Medical facilities must pay close attention to medical gas labeling requirements to remain in compliance with regulations and keep people safe. This includes pressurized cylinders used for transporting and storing gases as well as labeling for gas valves, alarm panels, source equipment, station inlets/outlets, and the distribution piping, within the facilities themselves. Here is a brief overview of these requirements for reference:
Medical Gas Colors – Standard Designation Colors
- Medical air — Yellow Background, Black Text
- Carbon dioxide — Gray Background, Black Text
- Helium — Brown Background, White Text
- Nitrogen — Black Background, White Text
- Nitrous oxide — Blue Background, White Text
- Oxygen — Green Background, White Text
- Instrument Air – Red Background, White Text
- Mixtures/blends — Colors that correspond to each gas within the mixture
Valve Labeling
Medical gas zone valves must feature labeling that specifies:
- The name or chemical symbol of each specific gas
- Gas or Vacuum system color code in accordance with NFPA 99, Table 5.1.11
- The specific room or area served by the system
- Caution to not open or close the valve in case of an emergency
Alarm Labeling
Medical gas alarm panels must feature labeling that specifies:
- The name or chemical symbol of each specific gas
- Gas or Vacuum system color code in accordance with NFPA 99, Table 5.1.11
- Area(s) monitored by the alarm panel
- Nonstandard operating pressure in addition to the name of the gas
- Where the WAGD system is served by the vacuum system, the area alarm shall be labeled for both systems
Pipe Labeling
Medical gas and vacuum pipeline must feature labeling that specifies:
- The name or chemical symbol of each specific gas
- Gas or Vacuum system color code in accordance with NFPA 99, Table 5.1.11
- Nonstandard operating pressure in addition to the name of the gas
- Where the WAGD system is served by the vacuum system, the area alarm shall be labeled for both systems
- Intakes and Exhausts shall be labeled to state the specific function to distinguish them from the patient supply piping
Pipe labels shall be located as follows:
- At no more than 20’ intervals
- At least once above every room
- At both sides of walls or partitions where the pipe runs through
- At least once in every story height traversed by risers
Source Equipment Labeling
Medical gas and vacuum source equipment shall be labeled or tagged to identify the patient medical gas, the medical support gas, the vacuum or WAGD system and to include:
- Name of the gas or vacuum system
- Gas or vacuum color code
- Rooms, areas, or buildings served
- Emergency contact information
Station Outlet and Inlet Labeling
Medical gas and vacuum station inlets and outlets shall be labeled with:
- Name or chemical symbol of the gas or vacuum system
- Gas or vacuum color code
- Nonstandard operating pressure in addition to the name of the gas if not standard gauge pressure
Medical Gas Container Labeling
Portable cryogenic gas containers must be labeled in the following ways:
- A wraparound label identifying the contents must be present.
- The name of the gas contained within it must be present in lettering at least 2 inches high either in the designated color or in white against a background of the designated color.
- Names must be printed all the way around the label and readable around the entire container.
- The phrase “for medical use” or “medical gas” must appear in conspicuous lettering.
Ensuring Your Compliance
Evergreen Medical Services has expert inspectors who can verify that your medical gas systems are compliant with all regulations, as well as training to ensure your personnel follow all necessary procedures. To learn more, get in touch with us today.