Articles: Do Your Medical Gas Piping Specifications Meet Code?
In the building trade, there are times when construction specifications require serious scrutiny in order to successfully plan, design, and build a safe medical facility. When a new facility is being planned there needs to be agreement among numerous professionals that the design, once completed, will meet code. Architects, engineers, general contractors, mechanical contractors, and medical gas installers should all be familiar with the standards that define the proper installation of medical gas systems. Following are important industry trade groups that have helped to establish and support the codes that are necessary to design and construct safe medical gas pipeline systems:
Each of these groups has contributed to the development of formalized guidelines for the construction and maintenance of medical gas piping systems, and medical gas testing and certification. A client hospital should consult the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Healthcare Facilities, early in the process. This document will complement NFPA 99: Standard for Healthcare Facilities. When dealing with medical gas systems and equipment manufacturers, NFPA 99 is the most important document to reference. The National Fire Protection Association publishes occasional updates; the 2005 edition is the most current complete specification. Professionals should refer to the NFPA website for interim agreements, additions, and revisions.
Regardless of whether a building is newly constructed or a planned renovation, it is just as important to consider the information in ASSE 6000: Professional Qualifications Standard for Medical Gas Systems Personnel, and to review the information supplied by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering. Together, these documents quantify the specialized skill sets and minimum training standards required for medical gas installers, inspectors, and verifiers. When all of these resources are utilized, there is a much greater likelihood that facilities will be constructed and maintained for the greatest patient safety.