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Gas Supply Solutions

MedGas has the expertise to supply turn key medical gas pipe systems. We can guarantee…

Regular maintenance programs to ensure gas supply continuously

Constant medical gas supply for patients and/or medical and surgical equipment

Gases of the correct identity and gas supply of a defined quality

System Design

To get a medical gas system to perform at maximum capabilities, all considerations need to be thoroughly considered during the design process. These considerations should include the code the system is designed to. MedGas recommends HTM 02-01. However, we can also create and maintain systems that comply with HTM 2022, AS2896, NFPA 99, ISO 7396, and European Pharmacopoeia. If an anaesthetic gas scavenging system, AGGS, is to be installed, MedGas can install the gas supply system and comply with the following medical gas supply and installation codes:  BS6834, EN 737-2, and ISO 7396. The location of healthcare facility and the design of existing gas supply systems will play a large part in the decision as to choice of code. The equipment used on the system by the clinical staff will determine the plant and sizing of the pipework.

Other Considerations

Noise

Vacuum Pump

Where the outlet from the vacuum pumps discharges also need to be planned.

Housing

Where the plant is housed

Ease of use: getting bottles in and out

If a compressor is to be used to produce medical grade air, the location of the intake for that compressor is vital. Medgas has seen dangerous situations where the compressor is housed in a plant room adjacent to a car park. This means the compressor can take in carbon monoxide, or other harmful gases, and distribute them through the medical gas system.

Vacuum pumps should not be housed in the same plant room as medical air compressors as cross-contamination can occur.

The location of the backup systems housed on site.

System Type

Will the Oxygen system be bottle bank or liquid?

The Patient

Will infectious patients be connected to the suction system?

Contamination

If the healthcare facility has infectious wards these need to have their own dedicated vacuum systems with procedures in place to stop contamination.

Earthquakes

Quake Proof – All of New Zealand is considered an earthquake zone, so the design team need to ensure that the system is designed to NZS 4219 that the continuity of the system is not comprised in the event of an earthquake.

Our Gas Supply Turn Key System Features

Ring Types

Ring mains rather than straight pipe runs are always a good inclusion with plenty of valves. This allows for the system to be fed from both directions and isolation of separate areas can be achieved for maintenance or in an emergency. Ring mains also reduce the pipe sizing required.

Alarms

Monitoring systems (alarms) need to be robust, reliable and need to convey the correct information to the appropriate staff. Alarms also need to monitor their own wellbeing and condition. They should be run from the essential electrical supply and also have internal battery backups.

Cleanliness

All copper pipes and fittings need to be cleaned for oxygen use and delivered to site capped or bagged so no ingress of particulates can occur. Particular care needs to be taken when assembling the system to keep it spotless. When welding the pipework, a purge needs to be used as per HTM 02-01 to keep the inside clean.
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Plant Economy

Redundancy should always be considered for future upgrades, but if the healthcare facility is using a compressor system and vacuum pumps without variable speed drives, the economy of the plant also need to be considered.

Infection Control

Infection control requirements need to be adhered to if the system is going into an existing clinical area. There needs to be discussions with the infection control department of the healthcare facility and if required, permits raised.

Terminal Outlets

Terminal outlets come in a variety of configurations depending upon what code they are covered by and who manufacture them. Medgas can advise on which outlet would be best to use in a particular healthcare facility. Considerations can be price, availability, ease of use, ease of repair and supply of spare parts also reliability and code compliancy.

Medical Service Panels

MSPs (Medical Service Panels) are widely used in NZ Hospitals. There is a large variation between manufactures and design. MedGas can advise on ease of use reliability and ease of installation.

Physical Breaks

Any new systems or upgrades going into a working healthcare facility need to have Physical Breaks between the facilities system and the new system. On completion of the system installation, and after all engineering tests have been carried out, a permit to work can be raised to connect to the existing system. Medgas uses independent verifiers (such as BOC) hospital engineers and an anaesthetist to witness and sign off the new system.

Test for Pipeline Carcass

• Labelling and marking
• Sleeving and supports
• Carcass pressure test
• Carcass cross connection
• Closure and zoning of AVSUs and terminal unit identification

Complete system testing

• Leakage pressure gases
• Leakage vacuum
• Closure and zoning of AVSUs and terminal unit identification
• Cross connection
• Flow and pressure drop at individual terminal units
• Mechanical function and correct installation of terminal units
• NIST connectors mechanical function and correct installation
• System performance at design flow
• Gas supply systems function tests
• Pressure safety valves certification
• Warning and alarm systems
• AS fitted drawings
• Purging and filling
• Test for no particulate contamination
• Gas supply quality
• Gas supply identification
• AGS disposal system
• Certificate of completion.