Hospital as Hazardous area

[brother]

I know that most operating rooms in hospitals is suppose to NOT use flammable anesthetizing agents. I see 517.60 2008 NEC gives the requirments of wiring this area, anyone ever did O.R. in explosion proof type boxes etc.. wiring methods.??
seing how this is a Class 1 Div 1 area.

 

[roger]

The reason some of this is still in 517 is that some other countries still use flammable anesthesia and the NEC along with NFPA 99 is used as guidelines in some of these areas.

From NFPA 99

This material is being retained in this annex by the Technical Committee on Anesthesia Services for the following reasons: (1) the Committee is aware that some countries outside the United States still use this type of anesthetics and rely on the safety measures herein; and (2) while the Committee is unaware of any medical schools in the U.S. still teaching the proper use of flammable anesthetics or any health care facilities in the U.S. using flammable anesthetics, retaining this material will serve as a reminder of the precautions that would be necessary should the use of this type of anesthetics be re-instituted.

Roger

 

[pfalcon]

Even without flammable anesthesia - pure oxygen is present in most OR's. There is a push to use mixed air due to about 5 deaths/year due to oxygen fires.

 

[roger]

Even without flammable anesthesia - pure oxygen is present in most OR's. There is a push to use mixed air due to about 5 deaths/year due to oxygen fires.

Can you provide any back up to this? I am currious and would like to read these investigations

Roger

 

[pfalcon]

Can you provide any back up to this? I am currious and would like to read these investigations

Roger

Unfortunately I read more than just a lot. I can't put my hands on that source atm. The source below for medical devices reports about 10 patient fires/year with pure oxygen as a common oxidizer source.

http://mdsr.ecri.org/summary/detail.aspx?doc_id=8197

The following quotes about 30 patient fires/year and recommends questioning any use of 100% oxygen in favor of 30% max oxygen. They are not trying to ban 100% but to question so 100% is not used without really needing it.

http://www.guideline.gov/summary/pdf.aspx?doc_id=3688&stat=1&string=open+AND+source

Electric, electrostatic, and laser devices are listed as common ignition sources. Mixed air typically needs a traditional fuel source like a flammable anesthetic. Pure oxygen turns a lot of non-traditional items into fuel like operating room tent drapes.