Is a containerised PSA plant cheaper?

The sources differ: PATH and CHAI (2021) noted lower plant housing costs, while Assist International, on Open Critical Care, says PSA plants are much more expensive in a container and take longer to build.

Does a containerised plant still need a building?

Assist International says a support building is still needed to manage cylinders being filled and the cylinder manifold that supplies the pipeline.

What does the site need for an ULTRAOX plant?

A clean, level area reachable by a crane, condensate drainage, fixing for the equipment and three-phase power; the plant can be connected to a diesel generator.

Containerised vs plant-room oxygen plant

Q: Containerised vs plant-room oxygen plant

A containerised oxygen plant is a PSA plant pre-assembled in a shipping container, while a plant-room plant is assembled on site in a building; WHO guidance (2023) says containerised and skid-mounted plants make installation smoother but are not feasible for bigger sizes, typically above 30 Nm³/h.

WHO's Foundations of medical oxygen systems (February 2023) states that PSA plants can be built on site, skid-mounted or containerised, and delivered as turn-key units; the choice is one of the factors in the acquisition cost, alongside housing or shelter, ventilation, air conditioning and heating, and a diesel generator. PATH and CHAI (July 2021) noted that systems may be assembled on site or come pre-assembled on a skid or in a shipping container, and that a skid-mounted plant should sit in a well-ventilated housing for security and protection from the weather.

What the sources say

Factor	What the sources say
Installation	WHO (2023): containerised and skid-mounted plants facilitate smoother installation
Capacity	WHO (2023): container and skid solutions are not feasible for bigger sizes, typically above 30 Nm³/h
Housing cost	PATH and CHAI (2021): a containerised plant requires lower plant housing costs
Overall cost and time	Assist International, on Open Critical Care: PSA plants are much more expensive in a container, and the time to build is longer
Support building	Assist International: a support building is still needed to manage cylinders being filled and the manifold that supplies the pipeline
Building a plant room	Assist International: masonry block and concrete walls with a concrete floor; a concrete roof where tropical storms bring high winds; thermal mass or roof insulation to limit heat
Local conditions	Assist International: it depends on local materials, how dusty and how hot the area is

Site conditions apply either way

PATH and CHAI noted that PSA equipment generates substantial heat and needs adequate air conditioning. The Global Fund commissioning guideline (August 2024) checks that the plant housing is at least 10 m from fire ignition and pollution sources and that the plant room stays between 5 and 40 °C, or the manufacturer's recommended temperature, during testing. Global Fund sustainability guidance adds that extreme heat and cold should be mitigated, and that air pollution, flooding and noise risks should be handled through siting.

For an ULTRAOX plant, the ULTRAOX datasheet asks for a clean, level area easily reached by lifting machinery or a crane, ambient air reasonably free from dust and chemical contamination, a drainage system for condensate, a fixing system for the equipment and three-phase power; the plant can be connected to a diesel generator, and smokers must stay at least 10 metres away.

ULTRAOX in a container or a room

ULTRAOX CO is built inside a sea container with all equipment included. The ULTRAOX datasheet presents the container system for sites where no civil space or technical room is available, or where a local installation cannot be afforded. ULTRAOX SC plants are parameterised and tested in the factory and ready to start on site, and the ULTRACON datasheet lists container and skid-mounted solutions. See containerised oxygen plant and site requirements.