Aiga 097-17 Ref Guide On Medical Gases Cylinder Valves
Aiga 097-17 Ref Guide On Medical Gases Cylinder Valves
Aiga 097-17 Ref Guide On Medical Gases Cylinder Valves
MEDICINAL GAS
CYLINDER VALVES
AIGA 097/17
REFERENCE GUIDE ON
MEDICINAL GAS CYLINDER VALVES
Acknowledgement
This document is an AIGA’s own publication and has not been harmonized with other regional
gas associations.
Disclaimer
All publications of AIGA or bearing AIGA’s name contain information, including Codes of Practice, safety procedures and other technical
information that were obtained from sources believed by AIGA to be reliable and/ or based on technical information and experience
currently available from members of AIGA and others at the date of the publication. As such, we do not make any representation or
warranty nor accept any liability as to the accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information contained in these publications.
While AIGA recommends that its members refer to or use its publications, such reference to or use thereof by its members or third
parties is purely voluntary and not binding.
AIGA or its members make no guarantee of the results and assume no liability or responsibility in connection with the reference to or
use of information or suggestions contained in AIGA’s publications.
AIGA has no control whatsoever as regards, performance or non performance, misinterpretation, proper or improper use of any
information or suggestions contained in AIGA’s publications by any person or entity (including AIGA members) and AIGA expressly
disclaims any liability in connection thereto.
AIGA’s publications are subject to periodic review and users are cautioned to obtain the latest edition.
To be reproduced with permission from Asia Industrial Gases Association. All rights reserved.
Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2
2. Scope & Purpose ................................................................................................................. 2
3. Definitions & Terminology ..................................................................................................... 2
4. Principles of Medicinal Valve Selection and Operation .......................................................... 2
4.1. Discriminating ...................................................................................................................... 2
4.2. Safety & Cleanliness ............................................................................................................ 3
4.3. Product Integrity ................................................................................................................... 3
5. Recommendations on Selection & Usage of Valves .............................................................. 3
5.1. Minimum Pressure Retaining (MPR) valve (also known as Residual Pressure Valve (RPV)) . 3
5.2. Valve Integrated Pressure Regulator (VIPR) / Integrated valves ........................................... 3
6. Best practices ...................................................................................................................... 3
6.1. Valve Integrity ...................................................................................................................... 3
6.2. Valve Refurbishment & Replacement Cycle .......................................................................... 3
6.3. Valve Operation ................................................................................................................... 3
6.4. Valve Protection ................................................................................................................... 3
7. References…………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
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1. Introduction
Many medicinal gases are used in medical facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, healthcare
facilities and homecare. It is of primary importance that medicinal gas cylinders be distinguished
from gas cylinders for industrial use because of their impact on the patient’s life and safety.
The outlet type of the cylinder valve is the key to connecting the correct medicinal gas to the
corresponding equipment such as respiratory apparatus. The correct choice of cylinder valve
could reduce the medicinal gas incidents due to gas mix-ups, wrong connections to the gas outlet
and so on.
This document presents the principles for the selection and usage of medicinal gas cylinder
valves, with recommendations and industry best practices.
Terminology:
– Shall indicates that the procedure is mandatory. It is used wherever the criterion for conformance
to specific recommendations allows no deviation.
4.1 Discriminating
Purpose: Discriminating to differentiate medicinal gas from industrial gas as well as
to avoid mix-ups of different medicinal gas types.
• As pin-index connections are unique to the gas type, this is the most effective
measure to prevent cylinder mix-up at the cylinder connection including outlets,
regulators and so on. Pin index valves are only in use for medicinal gases, hence
they distinguish medicinal gas cylinders from gas cylinders for industrial use. The pin-
index is defined in ISO 407:2004, Small Medical Gas Cylinder Pin Index Yoke-type
Valve Connections [4]. Small cylinders are defined as those with a capacity of less
than 10L in ISO 407.
1 References are shown in bracketed numbers and are listed in order of appearance in the reference
section
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• Chrome-plated valves for all medicinal gases with the exception of those containing
carbon monoxide (CO).
5.2. Residual Pressure Valve (RPV), also known as Minimum Pressure Retaining (MPR) valve.
• Maintains positive pressure within the cylinder, thus avoiding atmospheric
contamination from entering the cylinder in case the cylinder valve is left open.
Note: Cylinders fitted with RPVs shall still be evacuated and/or purged before filling.
6. Best Practices
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Valve guards or valve caps shall be used on all cylinders with a neck ring provision to
accommodate valve protection. This can:
• protect valves from damage during transportation and handling.
• facilitate ease and safety of cylinder handling
Note: Valve protection should not impede the attachment of regulator or other accessories.
7. References
[1] AIGA 016, Features of Portable Cryogenic Liquid Containers for Industrial and Medical
Gases, www.asiaiga.org
[4] ISO 407:2004, Small Medical Gas Cylinder Pin Index Yoke-type Valve Connections,
www.iso.org
[6] ISO 10297, Gas Cylinder-Cylinder Valves Specification and Type Testing, www.iso.org
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A survey of Medicinal Gas Cylinder valves was conducted in the countries in Asia. The results are
listed below.