ISO 9170-1: terminal units for compressed medical gases and vacuum

Scope

A terminal unit is the outlet assembly where staff connect medical equipment to a pipeline, on a bed head unit, a wall or a ceiling pendant. ISO 9170-1 covers terminal units for compressed medical gases and vacuum. Its requirements aim at gas-specific assembly, mechanical resistance, flow, leakage and pressure drop, and at preventing a terminal unit from being interchanged between different gases and services.

The standard does not specify the dimensions of probes. National standards define the connection itself: the French NF S90-116, for example, describes the gas-specific quick-connect system between socket and probe and requires the socket to meet NF EN ISO 9170-1.

Edition and status

ISO 9170-1:2017 is edition 3, published in July 2017. ISO lists it as confirmed at its last systematic review (stage 90.93). Terminal units for anaesthetic gas scavenging systems are in a separate part, ISO 9170-2:2008.

What it means for hospitals and designers

• Non-interchangeability between gas and vacuum services is a system requirement of ISO 7396-1; ISO 9170-1 applies it at the outlet.
• Because ISO 9170-1 leaves probe dimensions open, a specification should name the connector system as well as the standard, so that outlets, hoses and medical devices match.
• AGSS outlets follow ISO 9170-2 and connect to disposal systems built to ISO 7396-2.