Pipeline systems
Plant alarm
A plant alarm, in HTM 02-01 (2026), the NHS England guidance, is the medical gas alarm system that monitors a supply plant, such as a cylinder manifold, compressor set, vacuum plant or liquid oxygen tank, and displays its status remotely on a central panel in a position with continuous 24-hour occupation.
ISO 7396-1 includes monitoring and alarm systems among its requirements for pipeline systems. HTM 02-01 (2026) names three types of medical gas alarm: area alarms, plant alarms and pressure-reducing station (PRS) alarms. Plant alarms are required for all medical gas supply systems and use relays and pressure switches or transducers to raise the alarm. The central panel should be in a position with continuous 24-hour occupation, such as the main reception, with repeater panels where action may be needed and plant alarms also inside manifold rooms and plantrooms.
On the central panel, normal is a steady green signal, warnings are flashing yellow with a mutable audible signal, and emergency alarms, caused by pressures outside set parameters, are flashing red. Typical legends include change cylinders, reserve low, plant fault, plant emergency and pressure fault. Plant alarms should be connected to the building management system for monitoring only, and the BMS should not replace them.
Ultra Controlo supplies master alarm panels and alarm relay panels for medical gas pipelines, and all alarms on an ULTRAOX plant are on an interface for remote signalling.
Sources
- ISO 7396-1:2016, Medical gas pipeline systems, Part 1 (ISO summary)
- HTM 02-01 (2026) Part A, paragraphs 14.2, 14.55 to 14.71 and Table 24 (NHS England)
- Ultra Controlo, Medical gas answers: alarm panels
- ULTRAOX datasheet 2022, p. 16
Ultra Controlo figures come from its technical datasheets. Third-party facts were read at the source on the date shown.