MEDICAL GAS (OXYGEN) FOR NURSING HOMES
ISSUE:
Some overlooked design requirements for medical gas in nursing homes.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
A nursing home usually has more than one smoke compartment. On a recent project,
the consultant showed a single isolation valve for medical gas serving two smoke
compartments. In case of a fire in one smoke compartment, the supply of medical gas
would be turned off for both compartments, because of a single isolation valve.
On new construction, the consultants usually show an isolation valve for each smoke
compartment. However, on a retrofit of an older nursing home, the consultants can
overlook this feature of providing an isolation valve for each smoke compartment.
Without separate isolation valves, a facility may need to store a sufficient number of
portable oxygen cylinders on hand, in order to have an adequate supply of oxygen for
all patients requiring oxygen during a fire emergency. This would be considered an
undesirable solution by the medical center.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. The consultant must show a medical gas main with branches and isolation valve for
each smoke compartment whether it is new or retrofit project.
LINKS TO FM TECHNIC AL INFORMATION LIBRARY (TIL):
See VA Master Specification, Section 15491, Medical Gas and Vacuum Systems and
Plumbing Design Manual for Hospital Projects.
http://www.va.gov/facmgt/standard
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Contact Jack Martin at 202-565-6273, in the Service Delivery Office (183) or Satish Sehgal
at 202-565-5032, in the Facilities Quality Service (181A).
5 August 2002
FM-181A-DA-113
Previous Page
