Medical Air Systems

It is compressed air drawn from atmosphere, then purified, dried and regulated for use in ventilation, respiratory therapy and blending with oxygen as clinically required. It differs from industrial compressed air in that its quality, intake and distribution route are part of the medical gas system itself.

• Multiple compressors in duty/standby arrangement so one remains available during service.
• Receiver tank to smooth pressure fluctuation and limit compressor cycling.
• Dryers to lower dew point and keep moisture out of the pipeline.
• Sequential filtration stages removing particulates and any oil traces.
• Duplex pressure regulation and a plant control panel.
• Alarm panel monitoring pressure, compressor status and quality indicators.

Medical air quality starts at the intake. The intake must be located away from generator exhausts, kitchen flues, laboratory extract discharges and truck bays, and positioned to minimise ingress of dust and rainwater.

• Ventilators in intensive care and neonatal units.
• Respiratory therapy devices and nebulisers.
• Blending with oxygen to reach the clinically required concentration.
• Selected theatre applications depending on the facility's equipment.

Surgical Air, by contrast, drives pneumatic instruments and normally operates at a higher pressure, so it is treated as a separate service with its own pipeline and outlets.

• Capacity sizing from the number of terminal units and a realistic diversity factor.
• Adequate plant room ventilation and heat rejection.
• Vibration and noise isolation from adjacent clinical areas.
• Easy access to filters and dryers, which are frequent maintenance items.
• Medical copper tube and fittings throughout the distribution network.

Before commissioning the network is pressure and leak tested, verified free of cross-connection, and air quality is checked at terminal units. In operation, maintenance centres on timely filter element replacement, dew point monitoring, condensate draining, and periodic testing of compressor changeover and the alarm panel.