K920 is the most-cited electrical Life Safety Code tag in U.S. nursing homes. It covers how power strips (relocatable power taps) and extension cords are used. It is cited far more often than K921, the PCREE testing tag, and it is usually found on the same walk-through: the surveyor who checks the device inventory is also looking at what those devices are plugged into.
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Homes, Fire Safety Deficiencies and Provider Information (processed October 1, 2026), Life Safety Code surveys from October 2023 through September 2026. Scope and severity: 38% D (isolated), 45% E (pattern), 16% F (widespread).
What K920 requires
K920 asks whether power strips and extension cords are used the way NFPA 99 and NFPA 70 allow. In practice that means four things:
- Extension cords are temporary only. They can’t be used in place of fixed wiring.
- Power strips in the patient care vicinity must be listed for medical use (UL 1363A or UL 60601-1) when they power patient care-related electrical equipment. Outside the patient care vicinity, UL 1363 strips are acceptable.
- The CMS categorical waiver for power strips has conditions. Strips must be mounted or secured, not daisy-chained, not overloaded, and not used for heat-producing appliances. Facilities using the waiver must document that they follow it.
- Resident-owned items count. A strip or cord a family brings in is held to the same standard.
What surveyors find most often
| What surveyors find | Why it is cited | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Extension cord running a TV, fan or lamp in a resident room | Extension cords can’t substitute for fixed wiring | Remove it; add a receptacle or use a listed power tap where allowed |
| Household power strip powering a bed, oxygen concentrator or other medical device | Power taps in the patient care vicinity must be listed for medical use (UL 1363A or UL 60601-1) | Replace with a medical-grade relocatable power tap, or plug the device into the wall |
| Power strip plugged into another power strip (daisy-chaining) | Not permitted under the CMS waiver or NFPA 99 | Remove one strip; add a receptacle if the load needs it |
| Power strip on the floor or under the bed | Must be mounted or secured off the floor and away from fluids | Mount it to the bed frame or wall per the waiver conditions |
| Heat-producing appliance (space heater, coffee maker) on a power strip | High loads not permitted on relocatable power taps | Plug directly into a receptacle or remove the appliance |
| Resident-owned power strip brought from home | Same rules apply to resident-owned equipment | Check at admission; swap for a facility-approved strip |
Where K920 is cited most
K920 rates vary widely by state, which usually reflects how closely each state’s fire safety surveyors look at resident rooms. The highest rates were in Washington (84.5%), Kansas (71.3%), California (66.6%), Nebraska (60.0%). Check your state’s numbers in the electrical citations report.
How to correct a K920 citation
- Walk every resident room and common area the same day and remove or replace every cord and strip that doesn’t meet the rules. Use the free audit sheet below.
- Replace non-medical strips that power beds, concentrators, pumps or other patient care equipment with medical-grade power taps, or move the device to a wall receptacle.
- Add receptacles where a room needs more outlets than it has. Strips are not a long-term fix for a wiring shortage.
- Write the policy: what is allowed, who checks resident-owned items at admission, and how often rooms are audited.
- Train staff (nursing, housekeeping, maintenance) and keep the sign-in sheet.
- Audit and document weekly for a month, then monthly. Surveyors will ask to see it at the revisit.
The median facility corrected K920 in 30 days. 24.5% of facilities cited for K920 were cited for it again on a later survey, so the audit routine matters more than the one-time fix.
Free: Power Strip & Extension Cord Audit Sheet
A room-by-room walk-through sheet for K920. Print one per unit and keep the completed sheets for your revisit.
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K920 and PCREE testing go together
Medical devices plugged into a strip are still patient care-related electrical equipment, and each one needs documented ground resistance and leakage current testing under K921. A PCREE testing visit is a good time to check the strips too: the technician sees every device and what it is plugged into. See power strips in resident rooms and what a K921 citation means.
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About the Author
PCREE Test Editorial Team
Content reviewed by biomedical professionals with experience in patient care electrical equipment testing, NFPA 99 compliance, and CMS Life Safety survey preparation for skilled nursing facilities.
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