Requirement to "Exercise" Main Shut off Valves

  • Wednesday, October 23, 2019 1:30 PM
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    Message # 8073837
    Cary Darden (Administrator)

    Has anyone heard of TJC, DNV or any other AO requiring facilities to regularly (i.e. annually or periodically) "exercise" the main shut off valve for oxygen?  There is a consultant speaking to a group of hospital engineers and this is part of his presentation however, I do not know of a requirement in NFPA 99 or ASSE 6000 that states you must do this.


    To me this seems like a dangerous "exercise", especially on older valves.  Shutting off any med gas valves (other than demand checks) as part of regular testing isn't something I get super psyched about, and definitely not MAIN LINE oxygen valves 
  • Wednesday, October 23, 2019 3:36 PM
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    Reply # 8074075 on 8073837
    Al Moon (Administrator)

    To the best of my knowledge this is NOT covered in NFPA 99:


    I also strongly agree, its not wise on old or new units.


    All I can hear is the lawyer.


    SO: ( your name here )

    Everything was working. The patients in surgery, ccu, icu, micu, pacu nicu, ed and the patient floors were receiving the life support medical gas OXYGEN, until YOU shut off the valve?
  • Wednesday, October 23, 2019 8:47 PM
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    Reply # 8074418 on 8073837
    Peter "Nick" Linden, III

    We have one customer who has requested this for his zone valves.  I am unsure where his desire to exercise them came from.  I am unaware of any code or agency the has this requirement.
  • Thursday, December 19, 2019 11:44 PM
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    Reply # 8333814 on 8073837
    Carsten Lunde

    When you do this, depending on the flow demand at the time, you are altering the FiO2 of each patient in the area served by the valve.

    Altering an FiO2 is required to be at the direction of a Physician's order and carried out by a Licensed Medical Professional.


    If you do not meet any of those requirements you are "Practicing Medicine without a License" in most states.


    There's that Lawyer again!  
  • Friday, December 20, 2019 11:54 AM
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    Reply # 8338919 on 8073837
    Don Holden

    Yes we have hospitals that require this to be done. All valves in the facility Are requested to be exercised.

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