Healthcare Engineering
Medical Gas Systems
Comprehensive design of medical gas piping systems, waste anesthetic gas disposal (WAGD), and medical vacuum systems for hospitals, surgical centers, and healthcare facilities — fully compliant with NFPA 99 and all applicable codes.
Medical Oxygen Supply Systems
At EBS Engineering PC, we design medical oxygen supply systems that provide reliable, continuous oxygen to every patient care area in hospitals, surgical centers, and other healthcare facilities. Medical oxygen is one of the most critical utility systems in healthcare, and our designs prioritize patient safety, regulatory compliance, and operational reliability.
Our oxygen system designs typically include bulk liquid oxygen storage with automatic backup systems, or manifolded cylinder systems for smaller facilities. We carefully calculate oxygen demand based on the number of patient beds, acuity levels, and simultaneous usage factors to ensure adequate supply capacity. For high-demand facilities, we design systems with duplex or triplex bulk tanks to ensure continuous operation during tank changeouts and maintenance.
We design oxygen distribution piping networks using Type L or Type K copper tubing with brazed joints, properly sized to maintain the required oxygen pressure (typically 50 psig) at all terminal outlets. Our designs incorporate zone valve assemblies at strategic locations to allow isolation of individual floors or departments for maintenance without disrupting service to the rest of the facility. Each system includes area alarm panels and master alarm panels that provide continuous monitoring of system pressure, flow, and backup status.
Oxygen System Design Considerations:
- Bulk liquid oxygen storage — Sized for facility demand with automatic switchover to backup systems
- Pressure regulation and control — Maintains consistent 50 psig delivery pressure throughout the distribution system
- Oxygen-compatible materials — All components specified for oxygen service to prevent fire hazards
- Redundant supply systems — Automatic switchover ensures continuous oxygen availability during maintenance or emergencies
- Comprehensive alarm systems — Area and master alarms with visual and audible indicators for system monitoring
Waste Anesthetic Gas Disposal (WAGD) Systems
EBS Engineering PC designs waste anesthetic gas disposal (WAGD) systems that safely remove anesthetic gases from operating rooms and other areas where anesthesia is administered. Exposure to waste anesthetic gases poses health risks to operating room personnel, including reproductive effects, liver and kidney damage, and neurological effects. Our WAGD system designs protect staff health while maintaining compliance with OSHA exposure limits and NFPA 99 requirements.
Our WAGD systems include scavenging collection points at each anesthesia workstation, connected via dedicated piping to a vacuum pump system that draws waste gases away from the breathing zone. The collected gases are then exhausted to the outside atmosphere, typically through the building's roof, at a location remote from air intakes and operable windows. Our designs account for the volume and intermittent nature of waste gas generation, sizing vacuum pumps and collection systems to maintain proper scavenging flow rates during peak usage periods.
WAGD System Components:
- Scavenging collection points — Located at each anesthesia workstation to capture waste gases at the source
- Vacuum pump systems — Sized to handle peak waste gas generation rates during simultaneous anesthesia procedures
- Dedicated vacuum source — Completely independent from medical-surgical vacuum per NFPA 99 requirements
- Proper exhaust routing — Discharge located away from air intakes, operable windows, and occupied areas
- Redundant pump configurations — Duplex systems ensure continuous operation during maintenance
- Alarm integration — Area and master alarm panels with visual and audible indicators for system monitoring
- OSHA compliance — Systems designed to maintain exposure levels below 2 ppm for halogenated agents and 25 ppm for N₂O
Medical Vacuum Systems
Our engineers design medical-surgical vacuum systems that provide reliable suction for patient care throughout hospitals, surgical centers, dental facilities, and other healthcare environments. Medical vacuum is one of the most critical utility systems in a healthcare facility, supporting surgical procedures, airway management, wound drainage, and numerous other clinical applications.
EBS Engineering PC specifies medical vacuum pump systems with duplex or triplex configurations to ensure continuous availability. Our designs include properly sized vacuum pumps, receiver tanks, bacterial filters, check valves, isolation valves, pressure switches, and comprehensive alarm systems. We carefully calculate demand based on the number and type of outlets, simultaneous usage factors, and facility-specific requirements to ensure adequate vacuum levels are maintained at all terminal points.
