Hospitals and healthcare facilities rely on medical gas and vacuum systems to deliver lifesaving care. Respirators, neonatal incubators, anesthesia delivery and many other critical technologies depend on these systems to function properly. When they don’t, patient safety is at risk — and emergency repairs can be disruptive and costly.

The key to keeping medical gas and vacuum systems running reliably is planning. Facilities need the right parts on hand, clear maintenance strategies and a strong understanding of how their systems are designed to operate under both normal and high-demand conditions. That level of preparation looks different at every facility, depending on its size, complexity, and internal resources.

In this environment, strong working relationships are essential. Some healthcare facilities rely on trusted third-party service providers. Others employ in-house medical gas teams. In both cases, success depends on having knowledgeable partners, responsive support and fast access to parts and expertise when they’re needed most.

“Hospitals and healthcare facilities need partners they can trust — people who show up, understand their systems and solve problems quickly,” said Wyatt Franks, Director of Sales at Pattons Medical. “The facilities that perform best are the ones that invest in preparation and work with partners who truly understand their equipment and operational needs.”

Building trust through preparation

Whether a facility relies on an internal medical gas support team or an external service partner, trust is built through familiarity, preparation, and consistent support.

A strong medical gas program starts with understanding how a specific facility operates. Systems differ from site to site, and successful maintenance strategies account for usage patterns, preparation requirements, environmental conditions, regulatory expectations, and long-term lifecycle planning. Facilities and service teams that take the time to build this knowledge are better positioned to prevent issues before they occur and respond quickly when they do.

Medical gas service providers — whether internal or third-party — play a critical role in keeping systems safe, compliant and operational. Their work often includes:

“Familiarity breeds trust,” Franks said. “When facilities and service teams take a proactive approach to planning and maintenance, they develop a deep understanding of what that system needs — and that’s what allows them to prevent problems rather than react to them.”

Supporting facilities and service providers

Pattons Medical plays a unique role in the medical gas ecosystem. The company does not compete with third-party service providers or replace in-house facility teams. Instead, it supports both by providing reliable access to parts, technical guidance, training, and responsive communication.

The goal is to help ensure medical gas and vacuum systems are prepared, compliant, and ready to perform when patient care depends on them.

Pattons Medical supports facilities and service partners by:

“When facilities and service partners are confident, equipped and supported by a team that responds quickly, they’re able to focus on what matters most — keeping patients safe,” Franks said.

The bigger picture

Healthcare facilities benefit when in-house teams, service providers and OEM partners work together. Parts availability and technical service are essential, but what truly drives success is the strength of the relationships behind them and the preparation built into daily operations.

When medical gas systems are well planned and properly supported, facilities experience fewer surprises during inspections, faster recovery when issues arise and less strain on maintenance staff. Technicians who understand a facility’s layout, equipment and operational priorities can act quickly — or better yet, prevent problems altogether. With strong OEM support behind them, they have the parts, training and documentation they need to work with confidence.

“Pattons Medical is just as focused on patient outcomes as the healthcare facilities we support,” Franks said. “Whether it’s a large hospital in a major metro area or a smaller facility serving a rural community, we take our responsibility seriously. At the end of the day, everything we do is about helping systems perform safely and reliably when lives depend on them.”

NFPA 99 does not change dramatically from year to year. Most updates are clarifications or small additions to compliance codes, and many will have several years before they are enforced. Some teams assume the changes are always minor, so they risk becoming an afterthought. But even the smallest revision can affect a facility for years.

“Awareness matters more than the size of the change,” explained Jonathan Mann, Medical and Laboratory Gas Consultant at Pattons Medical. “Engineers are not talking about code updates every day. These things do not come up until they are working on a relevant project Subtle changes have implications for operations, inspections, retrofits and future planning.”

Part of the challenge is that NFPA 99 is not adopted uniformly. Many states still follow editions that are more than a decade old, while others have moved ahead in uneven steps.

