Temporary Bulk Oxygen alarms
Temporary Bulk Oxygen alarms
Bulletin 114
If a temporary oxygen line is being installed to feed the hospital while work is performed:
Some of the requirements are; the temporary pipeline must be verified, the temporary bulk station must be verified, all bulk oxygen alarms signals must be present on the temporary bulk station and they must be hooked into the master alarm system, then tested and verified.
In NFPA 99 2021 a section was added to clarify the requirement of master alarms when using the EOSC.
The section is 5.1.3.5.13.2(8). Four alarm connection points installed to both master alarm panels to allow the temporary supply to be monitored while in use.
This will be a challenge. Very few installations have these signal wires available. It will require an upgrade to the EOSC. New EOSCs can be purchase with landings for these signals. Replacing the exiting EOSC is not required, A terminal strip can be added inside the EOSC box. These are low voltage connections and should be installed per the current local and national codes.
There are no exceptions for temporary systems regarding verifications or alarming on the master alarm system.
See below:Per NFPA 99 2012-2021
5.1.12* Performance Criteria and Testing — Category 1 (Gases,
Medical–Surgical Vacuum, and WAGD).
A.5.1.12
All testing should be completed before putting a new piping system, or an
addition to an existing system, into service. Test procedures and the results of all
tests should be made part of the permanent records of the facility of which the
piping system forms a part. They should show the room and area designations,
dates of the tests, and name(s) of the person(s) conducting the tests.
5.1.12.1 General.
Whenever an MGVS is installed, renovated, or has a major repair performed,
specific performance and acceptance tests are required to verify that the system
is operating within the design criteria and code requirements.
The testing measures three main areas of the MGVS: integrity of a delivery
system, quality of delivered gases, and proper operation of the MGVS
components. Because the gases and vacuum can be used for life supporting
patient care, it is critical that systems and equipment meet the performance
criteria of the code to ensure these systems are safe and reliable for patients,
staff, and visitors within the hospital.
5.1.12.1.1
Inspection and testing shall be performed on all new piped medical gas and
vacuum systems, additions, renovations, temporary installations, or repaired
systems to ensure, by a documented process and procedure, that all applicable
provisions of this document have been adhered to and system integrity has been
achieved or maintained.
5.1.12.1.2
Inspection and testing shall include all components of the system, or portions
thereof, including, but not limited to, gas bulk source(s); manifolds; compressed
air source systems (e.g., compressors, dryers, filters, regulators); source alarms
and monitoring safeguards; master alarms; pipelines; isolation valves; area alarms;
zone valves; and station inlets (vacuum) and outlets (pressure gases).