Greenerade

AIA.OC New 2014 California Lighting Title-24 (T24) Effective July 1st, 2014. LTG

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Dec 282013
 

Architects and Designers,

 

Be prepared and design the building with the new code in mind.

 

It will be a mojoe loss of time, if you receive a plan check comments that all designs must be changes.

 

As always email all your questions. Here is the Hyperlink for the lecture.

Lighting T24

 

PS: Happy New Year

 

AIA OC New California Green Code 2014 CalGreen 2014 Changes effective 1/1/2014

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Dec 282013
 

Architects and Designers,

Even though the Title 24 adoption was extended to July 1st of 2014, CalGreen Code will be live and well on your door step.

 

Get ready.

 

Here is the Lecture series provided at AIA.OC….          Read and as always ask questions.

Final presentation cal green code change December 2013

NFPA 99 and Engineering Concerns- Coordinations, AHJ, NFPA 2012 vs 2005

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Sep 102013
 

Saum 9 11 2013 NFPA 99 ASPE LA OC Symposium

 

 

Attached is the presentation of NFPA 99- 2012 with multiple angles and dimensions.

 

A. NFPA 99 now it is code

B. NFPA 99 is now based on Risk Category

C. Changes into NFPA 99 are massive.

D. All AHJ’s due to lack of understanding of NFPA 99 they are confused.

E. No one know what to check and who to check.

F. No uniformities in jurisdictions

G. It is required to have ASPE and Jurisdictions to have a global meeting.

H. Stakeholders: Engineers, Fire Departments, Building Officials, Med Gas Installers, and Equipment Manufacturers

I.                   ….

 

Enjoy the Article

Please Email comments.

Saum

“The Battle of” Medical Gas, NFPA 99 and Plumbing Codes. Basic Chemistry- Gas Laws

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Mar 132013
 

“The Battle of”

Medical Gas, NFPA 99 and Plumbing Codes

 

Introduction

If you study chemistry and matters, you will easily bump into these chapters in the book that deals with intra and intermolecular forces with gases, the gas laws (Ideal, Charles, and Boyle, Avagadro), the density, the Dalton’s law of partial pressure, grahams’ law of diffusion and effusion.

 

Without taking the reader to a four month Journey in Chemistry, the basics needed to understand NFPA 99 and Plumbing Codes.

 

Fundamentals of Gas Laws

On earth the matter is subdivided into three categories, solids, with fixed volume and weight occupying known boundaries, the liquid, where the boundaries must be contain in an open container, and gas, where the boundaries are defined within a closed container.

 

The Gas Laws

The nature of gas can be determined with a simple gas law. We need to assume that gases are ideal and not “real”.

 

Ideal Gases

Based in ideal gas assumption, the following properties.

  • All random motions of gas particles are in constant motion,
  • The conservation of energy on impact of the gas particle holds true. All particles are elastic.
  • All gas molecules do not hat attractive or repulsive interactions based on magnetic field.
  • The average kinetic energy of gas is proportional to its temperature, where all molecules have same temperature.

 

The property of gases are simple: Temperature, T (Kelvin), volume, V, and pressure, P. Based on quantity (n=number of moles). A reference STP stands for Standard temperature and pressure at 273 degrees K (or zero degree Celsius) and one atmosphere.

 

In an Ideal gas law, the equation can be written as:

PV=nRT

P is the absolute gauge pressure, T is in Kelvin, n is the number of molecules, R is a constant, and V is the volume.

 

 

Pressure:

 

Measuring the Pressure of a Gas

Gas pressure is a gauge of the number and force of collisions between gas particles and the walls of the container that holds them. The SI unit for pressure is the pascal Pa), but other pressure terms include atmospheres atms)millimeters of mercury (mmHg), and torr. The following is a list of all of the standard pressure in every unit for pressure. Memorize these for the exam so you can convert units where necessary:

760 mmHg

760 torr

1.00 atm

101,325 Pa

101.325 kPa

The piece of lab equipment specifically designed to measure the pressure of gases is known as the barometer. A barometer uses the height of a column of mercury to measure gas pressure in millimeters of mercury or torr (1 mmHg = 1 torr). The mercury is pushed up the tube from the dish until the pressure at the bottom of the tube (due to the mass of the mercury) is balanced by the atmospheric pressure.

