Requirements of the NFPA™ 99 Standard

medical gas inspectionAccording to the NFPA™,, medical gas outlets and vacuum inlets must meet certain gauge pressures during the inspection process:

  • Support gas outlets must deliver 140 standard-liter-per-minute (SLPM) with pressure drops of no more than five pounds-per-square-inch (PSI) during operation. Static pressure must remain between 160 PSI to 185 PSI.
  • Medical gas outlets with 50 PSI gauge pressures typically deliver medical air, oxygen, nitrous oxide or carbon dioxide. These outlets are required to deliver 100 SLPM with no more than a 5 PSI pressure drop and must maintain 50 PSI continuously.
  • Critical care oxygen and medical air outlets must deliver a short-term flow of 170 SLPM for three seconds.
  • Vacuum inlets used in medical and surgical applications must draw 3.0 standard cubic feet per minute without causing a reduction in vacuum pressure below 12 inches of mercury.

The NFPA™ 99 standard also covers the labeling and recording of zone valves, area alarm panels and other fixtures associated with the delivery of medical gas in the hospital environment. Testing is required to determine if particulates exist in the zones and to test the function of master alarm panels, gas disposal systems, medical vacuum pumps, medical air compressors and manifolds. Healthcare Life Safety Services will evaluate all signals, voltage readings, amperage draws and temperature readings to ensure that your medical gas systems are working as intended.

The Testing Process

At Healthcare Life Safety Services, we will do our best to avoid disrupting your normal routine. This will allow you to maintain the best patient care during our inspection process. We will work with you to determine the best times to perform your annual inspections and to prevent issues with your medical gas equipment. Our team is committed to providing the best inspection services for your needs.

If you are looking for the best in medical gas testing services, Healthcare Life Safety Services specializes in the inspection and evaluation of systems in the healthcare industry. We work with you to promote the best possible results for your needs. Call us today to discuss your requirements and to set up an appointment with us. We look forward to the chance to serve you.