# Vacuum receiver

A vacuum receiver is the vessel, or reservoir, of a medical vacuum plant; NHS England's HTM 02-01 (2026) says a vessel should be provided for the efficient running of the vacuum pump during low use, sized to minimise stop/start cycles, which should not exceed the manufacturer's recommendations, typically six per hour.

HTM 02-01 also asks for vacuum vessels to be installed with a bypass, so that each can be isolated, drained and inspected without interrupting the vacuum supply, for provision to drain the reservoir under vacuum conditions, for lifting lugs and feet, for multiple reservoirs to be arranged in parallel and for a vacuum indicator on each vessel (10.8, 10.20, 10.22, 10.45). Portugal's ACSS ET 03/2006 (v.2024) sets the vessel capacity so that each pump makes at most 20 starts per hour, and sets a minimum relative depression of 60 kPa in the vessel.

ULTRAVAC medical vacuum systems use vacuum vessels of 24 to 6,000 litres, in vertical or horizontal configuration, with an epoxy paint finish or optional hot-dipped galvanising, a vacuum gauge, a drain valve and additional free connections; in the datasheet table, vessel volumes run from 200 to 1,000 litres. [ULTRAVAC DENTAL](https://library.ultracontrolo.com/products/ultravac-dental/) units use stainless steel vacuum stabilisation tanks.

## Sources

- [NHS England, HTM 02-01 (2026) Part A, paragraphs 10.8, 10.19 to 10.22 and 10.45](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/health-technical-memorandum-02-01-medical-gas-pipeline-systems-part-a-design-installation-validation-verification-aug-2026.pdf)
- [ACSS ET 03/2006 v.2024, sections 4.8 and 6.4 (medical vacuum)](https://www.acss.min-saude.pt/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ET-03_2006_v2024-Gases-medicinais_VF.pdf)
- [ULTRAVAC datasheet, pp. 3 and 5](https://www.ultracontrolo.com/products/ultravac)
- [ULTRAVAC DENTAL datasheet, p. 2](https://www.ultracontrolo.com/products/ultravac-dental)

Reviewed: 2026-10-22. Ultra Controlo engineering. https://library.ultracontrolo.com/glossary/vacuum-receiver/