When using a barometer, you calculate gas pressure with the following equation:

Gas pressure = atmospheric pressure – h (height of the mercury)

The open-tube manometer is another device that can be used to measure pressure. The open-tube manometer is used to measure the pressure of a gas in a container.

 

The pressure of the gas is given by h (the difference in mercury levels) in units of torr or mmHg. Atmospheric pressure pushes on the mercury from one direction, and the gas in the container pushes from the other direction. In a manometer, since the gas in the bulb is pushing more than the atmospheric pressure, you add the atmospheric pressure to the height difference:

gas pressure = atmospheric pressure + h

There is one other possibility for a manometer question that could appear on the SAT II Chemistry test: they could ask you about a closed-tube manometer. Closed-tube manometers look similar to regular manometers except that the end that’s open to the atmospheric pressure in a regular manometer is sealed and contains a vacuum. In these systems, the difference in mercury levels (in mmHg) is equal to the pressure in torr.

 

 

Boyle’s Law

 

Boyle’s law is simply when in an experiment the temperature and number of molecules are constant, where the ideal gas law equation is simplified to:

PV = Constant.                     Boyles’ Law

 

As the pressure increases, the volume reduces and as the volume increases, the pressure decreases. This inverse proportionality of pressure and volume is known as Boyles Law. In an enclosed balloon, as the volume increases, the pressure decreases.

 

Boyles law between two states can be written as:

 

P1V1=  P2V2                        Boyles’ Law

Where the 1 and 2 identifies the properties of gas in state 1 and in state 2.

 

 

Charles’s Law

Charles’s law is similar to Boyles law where one property remains constant, the pressure and number of molecules. Ideal gas law equation reduces to:

 

V/T= Constant                      Charles’ Law

 

In Charles’ law the relation between the temperature and volume is directly proportional. That is if temperature increases, the volume will increase. The ideal gas law between two gas state becomes:

V1/T1= V2/T2                        Charles’ Law

 

Medical Gas (Med Gas) Basics. Types. Properties. Piping.

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Mar 132013
 

Medical Gas

 

Types of Medical Gases are based on their use:  To Heal or therapeutic gases, To Experiment or laboratory gases, and To Surgery or anesthesia

 

The methods of creating gases are different from products to products, for example for oxygen production, methods to Manufacture O₂ are:

 

  • Fractional Distillation, Electrolysis of H₂O, Chemical Decomposition, Physical Separation
  • Fractional Distillation
  • cheapest and most common method to manufacture O₂: air is filtered to remove pollutants, H₂O and CO₂. air is then liquefied by compression and cooled by rapid expansion. the resulting mixture is heated in a distillation tower and then transferred to cryogenic storage cylinders
  • Electrolysis of H₂O
  • separates oxygen from water
  • Chemical Decomposition
  • heating of oxygen to remove impurities
  • Physical Separation
  • uses oxygen concentrators to extract oxygen from ambient air; produces the least amount of oxygen

 

 

A Comprehensive table for Medical Gas piping:

 

Medical Gas and Fluid

Gas Color/ Pressure Odor Taste Chemical Composition flammable Application, minimum flow rate: Note 1- Any room designed for a permanently located respiratory ventilator or anesthesia machine shall have an outlet capable of a flow rate of 180 LPM (6.36 CFM) at the station outlet. Color  
Air (AIR), Medical Air, Med Air Colorless 50–55 psi Odorless Tasteless 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% trace elements.   .71 CFM per outlet1 yellow/black  
Oxygen (O) Colorless 50–55 psi Odorless Tasteless 21% of the earth’s atmosphere; Liquid oxygen exists at cryogenic temperature, -300ºF at atmospheric pressure. When warmed expand to fill a volume 860 times its liquid volume. not flammable but does support combustion respiratory therapy and anesthesia, .71 CFM per outlet1 (20 LPM) Green/white or white/green  
Carbon Dioxide (CO) Colorless 50–55 psi Odorless Tasteless    does not support combustion or life. Occasionally used for surgical procedures and laboratory applications, 0.71 CFM per outlet1 Gray/black or gray/white  
Helium (He) Colorless 50–55 psi Odorless Tasteless heliox in a 80/20 or a 70/30 mixture   .71 CFM per outlet  

Brown/ white

 
Nitrogen (N2) Colorless 160–185 psi Odorless Tasteless 78% of the earth’s atmosphere   pipe joining and pressure testing purposes, to power instruments, 15 CFM (0.42 m3/min.) free air per outlet Black/white  
Nitric Oxide (NO) Colorless 50 55 psi Faint Odor Faint Taste      a vasodilator and used more in the neonatal unit black/ White  
Nitrous Oxide (NO)/Oxide of Nitrogen Colorless / 50 to 60 psig Odorless/

