Medical Gas Cylinder Storage
Can various types of medical gas cylinders be stored comingled in the same storage room?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
NFPA 99 does not prohibit various medical gas cylinders from being stored in the same room as long as flammable and non-flammable gasses are not comingled. Typical medical gases whose storage can be comingled with oxygen include: Carbon Dioxide, Medical Air, Nitrogen, Nitrous Oxide, Helium, Argon, and Xenon. All criteria as specified in EC.02.05.09 applies as well as NFPA 99-2012 11.6.5.2 requiring full and empty cylinders to be segregated from each other.
As previously indicated, non-flammable medical gas cylinders cannot be comingled with; flammable materials, cylinders containing flammable gases, or containers containing flammable liquids. Typical flammable gases may include but are not limited to: Acetylene, Butane, Ammonia, Ethane, and Propane. This prohibition is addressed in NFPA 99-2012; 5.1.3.2.4.
Medical gas cylinders are also not allowed to be stored in an enclosure containing motor driven devices with the exception of cylinders intended for instrument air reserve headers that must comply with NFPA 99-2012; 5.1.3.9.5. This reference can be found at NFPA 99-2012; 5.1.3.3.4.2
NFPA 99 does not prohibit various medical gas cylinders from being stored in the same room as long as flammable and non-flammable gasses are not comingled. Typical medical gases whose storage can be comingled with oxygen include: Carbon Dioxide, Medical Air, Nitrogen, Nitrous Oxide, Helium, Argon, and Xenon. All criteria as specified in EC.02.05.09 applies as well as NFPA 99-2012 11.6.5.2 requiring full and empty cylinders to be segregated from each other.
As previously indicated, non-flammable medical gas cylinders cannot be comingled with; flammable materials, cylinders containing flammable gases, or containers containing flammable liquids. Typical flammable gases may include but are not limited to: Acetylene, Butane, Ammonia, Ethane, and Propane. This prohibition is addressed in NFPA 99-2012; 5.1.3.2.4.
Medical gas cylinders are also not allowed to be stored in an enclosure containing motor driven devices with the exception of cylinders intended for instrument air reserve headers that must comply with NFPA 99-2012; 5.1.3.9.5. This reference can be found at NFPA 99-2012; 5.1.3.3.4.2
Manual:
Hospital and Hospital Clinics
Chapter:
Environment of Care EC
Last reviewed by Standards Interpretation: October 22, 2021
Represents the most recent date that the FAQ was reviewed (e.g. annual review).
First published date: March 21, 2019
This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on May 09, 2023
with update notes of: Review only, FAQ is current
Types of changes and an explanation of change type:
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