Scope 1.1* This standard prescribes the safety requirements applicable to medical gas pipeline networks in healthcare establishments. It is intended for anyone involved in the design, construction, inspection and operation of medical gas pipeline networks. 1.2 This standard aims to a) ensure that each medical gas pipeline supplies the desired gas or suction to the corresponding outlet; (b) prescribe the use of components reserved for a given gas for sockets and for other connections that are normally accessible to the user; c) constantly ensure medical suction or medical gas supply; d) prescribe the use of several sources with redundant components, sufficient to ensure uninterrupted power supply under normal conditions or in the event of a first fault; e) provide general guidelines for the sizing of sources and pipelines; f) ensure that medical gases are not contaminated by the pipeline; g) prescribe source and pipeline construction materials, installation methods, eligible minor components and testing required to ensure that the pipeline system does not contaminate medical gases; and (h) confirm, by testing, that each medical gas pipeline contains only the specified gas before being used for the care of a patient. 1.3 This standard applies to pipeline networks intended for a) medical gases or mixtures of medical gases used for patient care, in particular (i) oxygen; (ii) medical air; (iii) nitrous oxide; (iv) carbon dioxide; (v) oxygen 93; (vi) helium; (vii) mixtures of oxygen and nitrous oxide; and (viii) mixtures of helium and oxygen; b) the following gases used to control devices not related to human respiration: (i) instrument air; and (ii) nitrogen; and c) medical aspiration. 1.4 This standard sets out the requirements for the installation, maintenance, documentation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of medical gas pipeline networks, in particular a) network design for the purpose of ensuring continuity of gas supply or medical suction; b) the choice of materials and components; c) the non-interchangeability of equipment between different gas networks and services; d) the cleanliness of the equipment and components, as well as the installed network; e) the arrangement of network components; f) control, monitoring and warning systems; g) markings and information that the manufacturer or installer needs to provide; h) pipe contamination tests; i) final testing; and j) maintenance and ongoing verification. 1.5 This standard does not apply to medical gas pipeline networks that supply hyperbaric chambers. Note: See CSA Z275.1. 1.6 This standard does not set out specific requirements for medical oxygen supply plants with concentrators intended to be connected to oxygen distribution pipeline networks. Note: The requirements for medical oxygen supply plants with concentrators intended to be connected to the oxygen distribution pipeline networks described in this standard are prescribed in CAN/CSA-Z10083. 1.7 This standard does not apply to medical gas pipeline networks in veterinary hospitals and animal research laboratories. Note: The relevant requirements of this standard, particularly those affecting safety, should be incorporated into the design, construction and installation of the piping networks of these establishments. These networks should also be verified and tested by competent testing organizations. 1.8 In CSA standards, the term “shall” indicates a requirement, that is, a requirement that the user must follow to ensure compliance with the standard; “should” indicates a recommendation or what is advisable but not obligatory to do and “may” indicates a possibility or advice. The notes that accompany the articles do not include prescriptions or recommendations. They are used to separate from the text explanations or information that are not properly part of the standard. Notes at the bottom of figures and tables are part of these and can be written as prescriptions. The annexes are qualified as normative (mandatory) or informative (optional) to clarify the application. 1.9 Values are expressed in SI (metric) units. Values in parentheses are for information only. Unless otherwise noted, pressures are expressed as gauge pressure (i.e., atmospheric pressure is 0).
CSA Z7396.1-2009 history
1970CSA Z7396.1-2022 Medical gas distribution networks — Part 1: Piping for medical gases, medical suction, medical support gases and anesthesia gas evacuation systems
2012CSA Z7396.1-2012 Medical gas pipeline systems - Part 1: Pipelines for medical gases, medical vacuum, medical support gases, and anaesthetic gas scavenging systems (Third Edition)
2010CSA Z7396.1-2009 Medical gas pipeline networks — Part 1: Pipelines for medical gases and medical suction
2006CSA Z7396.1-2006 Medical gas pipeline networks - Part 1: Pipelines for medical gases and medical suction first edition