Effective testing for mobile units

In February’s HEJ – in the first ‘half’ of a two-part article focusing on the design, installation, and testing of medical gas systems for mobile units, medical gas specialist, Geoff Dillow, examined some of the design and construction limitations particular to such units, and how these can the impact on the equipment’s compliance with HTM guidance. In this second part, he considers some of the key requirements for effective testing of mobile unit medical gas installations. 

Given that testing regimes for medical gas systems have been well served from the days of HTM 22 to date, I make no apology for the tests proposed in this article being based largely (but not entirely) on the requirements of such Health Technical Memoranda. The UK’s safety record for medical gas systems serves as testament to these methods, and any variations here are made with due respect for patient and operator safety

For first-time readers of articles on medical gases, I have described each test in some detail. For those of you familiar with the testing of medical gas pipeline systems, there is also no apology for the repetition... consider it essential revision. I have not specifically addressed double stage/single stage pressure reduction systems. I suggest applying the tests using some common sense. The measurement of test pressures and their changes warrants further discussion as the resolution of the digital meter required is high (four decimal places?).