“sweetish”

smell

Tasteless Exists as a gas at atmospheric conditions   used as an anesthetic, Capable of producing the first and second stages of anesthesia when inhaled, Oxygen is released under conditions of combustion, creating an oxygen-enriched atmosphere, .71 CFM per outlet light blue  
Oxygen/carbon dioxide mixture O2CO2n (n is % of CO2) 50-55 psi           Green/white  
Waste Anesthesia Gas Disposal (WAGD)       as “scavenging” or” evacuation   capture and carry away gases vented from the patient breathing circuit during the normal operation of gas anesthesia or analgesia equipment; can be connected to the medical surgical vacuum system under certain conditions but discouraged. Violet/white  
Medical Air (MA)
  • 50 to 60 psig
   
  • The quality of the local ambient air should be considered prior to its selection for compressors and treatment equipment.
  Medical air is supplied from cylinders, bulk containers, medical air compressors and treatment equipment, or has been reconstituted from oxygen and nitrogen; Exclusively used for human respiration or calibration of devices for respiratory application; Primarily used for respiratory therapy; Hydrocarbon carryover from the compressor poses a threat to the end user and increases the risk of fire especially when mixed with oxygen; A medical air compressor is designed to exclude oil from the airstream and compression chamber and that does not under normal operating conditions, or any single fault, add any toxic or flammable contaminants to the compressed air.    
Instrument Air (IA)  200 psig     Substitute for nitrogen for powering instruments unrelated to human;    respiration (surgical tools, ceiling arms, etc.); Medical air and instrument air are distinct systems for mutually exclusive applications.    
Medical Vacuum (MV) 15″ to 30” Hg     An assembly of central vacuum producing equipment and a network of piping for patient suction in medical, medical-surgical, and waste anesthetic gas disposal(WAGD) applications   Primarily used for patient treatment in surgery, recovery, and ICU to remove fluids and aid in drainage.1 SCFM (0.03 sm3/min.) per inlet. For testing and certification purposes, individual station inlets shall be capable of a flow rate of 3 SCFM, while maintaining a system pressure of not less than 12 inches (305 mm) at the nearest adjacent vacuum inlet. White/black  
Nonmedical air (level 3 gas-powered device)             Yellow-and-white diagonal stripe/black  
Nonmedical and Level 3 vacuum             White-and-black diagonal stripe/black boxed  
Laboratory air             Yellow-and-white checkerboard/black  
Laboratory vacuum             White-and-black checkerboard/black boxed  
Other mixtures       Gas A%/ Gas B%     Colors as above Major gas for background/ minor gas for text  
Instrument air 160–185 psi           Red/white  

 

OSHPD Facility categories. Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development

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Mar 132013
 

The Organizations that deal with the gases or any type of hazards within City are the building and Fire departments. OSHPD or Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. OSHPD has multiple levels:

 

 

OSHPD Facilities

OSHPD 1 General acute-care hospitals and skilled nursing and/or intermediate-care facilities
OSHPD 2 Single-story skilled nursing and/or intermediate-care facilities utilizing type V wood or light steel-frame construction
OSHPD 3 Licensed clinics
OSHPD 4 Correctional treatment  centers

 

For the discussion for this article, we are only interested on OSHPD 3 facilities. These facilities are now under jurisdiction of local authorities. The most confusing area is that who is in charge? Who controls this facilities design and construction?

NFPA99- 2005 Categories. Med Gas Outlet Required. Vacuum Piping Systems

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Mar 132013
 

 

 

The other standard is written by National Fire Protection Association, NFPA99. In this standard which in near future will be considered as code, the gases used in medical industry are subdivided into three categories for 2005 and four in 2012. The categories are based on level of  injuries or death that is caused during the operations:

NFPA99- 2005

Gas and Vacuum Systems
Level  1 “System serving patients where an interruption of the piped gas or vacuum system would place patients in imminent danger of morbidity or mortality.” In other words, Facilities where an interruption of the piped systems would place the patients in immediate danger of morbidity or mortality. This is usually limited to hospitals where patients are dependent for life on the gases or where mechanical ventilation is utilized at any time.

