Laboratory air in category one facility

  • Wednesday, August 03, 2022 1:59 PM
    Message # 12872097

    Would like to know what the requirements for valves are in a laboratory for laboratory air being piped in remotely and having a flammable gas remotely piped into the laboratory.


    This laboratory is about 10 yards from a category one surgical site.

  • Thursday, August 04, 2022 10:39 AM
    Reply # 12873131 on 12872097

    Don,  


    Way back in the 2012 edition of NFPA 99 Chapter 11 would have served you. "Laboratories Located within Healthcare Facilities"  Now I believe you have to go to the NFPA 45 for that info.


    Hope this helps.


    ~Nick

  • Thursday, August 04, 2022 11:06 AM
    Reply # 12873204 on 12872097

    Not much in NFPA 99 2012 chapter 11.

    it simply refers to NFPA 54.

  • Friday, August 05, 2022 6:58 AM
    Reply # 12874237 on 12872097
    Al Moon (Administrator)

    NFPA 45:


    Is The Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals.


    (but - I think it only covers flammable and combustible liquid and gases)


    IF THAT IS RIGHT? LAB AIR MAYBE BE PART OF THAT CODE

    We may need to look for another document to answer your question. (I.E. OSHA)


    You stated a Category One / Is that the type of Facility or Space?


    FYI: NFPA 54 Is Listed AS "National Fuel Gas Codes"

    Last modified: Wednesday, August 10, 2022 3:55 PM | Al Moon (Administrator)
  • Friday, August 05, 2022 11:38 AM
    Reply # 12874596 on 12872097

    Facility that it’s in. 

  • Friday, August 05, 2022 11:42 AM
    Reply # 12874599 on 12872097

    They wish to pipe at 90 psi directly to equipment and Blow down air nozzles without any valves. 

  • Saturday, August 06, 2022 5:35 AM
    Reply # 12875249 on 12872097

    I don't believe this is covered anywhere.  Lab air is not medical and not chapter 5.  Chapter 8 is as close as you get under 8.3.5. Nonmedical compressed air, which says essentially nothing about valves. 

  • Sunday, August 07, 2022 1:50 PM
    Reply # 12876032 on 12872097

    Attached is a picture of a Federal Dental Facility (Category 2 according to construction documents but Category 1 after we speak to the staff and level of sedation). You'll notice that a gas torch connected to LP gas and Oxygen with Compressed air next to it located in a confined dental lab. There is an unlabeled LP shutoff valve in a locked access panel in the corridor and the O2 manifold room is locked. Without getting into all the problems with this, Federal Labs are frequently screwing up Laboratories in general.


    In my opinion, the code needs to address this. NFPA 99 2002 edition, Chapter 11 (Laboratory), 11.11.2.3 stated "Piping systems for nonflammable gases shall comply with Level 1 gas systems as specified in Chapter 5.". After that, NFPA 99 diverted everything to other NFPA's. I think a lesser form of this 11.11.2.3 code should come back into Medical/Laboratory facilities.


    Inputs/ comments?

    1 file
  • Wednesday, August 10, 2022 3:57 PM
    Reply # 12879782 on 12872097
    Al Moon (Administrator)

    Again, what year edition of NFPA 99 are we to respond to?





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