Preface
This is the first edition of CSA Standard Z305.8, Medical Supply Units. This Standard was developed in response to the increasing use of medical supply units in health care facilities.
A medical supply unit is an accessory installed at the end of a medical gas piping system. An example of a basic medical supply unit would be a prefabricated box or false wall fitted with a medical gas terminal unit. More sophisticated units offer additional functions, for example, equipment connections, electrical services, call buttons, and terminal units for liquids. Depending on the means by which it is connected to the piping system, a medical supply unit is considered to be either a permanent part of the system or a detachable component.
This Standard was prepared by the Subcommittee on Nonflammable Medical Gas Piping Systems, under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Anaesthetic Equipment, Respiratory Technology, and Critical Care Equipment and the Strategic Steering Committee on Health Care Technology, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.
This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.
Scope
1.1
This Standard specifies the safety requirements for medical supply units for application in medical areas, such as general wards, as well as in special purpose areas, such as operating theatres, induction rooms, recovery wards, dialysis units, intensive care or therapy units, and other intermediate care areas. Medical supply units are intended to supply medical gases, either singly or in combination with other services, for example, electric power, liquid supply, or equipment connections.
1.2
This Standard also specifies requirements pertaining to reliable operation of the units where it impinges on safety.
1.3
This Standard does not cover
a) the general requirements for electrical safety already covered in CSA C22.2 No. 601.1 and CAN/CSAZ32;
b) other equipment, such as devices for nurse call systems or monitoring, that can be incorporated in, or mounted on, medical supply units;
c) safety hazards resulting from the intended physiological function of equipment covered by this Standard; and
d) medical gas control panels.
Note: An example of a medical gas control panel is a nitrogen control panel used to supply nitrogen at high pressure to drive surgical tools.
1.4
In this Standard, 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; and may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.
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.
Legends to equations and figures are considered requirements.