Best Medical Gas Supply System in 2024

Level 1 systems are those in which the interruption of supply would place patients at imminent risk of morbidity or mortality.

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Level 2 systems are those in which interruption of supply would place patients at manageable risk of morbidity or mortality.

Level 3 systems are those that would terminate procedures, but not place patients at risk of morbidity or mortality. Most healthcare facilities fall under level 1 or level 2. Level 3 typically covers clinics, dental and doctors&#; offices, or treatment facilities with limited patient care services.               

Comparatively, the equipment and installation requirements of a medical gas account tend to be a bit more expensive than a similarly- sized installation of an industrial account. The requirements imposed by NFPA 99 (ed), NFPA 55 (now ed), CGA M-1 and applicable ASSE standards will be reviewed by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Only that person can sign off on the installation.

That said; if the equipment is part of a lease package, it could be argued there is less risk that a medical gas account would price shop and switch suppliers due to the fact that the installed equipment can be pulled. All-in-all, medical gas accounts tend to be more stable over the long term than industrial accounts. Plus having a healthy mix of both can help a distributor to better weather economic rollercoasters.          

Equipment challenges met

For any centralized medical gas delivery system, the equipment that the gas supplier is primarily concerned with rests upstream of the source valve. The requirements for this equipment can be found in Chapter 5 of NFPA 99.

For healthcare facilities requiring systems other than large bulk, this typically included liquid or HP cylinders connected to a manifold via two equal headers that serve as a primary and secondary branch and a reserve header with HP cylinders.  The intent of the primary and secondary header is to permit the removal and replacement of the liquid or HP cylinders on the primary side after they have emptied and switched over to the secondary side.

In the case where liquid or HP cylinders are used on both sides, either side is capable of serving the primary or secondary role. For example, when the side designated as primary empties, the manifold automatically switches to secondary. When the empty tanks on the primary side are replaced with full ones, the secondary tank becomes primary and the primary tank becomes secondary.

The exception is the hybrid system. A hybrid system is one in which a liquid container is used on the primary side, and HP cylinders on the secondary side. In this arrangement, there are no switching roles between primary and secondary. Microbulk storage and delivery of medical gases is not specifically addressed in NFPA 99 and falls somewhere between liquid cylinders and large bulk storage.

Especially with oxygen, a bulk system is defined as a system with a total capacity connected and in storage of 566,335 L (20,000 ft3) or more at STP and comply with NFPA 55. Even though some microbulk installations fall below this general sizing criteria, Chart believes that because its microbulk vessels are permanently installed and filled onsite, much like bulk tanks, they would be viewed as bulk tanks and would meet the same requirements as bulk tanks.

For example, all of its Perma-Cyl line of microbulk tanks (300 through liters) can be purchased with a medical gas configuration (option 8) that satisfies the requirements found in NFPA 99.

For a delivery manifold, Chart worked with Tri-Tech Medical Inc., a well-respected manufacturer of medical gas pipeline equipment, to co-develop a manifold that works specifically with its Perma-Cyl tanks. While there are many manifolds available today designed to work with liquid cylinders, none included the features we felt were needed to accommodate a true microbulk application.

Their efforts started with Tri-Tech&#;s Genesys manifold. Most medical gas manifolds (other than bulk) employ programmable electronics to monitor pressures on the house-line, the primary and secondary headers, and the reserve header.

The information is used to automatically control which header is used and to send applicable alarm signals to the master alarm panel.  Some manifolds can even be configured &#;on the fly&#; to accommodate liquid-by-liquid, HP-by-HP or liquid-by-HP with the push of a button and some relief valve changes on the main headers.

There are a few other requirements imposed on these manifolds found in Chapter 5 of NFPA 99 &#; like needing to economize gas on the secondary side (in liquid applications) while the primary side is in use.

Each manufacturer addresses these issues either mechanically or with additional logic sequences written into their programs. However, all manifolds may not reflect a true liquid level reading. Switching between primary and secondary side is largely based on pressure.

How to Determine If Bulk or Cylinders Are Best for You

The medical industry is always evolving, especially in recent years with the pandemic. One of the main factors impacting organizations today is navigating ongoing supply chain challenges, which is driving up costs and forcing key decision-makers to rethink their gas supply processes.

Another big trend for the industry today is hospital consolidation as more and more are announcing mergers. Because of this, medical facilities are growing, which means medical-grade gas supply needs are also growing and changing.

These are just a few examples of how the medical gas supply and demand trends continue to evolve. Whether you&#;re operating clinics, medical facilities, and long-term care or dental offices and veterinary offices &#; all are being impacted and having to reconsider how they get their gas supply. As the volume of medical gas being used continues to increase for most businesses, there are practical solutions to consider that may be a good fit to streamline processes.

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More companies are opting for bulk tank gas supply versus cylinders to meet their needs. Let&#;s look at why bulk gas supply may be a better option and how to determine if it is right for your business.

Benefits of Bulk Gas Supply 

Bulk gas can be a more efficient option for healthcare facilities ordering large volumes of medical gas. Since the tanks last longer between refills and require fewer deliveries, you&#;re able to save time and resources usually spent manually handling, transporting, and maintaining these gas cylinders. This time and money savings mean more focus can be given to supporting patient outcomes and care.

Another benefit is that bulk gas deliveries can occur 24/7 since they are kept outdoors. Because suppliers can deliver gas at any time, day or night, medical organizations can ensure they have a constant supply of gas.  

Are You Ready for Bulk Supply?

If you&#;re considering switching to bulk gas supply, do your due diligence by assessing your current gas usage volume. If usage is high and there&#;s a constant need for more, it may be time to shift to a bulk gas system which will improve efficiency and increase cost savings. We recommend that medical facilities consider bulk if they are using 100+ lbs. of gas per month &#; if this describes you, then you might be a candidate for micro-bulk.  

Finding the Right Gas Supply Partner

If you&#;re considering switching to bulk gas instead of medical gas cylinders, it&#;s critical to find a strategic gas supply partner who can support your needs. It&#;s also critical to find a strategic supplier with an extensive and reliable network of supply partners to help eliminate delays, save money, and deliver the gas you need when you need it. At EspriGas, we service numerous locations so you can rest assured your gas supply will meet your specific requirements.

Bulk Agreements are No Joke 

Before a healthcare facility makes the switch, it&#;s critical to review and understand bulk agreements because they are not to be taken lightly. The majority typically includes five-year or longer terms with requirements for minimum fills. Make sure you consider the costs and benefits of both bulk and cylinders before making any decisions, noting that it will not be easy to return to cylinders. A bulk tank installation is a huge project. It could take months to over a year to complete depending on your specific needs. There are numerous permits needed and NFPA guidelines must be met.

EspriGas Can Help You Choose the Best Option for Your Medical Gas Supply

Medical organizations are starting to realize the benefits of bulk gas supply over gas cylinders due to industry-wide supply and demand trends. With companies continuing to focus on identifying cost and time-saving opportunities, it&#;s crucial to carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a switch. Do your research and make sure you choose a reliable partner, like EspriGas, to ensure gas is supplied when you need it.

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HOW WE MAKE ORDERING SIMPLE

The EspriGas Way

Fulfilling your medical gas needs should be simple and easy. Our streamlined ordering process will help you get the right amount of gas, on-time with minimal effort.

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