Medical Gas Codes & Standards
 Jonathan Mann
Jonathan Mann
June 1, 2026 at 4:50 pm

Medical Vacuum inlets in Decon/Scope rooms

I have an issue that comes up occasionally, where engineers want to put vacuum inlets into decon or scope rooms. In practicality I believe its a bad idea, but since “5.1.3.5.2 Permitted Locations for Medical Gases” doesn’t mention vacuum, I’ve had it argued that’s ok. I’ve used “5.1.14.3.3 Liquid or debris shall not be introduced into the medical–surgical vacuum for disposal.” and “5.1.14.3.4 The medical–surgical vacuum and WAGD systems shall not be used for nonmedical applications” to counter the argument. But of course “nonmedical” has some room for interpretation, and with support gases, SPD and scope rooms are considered a medical support application.

Curious if there is any talk about adding vacuum to 5.1.3.5.2? I don’t like the idea of vacuum inlets anywhere not directly used with patient care as there is a chance of misuse. Over the years, I’ve personally seen vacuum misused in SPD. I’ve seen hoses directly attached to adapters that were used to suck up liquid.

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  • Cary Darden

    June 1, 2026 at 6:05 pm

    Hi Jonathan,

    I think you have hit the nail on the head with your references. The other one I like to point to comes from the annex and address one of your problem areas directly. While the annex is not part of the code and is meant to be explanatory, I normally caution people against doing the opposite of an annex recommendation because an AHJ is likely to cite them for that.

    A.5.1.14.3.4

    Other examples of prohibited use of medical–surgical vacuum would be scope cleaning, decontamination, and laser plume.

    • Jonathan Mann

      June 3, 2026 at 7:13 am

      Thanks, Cary. I had missed that in the annex. That’s helpful to have something to show in writing in the guidebook.

  • Mark Allen

    June 2, 2026 at 5:02 pm

    Jonathan, There is intended to be a new clause specific for vacuum which is the analogue of the patient gases clause (still to be voted of course).

    It would read:

    5.1.3.5.2.1

    Central supply systems for medical surgical vacuum shall be piped only to vacuum Inlets complying with 5.1.5 and Into areas where the vacuum will be used for purposes congruent with the following:

    (1) Clinical application of the vacuum to a patient, such as surgical suction, aspiration, mild constant suction or intermittent suction for visualization, wound drainage. or other patient treatment

    (2) Medical device applications directly related to patient care

    (3) Simulation centers for the education, training, and assessment of health care grofessionals

    (4) Laboratory. use when patient in accordance with 5.1.3.7.5.1

    (5) WAGD systems use when pJP.ed In accordance 5.1.3.8

    You can see this in the Second draft report on the NFPA website.

    • Jonathan Mann

      June 3, 2026 at 7:47 am

      Thanks, Mark. I had only looked at the updated 5.1.3.3.2 permitted locations

      • This reply was modified 2 weeks, 4 days ago by  Jonathan Mann.

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