Support Gases NFPA 99 for the 2015 Edition

  • Thursday, August 11, 2016 3:36 PM
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    Message # 4185209
    Al Moon (Administrator)

    During another review of the newest edition of NFPA 99 2015, I found an update in Section 5.1.13. In my opinion, this edition has totally eliminated all of the safety items listed for Section 5.1.3.5.10 that were required under the 2012 edition.

     

    What would have failed during an annual inspection (for CMS or Joint Commission) under the 2012 edition, will now pass based on the 2015 edition.

     

    I am interested in the interpretation and/or opinions of others who have reviewed NFPA 99, 2015 Edition, Section 5.1.13.3.3.

    Last modified: Thursday, August 18, 2016 9:04 PM | Al Moon (Administrator)
  • Friday, August 12, 2016 7:58 AM
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    Reply # 4186460 on 4185209
    Mark Allen

    Al;

    Yes, this clause was deleted in 2015. 

     

    This is an example of the tension between a "minimum standard" as conceived by NFPA and what many people think a standard ought to be i.e. - the Oracle that answers any question put to it.  This clause is unnecessary in a minimum standard, because it is a variant of the basic configuration and therefore permitted.  The rules which would apply should be discernable to any person "skilled in the art".

     

    I know you won't like this answer - no verifier will - and few engineers do either, because it is much too shades of grey and you thrive on black and white.  But there it is.  

     

    It is interesting that even under the HTM standard (probably the world's most prescriptive), they have elected to deal with this tension by creating the Authorized Person - a trained individual mandated in every hospital who makes the requisite judgement calls.  
  • Monday, August 15, 2016 10:34 AM
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    Reply # 4192122 on 4185209
    Corky Bishop

    This looks like a typo to me caused by the addition of the new paragraph 5.1.3.5.7 for the Auxiliary Source Connection. 

     

    NFPA 99, 2015  (My comments are underlined below.) 

    5.1.13.3 Sources. 

    5.1.13.3.1 Support gases shall be permitted to be supplied from the same sources as patient care gases. Where this is done, they shall be treated as the patient care gas and not as a support gas (see 5.1.1 through 5.1.12 and 5.1.14).

    5.1.13.3.2 Sources for support gases delivered from cylinders shall comply with 5.1.3.3 through 5.1.3.5.10.  (10 should say 11.)

     5.1.13.3.3 Sources for support gases delivered from containers

    shall comply with 5.1.3.3 through 5.1.3.5.11 except 5.1.3.5.10.  (10 should say 11 and 11 should say 12.)

     5.1.13.3.4 Sources for support gases delivered from bulk sources shall comply with 5.1.3.3 through 5.1.3.5.11 except 5.1.3.5.10.  (10 should say 11 and 11 should say 14.)

     

     

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