DIN 13260-2: probes and gas-specific connection points for outlets

What the standard covers

DIN 13260-2 specifies the dimensions and allocation of the probes and connection points that connect to the terminal units of medical gas pipeline systems, for medical gases and vacuum and for the supply and disposal of air and nitrogen for driving surgical tools. DIN Media's summary describes terminal units as the points where the operator connects and disconnects anaesthetic machines, lung ventilators and other medical equipment; gas-specific probes and connection points ensure that each piece of equipment is provided with the proper gas.

Edition in force and status

• DIN Media marks DIN 13260-2:2025-06 as current (15 pages, original language German). It replaces DIN 13260-2:2013-09.
• The 2025 edition extends the scope to probes and connection points for argon, oxygen 93, and air and nitrogen for driving surgical tools without exhaust air recirculation, and deletes the probe designated "free" for profile No. 3 (d1 = 14 mm, d2 = 11.5 mm, d3 = 3.5 mm).
• An informative annex explains why oxygen 93 has its own gas-specific probe.
• DIN Media lists a two-page corrigendum, DIN 13260-2 Berichtigung 1:2026-09.
• Working committee NA 176-05-04 AA, Central gas supply systems, of the DIN Standards Committee Health Technologies (NAGesuTech) is responsible for the document.

Part 1 of the series

DIN 13260-1:1990-12, Medical gas supply system; central supply and piping system, is withdrawn. DIN Media lists it as replaced by DIN EN 737-3 (editions 1998-11 and 2000-01) and DIN EN ISO 7396-1 (editions 2007-07 and 2010-08). The current German edition of the pipeline standard is DIN EN ISO 7396-1:2019-06, the German version of EN ISO 7396-1:2016 + A1:2019.

Relation to other standards

• ISO 9170-1, the international standard for terminal units, does not specify the dimensions of probes.
• WHO, in Foundations of medical oxygen systems (2023), lists the German DIN 13260-2 style among the outlet connector styles, with the French NF S90-116, British BS5682-1998, Japanese JIS, Australian AS2896 and American AGA styles.
• The pipeline system itself is covered by EN ISO 7396-1.