HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL

GAS AND VACUUM SYSTEMS

BY: STEPHEN CARL C. TABIAR
HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL GAS AND
VACUUM SYSTEMS

These systems are used in

hospitals to provide safe and
cost effective sources of
medical gases for clinical
applications.
HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL GAS
AND VACUUM SYSTEMS
COMMONLY USED MEDICAL GASES IN
HOSPITALS:

 •    Oxygen (O2)

•    Nitrous oxide (N2O)
•    Medical air 400 KPa or 4 bar (MA 4)
•    Medical air 700 KPa or 7 bar (MA 7)
•    Carbon dioxide (CO2)
•    Nitrogen (N2)
•    Medical vacuum
APPLICATION
OF HEALTH  Application is to special fixtures and systems in health
care facilities and to the special plumbing requirements
CARE AND of the said system. Different sectors such as medical

MEDICAL GAS gas and vacuum piping, sterilizers, aspirators and

medical gas waste disposal systems are some of the
VACUUM application of this system.

SYSTEMS
PARTS OF  Building Supply
 Pipe from the source of supply to a building or structure.
MEDICAL GAS  Critical Care Area

AND VACUUM  Special care units such as intensive care units, coronary
care units, cardiac catheterization, delivery rooms,

SYSTEMS FOR operating rooms and other units which are connected to
line operated, patient care related electrical appliances

MEDICAL  Manifold
 Device for connecting outlets of one or more gas
FACILITIES cylinders to the central piping system for the specific gas
  Medical Air
 Air which is supplied from cylinders, bulk containers, medical air
PARTS OF compressors or air which is reconstituted from oxygen USP.
According to the NFPA 99.3.3.106 and NFPA 5.1.3.5.1, medical

MEDICAL GAS
should be oil free, has dry nitrogen NF, must gave no detachable
hydrocarbons, have less than 25 ppm hydrocarbons and have equal
or less than 5 of permanent particulates which are sized 1 micron or
AND VACUUM larger at normal atmospheric pressure.
  Medical Gas

SYSTEMS FOR  Gas used in a medical facility including oxygen, nitrous oxide,
carbon dioxide, helium, medical air, and mixtures of these gases.
MEDICAL Standards of purity apply.
 Medical Gas System

FACILITIES - Complete system consisting of a central supply system ( manifold,

bulk, or compressors), including control
  Patient Care Area
 Any portion of a healthcare facility wherein patients are
PARTS OF intended to be examined or treated.

MEDICAL GAS  Purge, Flow

 The removal of oxygen from a system by oil free dry
AND VACUUM nitrogen during brazing
 Purge, System
SYSTEMS FOR  The removal of nitrogen from a system with the medical
MEDICAL gas required for that system.
 Special Hazard Area
FACILITIES  An area such as a kitchen or electrical switchgear room
  Station Inlet

PARTS OF An inlet point in a medical surgical piped vacuum


distribution system at which the user makes connections
and disconnections
MEDICAL GAS  Station Outlet

AND VACUUM  An inlet point in a piped medical/surgical vacuum

distribution system at which the user makes connections
SYSTEMS FOR and disconnections
 Use point
MEDICAL - A room or area of a room where medical gases are
FACILITIES dispensed to a single patient for medical purposes. A use
point is permitted to be comprised of a number of station
outlets of different gases.
  Vacuum System

PARTS OF  A system consisting of central vacuum producing equipment

with pressure and operating controls, shutoff valves, alarm
warning systems, gauges and a network of piping extending to
MEDICAL GAS and terminating with suitable station inlets at locations where
patients suction could be required
AND VACUUM  Isolation Valve

SYSTEMS FOR A valve that isolates one piece of equipment from the other

 Riser Valve

MEDICAL  A valve at the base of a vertical riser that isolates that riser
 Service Valve
FACILITIES - A valve serving horizontal piping extending from a riser to a
station outlet or inlet.
PARTS OF
MEDICAL GAS  Source Valve
 A single valve at the source that controls the number of
AND VACUUM units that make up the source.