We design medical vacuum distribution piping networks using Type L or Type K copper tubing with brazed joints, properly sized to maintain the required vacuum levels at the most remote outlet. Our designs incorporate zone valve assemblies at strategic locations to allow isolation of individual floors or departments for maintenance without disrupting service to the rest of the facility. Each system includes area alarm panels and master alarm panels to provide continuous monitoring of system performance.
Medical Vacuum System Specifications:
Source Equipment
- Duplex/triplex vacuum pumps
- Vacuum receivers & tanks
- Bacterial filtration systems
- Check valves & isolation valves
- Pressure switches & controls
Distribution Network
- Type L/K copper piping
- Zone valve box assemblies
- Area alarm panels
- Master alarm systems
- Terminal outlet stations
Medical Gas Outlet Stations & Headwall Systems
EBS Engineering PC designs medical gas outlet configurations for every type of clinical space, from standard patient rooms to intensive care units, operating rooms, and emergency departments. Our outlet station designs utilize Diameter Index Safety System (DISS) connections to prevent cross-connection of different gas services, ensuring patient safety at every point of use.
We coordinate with architects, interior designers, and medical equipment planners to determine the optimal number, type, and location of medical gas outlets for each room. Our designs account for headwall systems, ceiling-mounted service columns, and articulating booms in critical care and surgical environments. Each outlet configuration is tailored to the clinical workflow and equipment requirements of the specific department.
Our outlet station designs follow the color-coding standards established by CGA C-9 and NFPA 99: green for oxygen, yellow for medical air, blue for nitrous oxide, black for nitrogen, white for medical vacuum, and purple/violet for WAGD. We specify outlets from major manufacturers and coordinate with headwall and boom vendors to ensure seamless integration with the architectural design.
Typical Outlet Configurations by Room Type:
| Room Type | O₂ | Vacuum | Med Air | N₂O | WAGD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Room | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1 | — | — |
| ICU / CCU | 2-3 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| Operating Room | 2-3 | 3-4 | 1-2 | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency Dept | 1-2 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| PACU | 1-2 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Medical Air Compressor Systems
EBS Engineering PC designs medical air compressor systems that produce clean, dry, oil-free air meeting the stringent purity requirements of NFPA 99 and USP standards. Medical air is used for respiratory therapy, driving ventilators, powering surgical tools, and various other clinical applications where air quality is critical to patient safety.
Our medical air system designs include duplex or triplex oil-free compressors, air receivers, refrigerated dryers, coalescing filters, desiccant dryers, carbon monoxide monitors, dew point monitors, and comprehensive alarm systems. We carefully locate air intake points to avoid contamination from exhaust fumes, loading docks, laboratory vents, and other potential sources of airborne contaminants.
We specify medical air systems with appropriate redundancy based on the facility's risk category as defined by NFPA 99. Our designs ensure that the loss of a single compressor does not compromise the facility's ability to deliver medical air to all connected outlets at the required pressure and flow rate.
Code Compliance & Standards
All medical gas system designs by EBS Engineering PC are developed in strict compliance with the applicable codes, standards, and guidelines governing healthcare facility construction. Patient safety is paramount, and our thorough understanding of the regulatory landscape ensures that every system we design meets or exceeds the requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Primary Codes & Standards
- NFPA 99 — Health Care Facilities Code
- NFPA 55 — Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids
- ASSE 6010 — Medical Gas Systems Installers
- ASSE 6020 — Medical Gas Maintenance Personnel
- ASSE 6030 — Medical Gas Verifiers
- CGA M-1 — Standard for Medical Gas Supply Systems
- CGA C-9 — Standard Color Marking of Compressed Gas Containers
Additional Requirements
- FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals
- FGI Guidelines for Outpatient Facilities
- OSHA Waste Anesthetic Gas Exposure Limits
- NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs)
- USP 797 — Pharmaceutical Compounding (clean room gases)
- Joint Commission Environment of Care Standards
- State and local health department requirements
We prepare comprehensive specifications that detail material requirements, installation procedures, and verification requirements in accordance with NFPA 99 and ASSE 6030. Our specifications are designed to facilitate a smooth construction process and provide clear guidance for the installing contractor and the qualified medical gas system verifier.
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