1 Scope

1.1 General

This Standard specifies safety requirements for pipelines for medical gases, medical vacuum, medical support gases, and anaesthetic gas scavenging systems in health care facilities, both public and private. It applies to all facilities providing health care services, regardless of type, size, location, or range of services, including, but not limited to

a)    acute care hospitals;

b)    in-patient continuing care hospitals;

c)    long-term care facilities;

d)    community-based providers;

e)    leased/rental suites in office buildings; and

f)     ambulatory and outpatient care clinics (e.g., day surgery, endoscopy clinics, dentists’ offices, and doctors’ offices).

1.2 Intended use

There is a commentary available for this Clause.

This Standard is intended for use by anyone involved in the design, installation, commissioning and testing, documentation, operation, and maintenance of pipelines for medical gases, medical vacuum, medical support gases, and anaesthetic gas scavenging systems. The requirements cover

a)    the design of systems to ensure the continuous supply of gas or vacuum in normal condition or in single fault condition;

b)    the selection of materials and components;

c)    the non-interchangeability of equipment between different gas systems and services;

d)    the cleanliness of materials and components and of the completed system;

e)    installation procedures for supply systems and pipelines;

f)     the configuration of system components;

g)    control, monitoring, and alarm systems;

h)    the markings and information to be supplied by the manufacturer or installer;

i)     contaminant testing of pipelines;

j)     the final testing of each medical gas pipeline prior to its use in patient care to ensure that it contains only the specified gas; and

k)    maintenance and ongoing verification.

1.3 Application

There is a commentary available for this Clause.

This Standard applies to pipeline systems for

a)    medical gases or medical gas mixtures, including

i)     oxygen USP;

ii)    oxygen 93 USP;

iii)   medical air USP;

iv)   nitrous oxide USP;

v)    carbon dioxide USP;

vi)   helium USP;

vii)  oxygen USP/nitrous oxide USP mixtures;

viii) helium USP/oxygen USP mixtures; and

ix)   other medical gases;

b)    medical support gases, including

i)     instrument air; and

ii)    nitrogen NF;

c)    medical vacuum; and

d)    anaesthetic gas scavenging systems (AGSS).

1.4 Exclusion of plume evacuation systems (PES)

This Standard does not provide specific requirements for plume evacuation systems (PES) that is part of an overall medical gas pipeline distribution system. Informative guidance is provided in Annex R.

1.5 Exclusion of hyperbaric chambers

This Standard does not provide specific requirements for hyperbaric chambers connected to medical gas pipeline distribution systems. See Clause 7.6.4 for the hyperbaric demarcation point.

Note: Requirements for hyperbaric chambers are provided in CSA Z275.1.

1.6 Exclusion of veterinary and animal research facilities

This Standard does not apply to veterinary and animal research facilities.

Note: The relevant requirements of this Standard, particularly those regarding safety, should be incorporated in the design, installation, and maintenance of piping systems in veterinary and animal research facilities. These systems should be inspected and tested by inspection bodies.

1.7 Terminology

In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (nonmandatory) to define their application.

1.8 Units of measure

The values given in SI (metric) units are the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only. Unless otherwise specified, pressures and vacuum in this Standard are expressed as gauge pressure (i.e., atmospheric pressure is defined as 0).