CAN/CSA-Z305.1-92 (R2001)

Preface

This is the fourth edition of CSA Standard Z305.1 (now CAN/CSA-305.1), Nonflammable Medical Gas Piping Systems. This edition supersedes the previous editions published in 1973, 1975, and 1984.

The first edition of Nonflammable Medical Gas Piping Systems was initiated by the CSA Committee on Safety Codes for Hospital Hazards as an extension of the Z32 Series. CSA Standard Z32.3-1973 was replaced in 1975 by Z305.1 , which was subsequently revised in 1984.

Many volunteers have participated on the Technical Committee on Medical Gas Systems. The current Chair, David A. Pelton, MD, and the late Robert R. MacDonald also served, respectively, as the Chair and Secretary for the Secretariat since the inception of ISO/TC 121 /SC 6, the International Organization for Standardization medical gas committee. The Secretariat, held by Canada, was influential in establishing international Standards that parallel the CSA 2305 Series. The emphasis for all volunteer efforts over the decades has been patient safety.

Revisions in this fourth edition of Z305.1 have been made to clarify issues resulting from the certification of piping systems to Z305.1-M84 and interpretations submitted by the users of this Standard. Significant changes have been made to the nomenclature used to describe piping systems, particularly, to eliminate the problematic terms lateral and riser.

This Standard is intended to address new installations and does not require the retrofitting of existing systems. When additions, repairs, or modifications of existing systems are necessary, the requirements in Part VIII apply. For existing systems, the Technical Committee recommends that health care facilities document and survey their installations to

(a) determine the adequacy of the pipeline distribution system; and

(b) properly identify components for emergency/maintenance procedures.

Design specifications for medical gas supply units and their maintenance are currently being considered by the Technical Committee for inclusion in the proposed new edition of CSA Standard Z305.5, Medical Gas Terminal Units.

This Standard was prepared under the direction of the Technical Committee on Medical Gas Systems under the jurisdiction of the Standards Steering Committee on Health Care Technology and was formally approved by these Committees. This Standard has been approved as a National Standard of Canada by the Standards Council of Canada.

Scope

1.1

This Standard applies to medical gas piping systems for conducting nonflammable medical gases used for patient care in health care facilities. Included in this Standard are requirements pertaining to small systems such as those serving dental suites, as well as systems providing nonflammable medical gases to laboratories.

Notes:

(1) The manufacture, control, and distribution of medical gases is governed by the Food and Drugs Act of Canada.

(2) A representative of the health care facility should be present during the receipt of all medical gas. For bulk supply deliveries, the representative accepts the certificate of compliance and identity and observes the delivery of the gas to the correct container.

1.2

Although this Standard is intended to apply to new systems, consideration has also been given to existing systems especially with respect to repairing, adding to, and/or otherwise modifying such systems. Requirements and recommendations pertaining exclusively to existing systems have been included in this Standard as a result of these considerations (see Part VIII).

1.3

Medical gas piping systems covered in this Standard are those for

(a) oxygen;

(b) nitrous oxide;

(c) medical air;

(d) nitrogen;

(e) carbon dioxide;

(f) helium;

(g) any mixture of the foregoing; and

(h) medical vacuum systems.

The requirements of this Standard apply to all of the above systems unless otherwise noted.

Note: The requirements of this Standard may be used as a guide for piping systems for other nonflammable medical gases, but additional requirements may be necessary. These will be considered for inclusion in this Standard when such a gas comes into general use.

1.4

Patient care is intended to include any therapeutic, diagnostic, prophylactic, and/or instrumentation application.

1.5

This Standard contains the following eight parts:

Part I - contains requirements relating to the construction and performance of medical gas piping systems (see Clauses 3 to 6);

Part II - contains requirements relating to the installation of medical gas piping systems (see Clauses 7 to 10);

Part III - contains requirements relating to the certification of medical gas piping systems (see Clauses 11 and 12);

Part IV - contains requirements relating to the maintenance of medical gas piping systems (see Clauses 13 and 14);

Part V - contains requirements relating to the testing of medical gas piping systems (see Clause 15);

Part VI - contains special requirements relating to small non-hospital based oxygen and nitrous oxide systems (see Clauses 16 to 20);

Part VII - contains requirements relating to laboratories (see Clause 21); and

Part VIII - contains requirements relating to existing systems (see Clauses 22 to 25).

1.6

This Standard does not apply to veterinary and animal research facilities; however it recommends that aspects of it, 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 tested and verified by qualified testing agencies.

1.7

With the exception of pipe sizes, this Standard is written in SI (metric) units. Values given in parentheses are for information only.

Notes:

(1) Pipe sizing expressed in inches has been retained since the practice continues to be consistent with that of the construction industry. Appendix B outlines the actual dimensions involved.

(2) Pressures in units of kPa (psi) are specified as gauge values in this Standard.