This is the first edition of CSA Z7396.1, Medical gas pipeline systems - Part 1: Pipelines for medical gases and vacuum. It is based on ISO 7396-1:2002, Medical gas pipeline systems - Part 1: Pipelines for compressed medical gases and vacuum, but contains revisions and additional requirements to reflect Canadian practices and safety considerations. It supersedes CAN/CSA-Z305.1-92, Nonflammable Medical Gas Piping Systems.

1 Scope

1.1 This Standard specifies safety requirements for medical gas pipeline systems in health care facilities. It is intended for use by anyone involved in the design, construction, inspection, and operation of medical gas systems.

1.2 The provisions of this Standard are intended to ensure that each medical gas pipeline provides the correct gas or vacuum to the corresponding terminal unit. For this reason, it specifies the use of gas-specific components for terminal units and for other connectors that are normally accessible to the user. In addition, this Standard includes testing requirements for each medical gas pipeline to confirm that it contains only the specified gas prior to its use in patient care.

1.3 This Standard applies to the pipeline systems of the following medical gases and services:

(a) oxygen;

(b) nitrous oxide;

(c) medical air;

(d) carbon dioxide;

(e) nitrogen for driving surgical tools; and

(f) vacuum.

1.4 This Standard includes requirements for the installation, performance, documentation, testing, and commissioning of medical gas pipeline systems. Specifically, requirements relate to the

(a) design of systems to ensure the continuous supply of gas or vacuum;

(b) selection of materials and components;

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

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

(e) configuration of system components;

(f) control, monitoring, and alarm systems;

(g) markings, and the information to be supplied by the manufacturer or installer;

(h) contaminant testing of the gases delivered by the system; and

(i) final testing.

1.5 This Standard does not apply to medical gas pipeline systems supplying hyperbaric chambers. Note: See CSA Z275.1.

1.6 This Standard does not provide specific requirements for an oxygen concentrator system used as a supply system for the pipeline distribution system. Note: Requirements for oxygen concentrator supply systems for connection to the oxygen pipeline distribution systems described in this Standard are provided in CAN/CSA-Z305.6.

1.7 This Standard does not apply to veterinary and animal research facilities. Note: It is recommended that the relevant requirements of this Standard, particularly those regarding safety, be incorporated in the design, construction, and installation of piping systems in these facilities. It is further recommended that these systems be inspected and tested by qualified testing agencies.

1.8 In CSA Standards, "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; "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard; and "can" is used to express possibility or capability. 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 (non-mandatory) to define their application.

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