SYSTEMS FOR  Zone Valve

 A valve that controls the gas or vacuum to a particular
MEDICAL area

FACILITIES
PARTS OF MEDICAL GAS AND VACUUM SYSTEMS FOR MEDICAL
FACILITIES

CRITICAL CARE AREA

  Tubes, valves, fittings , station outlets and other piping
components in medical gas systems shall have been
OXYGEN cleaned for oxygen service by the manufacturer prior
COMPATIBILITY to installation in accordance with CGA 4.1
  Before any medical gas or medical vacuum system is
installed or altered in any hospital, medical facility or
clinic, duplicate plans and specifications shall be filed
PLAN REVIEW with the Authority having jurisdiction. Approval of the
plans shall be obtained prior to issuance of nay permit
by the Authority Having jurisdiction
  All medical gas and medical vacuum systems shall be
SYSTEM capable of delivering service in the pressure ranges
according to NFPA 99 Table 5.1.11
PERFORMANCE
  All design, construction and workmanship shall be in
conformity with accepted engineering practices and
shall meet the requirements of the code
WORKMANSHIP  Cracks, holes or other imperfections in materials shall
not be concealed by welding, brazing or soldering or
by using paint, wax, tar or other leak sealing or repair
agents
  Tubes, valves, fittings, station outlets and other piping
components in medical has systems shall have been
cleaned for oxygen service by the manufacturer prior
to installation in accordance with CGA 4.1
MATERIALS  Each length of tube shall be delivered plugged or
capped by the manufacturer and kept sealed until
prepared for installation. Fittings, valves, and other
components shall be delivered, sealed, labeled and
kept sealed until prepared for installation
  Most common tubes are:
 ASTM B 88, Standard Specification for Seamless
Copper Water Tube, copper tube (Types K,L,M)
 ASTM B 280, Standard Specification for Seamless
MATERIALS Copper Tubing for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Field Service, copper ACR tube
 ASTM B 819, Standard Specification for Seamless
Copper Tube for Medical Gas Systems copper medical
gas tubing
  Shutoff valves accessible to other than authorized
personnel shall be installed in valve boxes with frangible
or removable windows large enough to permit manual
operation of valves. (NFPA 99 5.1.4.2.2)
 Shutoff valves for use in certain areas, such as psychiatric
or pediatric shall be permitted to be secured with the
VALVES approval of the Authority having jurisdiction to prevent
inappropriate access. (NFPA 99 5.1.4.2.2
 Generally, shutoff valves and other valves should:
 Be locked in a restricted area
 Be locked or latched closed
 Be identified
  Generally piping shall be protected against freezing,
corrosion and physical damage. Piping should not be
exposed in corridors and other areas where it would

INSTALLATION subject to damage due to movement of carts,

stretchers, portable equipment or vehicles. ( NFPA 99
OF PIPING 5.1.10.6.3)
 Piping underground within buildings or embedded in
concrete floors or walls shall be installed in a
continuous conduit (NFPA 99 5.1.10.6.3)
MEDICAL AIR SYSTEM
MEDICAL AIR SYSTEM

 It is a system wherein medical air is mainly supplied via a medical

gas pipeline system where the air is manufactured using
compressors.
 Medical air is important since it is used in incubators and
ventilators wherein uncontaminated air is needed.
 It is needed as a carrier gas for anesthetic agents

 It is a power source that is utilized for driving surgical tools in the

operating rooms.
MEDICAL AIR SYSTEM

 Medical air compressors shall be installed in a well lit, ventilated, and clean
location and shall be accessible. The medical air compressor area shall be
located separately from the medical gas cylinder system sources, and shall be
readily accessible for maintenance.
 Medical air compressors shall be sufficient to serve the peak calculated demand
with the largest single compressor out of service. In no case there be fewer than
2 compressors. ( NFPA 995 1.3.5.11.2)
 Medical air compressor systems shall comprise of: an automatic means to
shutoff backflow, manual shutoff valve, intake filter mufflers, pressure relief
valves, shutoff valve that is compatible with oxygen that does not contribute to
contamination levels and lastly components that comply with NFPA
99.5.1.3.5.4, 99.5.1.3.5.10 and 99.5.1.3.5.11)
MEDICAL AIR
RECEIVERS

 Medical air receivers should be

corrosion resistant
 It should comply with the ASME
Boiler and Pressure code
 It should be equipped with a
pressure relief valve, automatic
drain, manual drain, sight glass and
pressure indicator
 Be of a capacity sufficient to
prevent the compressor from short
cycling ( NFPA 995.1.3.5.6)
MEDICAL VACUUM PUMP SYSTEMS

 Vacuum pumps are used to remove gas molecules from a sealed

volume and leave a partial vacuum behind. Basically, it is used to
pull out air and gases from a sealed or confined space due to
which the space is left out of any gas and air molecules. They are
used in various applications like cleaning, sealing etc.

 Medical-surgical vacuum systems shall consist of: two or more

vacuum pumps sufficient to serve the peak calculated demand
with the largest single vacuum pump out of service, an automatic
means to prevent backflow, a shutoff valve, and a vacuum receiver
 Medical vacuum systems shall be located outdoors, at least 10 feet
from any door, at a level different from air intakes and at a
location which cannot be accessed by vermin, other debris,
precipitation and other problems that might cause complications
in the operation.
PURPOSE OF THESE SYSTEMS
  Inspection and testing shall be performed on all new piped gas systems, additions,
renovations, temporary installations, or repaired systems to ensure that the facility, by
a documented procedure, that all applicable provisions of this document have been
adhered to and system integrity. ( NFPA 99.5.1.12.1.1)
 In testing and inspection, advance notice shall be done informing the authorities that
the system is ready for inspection. Initial and retesting also should be observed to
ensure that the system is in shape
 Certification tests shall include:
TESTING,INSPECTION -testing for leakage, correct zoning and identification of control valves

AND CERTIFICATION -checking for identification and labeling of pipelines

-functional testing of pressure relief valves and safety valves
-functional testing on all air and gas supply systems
-functional testing of alarm systems
-purge flushing of system
-testing for purity and cleanliness
- Testing for specific gas identity