Medical gas leaks in hospitals can affect a huge problem, especially for the maintenance teams. It is important to educate the team first on what to consider before testing medical gases and piping systems in the healthcare facility. You must consider the following factors in leak detection uses and restrictions of medical gases, risks associated with medical gases, and leak detection restrictions and options.

Uses and restrictions of medical gases

There are many variables that a hospital must consider inside their facility which includes healing patients, equipment, treatment, supplies, the safety of visitors, and their employees. But one of the most critical supplies that they need to manage is compressed medical gas which means they require a prescription for use and must be transported, stored, and dispensed under strict standards. Here are some examples of medical gases: Oxygen, Nitrogen, Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide, and Helium. These gases can be mixed individually together for patient diagnostics and to calibrate medical devices. In terms of restrictions, oxygen, and nitrous oxide are vaporous, it is essential to monitor the storage and distribution systems.

Risks associated with medical gas leaks

In transporting medical gases to healthcare facilities, it is a must to inspect the components for the leak, because exposure to medical gases can injure hospital staff. Exposure of gases comes from waste anesthetic gases. Leaks happen when the system is connected and disconnected. The volatility of these gases contains a potential fire hazard that can cause harm to healthcare workers. Also, the loss of pressure in the gas system can affect the quality of medical equipment. To prevent this from happening it is best to oversize a hospital’s air compressors.

Leak detection restrictions and options

Detecting leaks in compressed medical gas delivery is harder than finding leaks in normal compressed air systems, because of the nature of the gases and the challenging environment. One way to solve this problem is to spray approved leak detection liquid around the potential leak area and bubbles appear if there’s a leak. Another solution is the use of Fluke ii900 Sonic Industrial Imager; it lets you see leaks on an LCD screen from up to 50 meters away. It can be used to detect leaks in central air supply pipes and medical gas delivery systems because it is approved for use in areas where volatile gases like oxygen or nitrous oxide might be present.

To have an efficient gas leak detection it is very essential to educate yourself on what and what not to do before detecting the leak to prevent accidents from happening. Also, it is best if you have the proper tool that will efficiently help you detect the leak. Fluke ii900 Sonic Industrial Imager will help you detect the leak efficiently. Visit www.presidium.ph to learn more about our products. Contact us at +632 82515165 / +632 82570795.