HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
1 MEDICAL GAS PIPELINE SIZING
Supply Source refers to the sources of medical air or vacuum suction. There are four main sources for medical
gases:
Cylinder systems - Cylinders, when used, could have two possible configurations. First is the single cylinder used
for conditions with no available piped service for the intended gas or when only a small volume of patient gas is
required. It might also be for laboratory use where only a small amount of gas is required.
Where the single cylinder is inadequate for the intended use, multiple cylinders connected together in banks as
manifolds with appropriate controls would allow additional volume and less need for constant replacement (see
Figure MG-1. All of the medical gas cylinders may be arranged in banks as determined by the engineer or
hospital personnel. The cylinder arrangements are similar regardless of the gas used.
Bulk systems - Bulk supplies are defined as an assembly of containers, pressure regulators, safety devices,
vaporizers, manifolds, and piping that has a storage capacity of 20,000 cubic feet (566,000 L) of gas including
connected and unconnected reserves on hand at the same location (see Figure MG-2). The cryogenic bulk
supply is the primary source of oxygen and nitrogen.
Because oxygen supports combustion, outdoor storage tanks and cylinders shall be located remotely from other
gases and structures. In conformance with NFPA 55, indoor storage requires a one-hour enclosure, although a
two-hour separation is required by many authorities. The storage of inert gases only is permitted inside this
enclosure. When locating a tank on a facility site, enough room for delivery trucks must be allowed close to the
tank.
Access to the tank must be easy because the operator must vent gas from the hose connection of the truck to
the storage tank by means of a manual vent before filling can start. Two connections to the storage tank are
desirable, one to the top of the tank (in the vapor space) and one to the bottom (in the liquid). This allows the
operator to adjust the pressure in the tank during filling. Filling from the bottom will compress the vapor on the
top, increasing pressure. Filling from the vapor space on the top will lower the pressure because some of the
vapor will condense and turn back to liquid, thereby reducing the volume of vapor.
If filling to a set level is required, a level gauge must be installed on the tank.
Medical air compressors - Medical air treatment systems are usually 2 or more compressors equipped with a
receiver, derivers, regulators, filters, dew point monitors, and carbon monoxide alarms. Produced air should be
free of dust and moisture.
Medical Vacuum air pumps
Vacuum pumps are mechanized devices that create a negative pressure in the piping system. The pumps should
alternate automatically. A reservoir tank is used for storage to permit cycling on and off instead of continuous
operation. Each pump should be capable of maintaining 75 per cent of calculated demand during peak time.
Supply source are also specifically described using the following terms:
- Operating Supply refers to the portion of the supply system that normally supplies the piping systems. The
operating supply consists of a primary supply or both a primary and secondary supply.
- Primary Supply refers to the portion of the source equipment that actually supplies the system.
- Secondary Supply refers to the portion of the source equipment that automatically supplies the system when the
primary supply is exhausted.
- Reserve Supply refers to that portion of the source equipment that automatically supplies the system in the
event of a failure of the primary and secondary operating supply
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
Medical/Surgical Compressed Air
Table 1 gives the actual common usage in the medical facility and the diversity factor to adjust the total
connected load to a level that approximates probable usage. Add all the outlets together to calculate a total
connected load. Using the appropriate diversity factor, calculate the maximum adjusted flow rate for the entire
branch, sub-main, main or project.
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
Medical/Surgical Compressed Air
Table 1 gives the actual common usage in the medical facility and the diversity factor to adjust the total
connected load to a level that approximates probable usage. Add all the outlets together to calculate a total
connected load. Using the appropriate diversity factor, calculate the maximum adjusted flow rate for the entire
branch, sub-main, main or project.
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
Instrument Air
Laboratory Compressed Air
Dental Compressed Air
Oxygen
Nitrous Oxide
Carbon Dioxide
Nitrogen
Medical Surgical Vacuum
Waste Anesthesia Gas Disposal (WAGD)
Laboratory Vacuum
Vacuum Pump Exhaust
Dental Vacuum
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
Minimum Flow Rates of Medical Gas and Vacuum Systems
Source: Extracted from Table 1305.2, Uniform Plumbing Code (2021)
FLOW RATE PER OUTLET
MEDICAL SYSTEM
CFM
Oxygen1 0.71
Nitrous Oxide 1 0.71
Medical Compressed Air 1 0.71
Nitrogen 15
Vacuum 2 1
Carbon Dioxide1 0.71
Helium1 0.71
Notes:
1
A room designed for a permanently located respiratory ventilator or
anesthesia machine shall have an outlet capable of a flow rate of
6.36 CFM (3.0 L/s) at the station outlet.
2
For testing and certification purposes, individual station inlets shall
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
shall be a Simplex AGSS unit that can serve up to 6 No. Areas. If there are 12 areas then 2 No. simplex units
shall be spare if all 12 areas are being served by 12 No, Simplex AGSS Units.
Simplex Unit Set-Up:
Primary Exhaust – Simplex Compressor Unit.
Reserve Exhaust – Simplex Compressor Unit in Manual Change Over.
Important Note: For operating theatres and other critical clinical spaces (Grade A), where more than two
areas are being served by a single Air Handling Unit, then a Duplex AGSS plant is to be provided with an
automatic change over to the spare pump.
Duplex Unit Set-Up:
Primary Exhaust – Duplex Compressor System (one Compressor).
Reserve Exhaust – Second Compressor from Duplex AGSS Unit.
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
Figure MG-1 – Typical Cylinder Supply System
Note: Supply systems with different arrangements of valves and regulators are
permissible if they provide equivalent safeguards
Figure MG-2 – Typical Bulk Supply System Schematic
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
2
REFERENCES
1) Philippines Mechanical Engineering Code (2012)
2) NFPA 99 (2018) - Health Care Facilities Code
3) FGI - 2018 Guidelines for Design and
Construction of Hospitals
4) HTM 02-01- Medical gas pipeline systems, Part A
– Design, installation, validation and verification
5) HTM 02-01- Medical gas pipeline systems, Part B
– Operational management
6) International Health Facility Guidelines (2020)
7) IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code 2021, Chapter 13
– Health Care Facilities and Medical Gas and
Vacuum Systems
8) UFC 4-510-01 Design: Military Medical Facilities
(2019)
9) ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook
Volume 3 Special Plumbing Systems, Chapter 2:
Plumbing Design for Healthcare Facilities (2015)
10) ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook
Volume 2 Plumbing Systems, Chapter 10:
Vacuum Systems (2014)
11) Pharmaceutical Facilities Plumbing Systems by M.
Frankel (2004)
12) Facility Piping Systems Handbook by Frankel (3E,
2010)
13) Medical Gas Design Guide, BeaconMedæs (2018),
[Link]
14) Amico Source Design Guide
HMDA
HMDA Mechanical Services Data Book
Medical Gas Systems 2021 Edition
