ISO 7396-2: anaesthetic gas scavenging disposal systems

What the standard covers

ISO 7396-2 is Part 2 of the ISO 7396 series on medical gas pipeline systems. It deals with the disposal part of an anaesthetic gas scavenging system (AGSS): the power device, the pipework, and their performance, documentation, testing and commissioning. Its stated aims are patient safety and keeping the exposure of operators and other people to anaesthetic gases and vapours to a minimum.

The standard applies to disposal systems that connect, through AGSS terminal units complying with ISO 9170-2, to AGSS receiving systems complying with ISO 8835-3. ISO has since withdrawn ISO 8835-3: it was revised by ISO 80601-2-13, the standard for anaesthetic workstations, whose scope includes the anaesthetic gas scavenging system, and the edition in force is ISO 80601-2-13:2022. Part 1 of the series, ISO 7396-1, does not cover these systems and refers them to Part 2.

Edition in force and status

The edition in force is ISO 7396-2:2007, the second edition, published in April 2007. On 22 October 2026 ISO lists it as confirmed (stage 90.93) at its last systematic review.

What it means for a hospital or designer

• AGS disposal is a system of its own. ISO 7396-2 requires the avoidance of cross connections between AGS disposal systems and medical gas and vacuum pipelines, so it should not be designed as a branch of the medical vacuum network.
• Three standards make up the chain: the disposal system to ISO 7396-2, its terminal units to ISO 9170-2 and the receiving system, which ISO 7396-2 still refers to the withdrawn ISO 8835-3; for that part, name ISO 80601-2-13:2022 + Amd 1:2026, the edition in force of the standard that revised it. Check that all three are named in the specification.
• Plan for testing, commissioning and handover documentation of the disposal system, which the standard covers alongside design and performance.

Related standards

• ISO 7396-1: pipeline systems for compressed medical gases and vacuum, the Part 1 of the same series.
• ISO 9170-2: terminal units for anaesthetic gas scavenging systems.
• ISO 80601-2-13:2022: anaesthetic workstations, including the anaesthetic gas scavenging system. ISO 80601-2-13 revised ISO 8835-3 (AGSS transfer and receiving systems), which ISO has withdrawn.

The ULTRASEG active AGSS from Ultra Controlo complies with EN ISO 7396-2, according to its datasheet. It runs with one pump on duty while the other is on standby or in maintenance, and its terminal units have an adjustable orifice to set the flow.