As heavy – and potentially dangerous – machinery, almost all air compressors are regulated to one extent or another. The primary concern being safety, ensuring that the compressor is able to function without endangering the people around it. However, there are special regulations for particular kinds of air compressors, and few face such exacting standards as the medical air compressor. Since the medical air compressor is used for a number of very sensitive purposes that directly relate to the health and well being of people, the standards set are very high. As such, it is important to know and understand these standards before investing in a medical air compressor.
In the United States, the standards that a medical air compressor must meet are set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Specifically, NFPA 99 “Standard for Health Care Facilities” is the paramount guideline that must be met. In other countries the standards may differ, but it is fairly safe to assume that they are fairly high, so should be taken into consideration before purchasing a medical air compressor. For the United States, NFPA 99 covers the entire compressed air system to be used in medical facilities, not merely the compressor but the entire system from the initial intake to the final expulsion of air.
To begin with, NFPA 99 mandates that all air compression systems used in medical facilities must use at least two separate compressors in tandem. The primary reason for this is to ensure the steady flow of air in the event that one of the compressors was to malfunction. However, this standard also helps ensure that enough air is available should the demand increase beyond the ability of a single compressor. Further, since most of the time only one compressor is used at a time, it puts less strain on the compressors and extends their life.
NFPA 99 also mandates that each individual unit should be strong enough to provide enough air for the regular operation of the medical facility during peak times. That is, each of the individual air compressors should be strong enough to meet all of the normal needs of the facility during its busiest times. This standard ensures that both individual compressors are strong enough to provide what is needed with or without the support of the other unit.
Although the use of oil is a popular expedient in many non-medical air compressors, the use of oil in any part of the medical air compressor is strictly forbidden by NFPA 99. Specifically, NFPA 99 Sec. 4-3.1.9.1 (a) explicitly states that oil can not be used in any part of the compressor, though part (b) of the same paragraph makes an exception to this rule as long as there is an area of open atmosphere between the oil containing part and the compressed air part. To date there is absolutely no oil/air separator technology that can safely remove one hundred percent of the oil from an oil/air mixture, which makes air compressors that use an oil/air mix inappropriate for medical uses.
According to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), medical grade air is a manufactured drug, and as such its uses are strictly regulated as well. The list of ways that medical air can be used includes such common applications as anesthesia machines and ventilators as well as to operate pneumatic tools, such as pneumatic surgical devices. However, general operations of a non-medical nature – like operating pneumatic doors or maintenance applications – are strictly forbidden. According to NFPA 99, the use of medical air for non-medical purposes can result in and “increase service interruptions, reduced service life, and introduce additional opportunities for contamination”.
Click here to see more about air compressors.
No comments:
Post a Comment