Pipeline systems
Ceiling pendant vs bed head unit
Short answer
NHS England's HTM 02-01 (2026) lists ceiling pendants and bedhead trunking as medical supply units: pendants are ceiling-mounted and can be fixed or multi-movement with flexible hoses, while a bed head unit is wall-mounted trunking; HTM 02-01 asks for terminal units on walls to sit between 900 mm and 1600 mm above floor level.
Both fall under ISO 11197:2019, which covers the basic safety and essential performance of medical supply units, manufactured in a factory or assembled on site, that incorporate patient care services.
| HTM 02-01 (2026) | Ceiling pendant | Bed head unit |
|---|---|---|
| Outlet layout | Where terminal units are on the underside, they form a circular array in the same sequence as a horizontal array, clockwise viewed from below; the AGS outlet may sit in the centre | Wall-mounted terminal units between 900 mm and 1600 mm above finished floor level |
| Pipework | Fixed pendants should be the default option, to remove the need for flexible connections; in movable pendants, BS EN ISO 5359 hoses run from the terminal unit NIST to a female NIST in the ceiling | Under the HTM rules for medical supply units, including bedhead trunking: pre-piped trunking can be connected as a second fix once certificated as having passed a first-fix test, or the pipework can be installed in the trunking on site |
| Probe at the outlet (Part B) | Must be free to rotate in a pendant or boom-mounted terminal unit | Should not swivel in a wall-mounted terminal unit |
| Electrical services | Low voltage, extra-low voltage, communications and data kept together but separate from the pipelines; unprotected live parts reachable only with a tool | Under the same rules for medical supply units: separate chambers for electrical services and for medical gas and vacuum pipelines, with the gas chamber ventilated; horizontal trunking may include lighting |
Points specific to pendants
- A proposal for a multi-movement pendant should be reviewed by the Authorising Engineer (MGPS), with approval sought from the Medical Gas Safety Group.
- Hoses should be replaced every five years, unless environmental conditions dictate sooner replacement or the manufacturer's recommendations change.
- When planning operating-room pendants, the position of the operating luminaire and other ceiling-mounted devices should be taken into consideration. Where the operating room has an ultra-clean ventilation system, HTM 02-01 notes that it may be more practicable to incorporate the services in that system, which is particularly advantageous for surgical air because rigid pipework can be used, avoiding the pressure losses of flexible assemblies in pendant fittings.
- Electrical brakes are preferable for moving pendants, and medical air should not power pendant control or braking systems.
- Moving or replacing pendants with flexible hoses on NIST connectors is listed under high-hazard work in the permit to work system, as a case where a cross-connection hazard may arise.
Points that apply to both
- For medical supply units, HTM 02-01 makes rigid pipe the default option and says flexible connections should not be used within fixed non-adjustable or rotating units, as set out in BS EN ISO 11197.
- In critical care, HTM 02-01 asks for the terminal units on either side of the bed to be fed from A and B circuits.
- In Portugal, ACSS ET 03/2006 (v.2024) allows outlets to be mounted in technical trunking, on an extendable arm or on a ceiling support.
Ultra Controlo lists ceiling-mounted medical gas pendants for intensive care, operating theatres and recovery rooms, with access to oxygen, air, vacuum and electrical services, a pendant with a double swivel arm, and a wall-mounted bed head unit that integrates medical gas outlets, electrical sockets and lighting. See what is a medical gas pendant and what is a bed head unit.
More questions
How often are pendant hoses replaced?
HTM 02-01 (2026) says every five years, unless environmental conditions dictate sooner replacement or the manufacturer's recommendations change.
Which standard covers pendants and bed head units?
ISO 11197:2019 covers the basic safety and essential performance of medical supply units, a category that HTM 02-01 says includes ceiling pendants and bedhead trunking systems.
Sources
- NHS England, HTM 02-01 (2026) Part A, paragraphs 3.12, 3.13, 3.19, 3.21, 3.23, 3.24, 3.45, 7.100, 15.33, 15.115 to 15.118, 15.123 and 15.162
- NHS England, HTM 02-01 (2026) Part B, paragraphs 4.10 and 7.77, and the quarterly terminal unit tasks
- ISO 11197:2019 Medical supply units (iso.org summary)
- ACSS ET 03/2006 v.2024, Gases medicinais e aspiração, section 7.4
- ultracontrolo.com: Medical Gas Ceiling Pendants for ICU and Theatre
- ultracontrolo.com: Medical Gas Pendants with Double Swivel Arm
- ultracontrolo.com: Medical Bed Head Unit with Gas and Electrical Services
Ultra Controlo figures come from its technical datasheets. Third-party facts were read at the source on the date shown.