Fire Protection Research Foundation report: “Safe Quantity of Open Medical Gas Storage in Healthcare Facility Smoke Compartments"
Authors: Lahiru Jayathunga-Mudiyanselage Haejun Park, PhD, Oklahoma State University
Date of issue: June 2020
Medical gases are gases that are manufactured, packaged, and intended to support various healthcare operations, such as surgeries, calibration of medical equipment, and breathing support for patients. While the storage and use of medical gases are essential to healthcare facilities, they have the potential to create hazardous conditions when not handled, stored, or refilled properly, which increases the probability of injuries and accidents occurring in these facilities. NFPA 99, the Health Care Facilities Code, allows a volume of up to 300 ft3 of medical gases (normally oxygen) to be stored outside of a dedicated storage enclosure, however, the technical substantiation for this requirement was unknown.
Read a one-page summary of this report. (PDF)