# What is medical air?

Medical air is compressed air supplied through the hospital pipeline, breathed by patients and used to drive medical equipment, and the European Pharmacopoeia treats it as a medicine.

The Pharmacopoeia sets limits for its carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and oil content, among others. ULTRAAR SC plants are specified to the Pharmacopoeia parameters: CO2 below 500 ppm, CO below 5 ppm, SO2 below 1 ppm, NOx below 2 ppm, particles below 1 μm, oil exempt and a working dew point of −46 °C.

## Sources

- [Ultra Controlo, Medical gas answers: ULTRAAR SC datasheet; European Pharmacopoeia, monograph 1238 (Medicinal air).](https://www.ultracontrolo.com/medical-gas-answers#what-is-medical-air)
- [ultracontrolo.com: Medical air for hospitals](https://www.ultracontrolo.com/medical-air-for-hospitals)
- [ACSS, ET 03/2006 v.2024, Especificações técnicas para gases medicinais e aspiração em edifícios hospitalares, section 4.6.1](https://www.acss.min-saude.pt/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ET-03_2006_v2024-Gases-medicinais_VF.pdf)

Reviewed: 2026-10-22. Ultra Controlo engineering. https://library.ultracontrolo.com/answers/what-is-medical-air/