Section 5.1

Level 2 “Interruption of system would place patient at manageable risk of morbidity or mortality.” In other words: Facilities where an interruption in the piped systems would place the patients at manageable risk of morbidity or mortality. This is limited to facilities that stand apart from hospitals, are not interconnected to hospital medical gases, and the patients do not require mechanical ventilation or assisted mechanical ventilation, including during anesthesia

Section 5.2

Level 3 Interruption of system would terminate procedure but would not put patient at risk.” Facilities where interruptions in the piped systems would terminate procedures but would not place the patients at risk of morbidity or mortality. The facility’s total quantity of gases, except nitrogen, does not exceed 3,000 cubic feet, and only cylinders are used to supply oxygen and nitrous oxide to the facility (exception for cryogenic liquid oxygen). This is usually limited to occupancies like dental offices.

Section 5.3

Level 4 In NFPA 2012 not in 2005

 

 

 

 

The Other code is the Uniform Plumbing Code, Chapter 13 that controls the medical gas design and installation.

 

 

Table 13-3 MINIMUM OUTLETS/INLETS PER STATION

LOCATION

OXYGEN

MEDICAL 

MEDICAL 

NITROUS 

NITROGEN

HELIUM

CARBON 

VACUUM

AIR

OXIDE

DIOXIDE

4. Vacuum inlets required are in addition to any inlets used as part of a scavenging system for removal of anesthetizing gases.
Patient rooms for medical/surgical, obstetrics, and pediatrics 1/bed 1/bed 1/bed
Examination/treatment for nursing units 1/bed 1/bed
Intensive care (all) 3/bed 3/bed 2/bed
Nursery- Includes pediatric nursery. 2/bed 2/bed 1/bed
General operating rooms 2/room 3/room4 2/room 1/room 1/room
Cytoscopic and invasive special procedures 2/room 3/room4 2/room
Recovery delivery and labor/delivery/recovery rooms- Includes obstetric recovery. 2/bed 2/bed 1/bed
2/room 3/room4 1/room
Labor rooms 1/bed 1/bed 1/bed
First aid and emergency treatment- Emergency trauma rooms used for surgical procedures shall be classified as general operating rooms. 1/bed 1/bed4 1/bed
Autopsy 1/station 1/station
Anesthesia workroom 1/station 1/station

 

 

 

TABLE 13-5 OUTLET RATING FOR VACUUM PIPING SYSTEMS

 

FREE-AIR ALLOWANCE, EXPRESSED AS CFM (LPM) AT 1 ATMOSPHERE

ZONE ALLOWANCES CORRIDORS-RISERS MAIN SUPPLY LINE-VALVES

LOCATION OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL VACUUM OUTLETS

PER ROOM

PER OUTLET

SIMULTANEOUS USAGE, FACTOR PERCENT

AIR TO BE TRANSPORTED CFM (LPM)- Free air at 1 atmosphere

Operating Rooms
Major “A” (Radical, Open Heart)

3.5 (99.1)

100

3.5 (99.1)

(Organ Transplant)

3.5 (99.1)

100

3.5 (99.1)

(Radical Thoracic)

3.5 (99.1)

100

3.5 (99.1)

Major “B”(All Other Major ORs)

2.0 (56.6)

100

2.0 (56.6)

Minor

1.0 (28.3)

100

1.0 (28.3)

Delivery Rooms

1.0 (28.3)

100

1.0 (28.3)

Recovery Rooms (Post-Anesthesia) and Intensive Care Units (a minimum of 2 outlets per bed in each such department)
1st outlet at each bed

3.0 (85.0)

50

1.5 (42.5)

2nd outlet at each bed

1.0 (28.3)

50

0.5 (14.2)

3rd outlet at each bed

1.0 (28.3)

10

0.1 (2.8)

All others at each bed

1.0 (28.3)

10

0.1 (2.8)

Emergency Rooms

1.0 (28.3)

100

1.0 (28.3)

Patient Rooms
Surgical

1.0 (28.3)

50

0.5 (14.2)

Medical

1.0 (28.3)

10

0.1 (2.8)

Nurseries

1.0 (28.3)

10

0.1 (2.8)

Treatment and Examining Rooms

0.5 (14.2)

10

0.05 (1.4)

Autopsy Area

2.0 (56.6)

20

0.4 (11.3)

Inhalation Therapy, Central Supply and Instructional Areas

1.0 (28.3)

10

0.1 (2.8)