This section has been in the NFPA 99 Standard / Code for many years.

5.1.14.1.4* The medical–surgical vacuum and WAGD systems shall not be used for nonmedical applications (e.g., vacuum steam condensate return). 

So, my question is this.

Can the medical surgical vacuum source, be used to supply suction in an Endo GI Equipment Scope Clean Room ?

5.1.3.5.1  General. Central supply systems shall be obtained from a supplier or manufacturer familiar with their proper construction and use and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

5.1.3.5.2  Permitted Locations for Medical Gases. Central supply systems and medical gas outlets for oxygen, medical air, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and all other patient medical gases shall be piped only into areas where the gases will be used under the direction of licensed medical professionals for purposes congruent with the following: 

(1) 

Direct respiration by patients

(2) 

Clinical application of the gas to a patient, such as the use of an insufflator to inject carbon dioxide into patient body cavities during laparoscopic surgery and carbon dioxide used to purge heart-lung machine blood flow ways

(3) 

Medical device applications directly related to respiration

(4) 

Power for medical devices used directly on patients

(5) 

Calibration of medical devices intended for (1) through (4) 

So here's my point.

Everyone please again review my post on the NFPA 99 Code for this topic.

Vote a Yes or No to next two questions.

1)

Per NFPA 99 can you install a medical vacuum inlet in a Endo GI Scope Equipment Clean Room ?

2)

Is using the medical vacuum system in a Endo GI Scope Equipment Clean Room

considered a Medical Application ?

Now also review the FGI (the old aia) 2014 Edition,

Table #2.1.4

Section #2.2-3.11.4

Note #8

And Vote Again.

Kindest Regards 

Anything "Controversial", as Mark puts it, should be discussed.  There does seem to be a debate on this. 

As I have repeatedly been chastised (i.e. dropped by clients) for strict interpretations of NFPA standards (codes) I found myself tonight simplifying the reasons  the code exists.    I believe it exists to maintain the integrity of (in this case) the medical vacuum system.

Am I out of line to suggest we look at this from a risk perspective?  As we know NFPA has changed over the last couple of editions to decide certain aspects (Categories, maintenance) based on risk...  

Based on Al's yes or no format, during the course of the cleaning.....

1.  Is it likely that anything detrimental will be introduced into the vacuum system (fluids including cleaning solvents)?

2.  If the answer to #1 is yes, with that introduction could the overall system fail (or be damaged) ?

3.  If the overall system (#2 above doesn't fail), will the inlet used for cleaning fail?

4.  If the single inlet (only used for cleaning) fails (#3 above) will it somehow contribute to a system failure?

As I know nothing about the cleaning of scopes (other than the fact that if you are going to undergo a procedure you hope they are REALLY clean..) I will not try to offer an opinion, or even answer my own questions.

Regardless of my admittedly limited knowledge of scope cleaning, I believe that having a suction inlet where scope cleaning takes place is common, and that the failure rate of the same vacuum may be higher than normal, but the extent of the failure has been limited to the same inlet.

Others may have other experiences.  I would like to hear differing views..

Bob W

Hi Al,

The paragraph you called out has an asterisk.  This little gem has been hiding in Annex A for some time:

A.5.1.14.1.4 Other examples of prohibited use of medical–surgical vacuum would be scope cleaning, decontamination, and laser plume.

A problem in my state of Oklahoma is that an Instrument Processing Room is required to have outlets for vacuum and compressed air.  They don't specify Medical Air or Medical Vacuum, but most designers default to them because they are readily available. 

This is found in TITLE 310. OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CHAPTER 667. HOSPITAL STANDARDS in the section on Endoscopy Suites.