I recently had a discussion with a manufacturer of a devise that typically is used and installed in dental facilities, but more recently these devises are being used and installed in hospital Labor and Delivery Rooms.
In this discussion about a code discrepancy, this manufacturer stated that I was misinterpreting the NFPA 99 code, because the use of this devise is to be considered a Category 3 installation, because the patients using this devise are not critical care patients nor are they be anesthetized, both of which would typically require the space to be considered Category 1.
My question is this... Can a facility pick and choose spaces or areas within there facility to be designed, installed, and tested to the Category 3 requirements, while adjacent spaces or areas are considered Category 1?
This facility has not performed a documented risk assessment to categorize this space or area as a Category 3.
It has been my understanding that if any portion of the facility is to be considered anything but a Category 1 space, that they need to have performed and documented a risk assessment.
This manufacturer is telling facilities that they do not need to meet Category 1 requirements when deploying these devises into hospitals, because they were built to the Category 3 requirements, and since this devise only allows for sedation to the minimal sedation level, it automatically falls under Category 1 requirements.
To further explain this issue that we identified at this facility, is that the facility installed WAGD inlets (ceiling mounted) with gas specific hose drops, to be used in conjunction with this devise for minimal sedation of patients. When they received these devises from the manufacturer, the hose and connection for the exhaled anesthetic gases, had a medical vacuum adaptor. When the facility inquired about this discrepancy with the manufacturer (why medical vacuum adaptor, instead of WAGD adaptor) they were told that WAGD was not needed, and their warrantee would be voided if the facility changed the adaptor on the end of the devise hose to WAGD. So the facility cut the quick coupler (WAGD) off of the hose drop from the veiling inlet and replaced it with a medical vacuum quick coupler. This is what we discovered and brought to their attention. They have a WAGD inlet at the ceiling, connected to piping labeled WAGD, a purple hose drop, and now a white medical vacuum quick coupler on the end of the hose, that is connected to the devise hose.
In our opinion, this is no longer a gas specific connection.
What are your thoughts?
