
4. Category 4: ;Such systems have not impact on patient care and would not be noticeable to patients in the event of failure.

The category definitions apply to equipment operations and are not intended to consider intervention by caregivers or others. Potential examples of area/systems and their categories of risk follow. A risk assessment should be conducted to evaluate the risk to the patients, staff, and visitors.