“Many states aren’t near 2024 updates, so some of this does not show up in daily conversations,” Mann said. “That does not mean the updates can be ignored. It simply means facilities need a way to stay informed before the next project or inspection brings the changes into focus.”

Pattons Medical is working to create more awareness about the issue. The company’s consultants work with engineers and service partners to interpret new requirements, answer questions before equipment purchases and offer insights on how code updates play out in other facilities.

What new NFPA 99 codes are signaling

Recent updates highlight why ongoing awareness is essential, even when changes appear small.

One of the most talked about revisions in the 2024 edition is the requirement for an auxiliary connection on the patient side of the source valve. The purpose is to provide a location where a supplemental supply can be added in an emergency. Mann said the practical implications are not simple.

“Adding the tap is easy. Figuring out how a facility will actually use it is where things get complicated. Some of this equipment is large and needs space and power that older facilities do not have,” he said.

Pressure drop requirements tell a similar story. New rules require calculations that document no more than a 10 percent pressure loss, and hospitals must keep those records on file. This is less about design and more about understanding that documentation and verification procedures are becoming more precise.

Mann said the burden on facilities will increase. Other updates reinforce this steady rise in detail.

“The expectations around documentation are getting higher. Hospitals will need to have their information organized and ready,” he said.

Revised pipe sizing guidance, minimum sizes for WAGD systems, new labeling requirements, cryogenic liquid withdrawal guidance and added inspection expectations each appear modest in isolation. Together, they represent a tightening of the code’s clarity and intent.

NFPA 99 is expanding into more clinical environments and refining expectations along the way.

These changes do not require hospitals to overhaul their systems overnight. They do, however, require awareness, especially for teams that may be working with legacy equipment, older piping layouts or outdated documentation.

Why engineers and facilities should stay informed

While engineers spec out the medical gas systems that facilities will rely on for decades, they should understand how small revisions influence maintenance, inspections and future capacity.

Many medical gas systems remain in service far longer than expected, and any update to NFPA 99 can introduce new obligations for testing, maintenance, labeling and documentation.

“Most of these updates will not change the equipment itself. They change what the hospital must do to keep the system compliant,” Mann explained. “For busy departments, this can be easy to overlook until the next inspection or until an expansion project shines a light on a problem.”

Pattons Medical works to close that gap by staying engaged with code changes and sharing insights early. Its consultants answer questions during planning reviews, and its service partners provide ongoing guidance on how systems are aging (specific to each facility) and how teams should respond to new code demands.

Preparing for what comes next

For health facility managers and medical gas engineers, the goal is not to chase every revision. It is to understand the direction of the code and work with partners who can interpret the details before they become obstacles.

A partner like Pattons Medical or one of its service providers can help teams build awareness and ensure systems are compliant both now and when they need to evolve.

Mann offered a practical reminder: “These are not changes you feel every day. But when the code moves and a facility is not ready, that is when it becomes a real issue. Staying on top of the changes, no matter how small they seem, lays a stronger foundation for future success.”

Medical gas and vacuum systems are mission-critical components of healthcare facilities, essential for ensuring patient safety and optimal clinical outcomes. This means reliability is crucial to success. A durable system that can be relied on to perform when it counts doesn’t just come from purchasing the right equipment, though. Quality is important, but reliability is built over time through the implementation of best practice maintenance and support strategies.

Long-term systems need long-term thinking. Medical gas and vacuum systems are designed to last 10-12+ years, but they only do so with proper care. Preventive maintenance protects a facility’s investment and reduces the risk of downtime or failure. The best way to design and implement a proper maintenance strategy is to go right to the source — developing a relationship with an expert partner like Pattons Medical.

We’re not just selling systems, we’re in it for the life of the equipment,” said Wyatt Franks, director of sales at Pattons Medical. “Hospitals rely on these systems every single day, and our role is to make sure their service partners have everything they need to keep them running. That means stocking the right parts, helping them plan for preventive maintenance and making it easy to get what they need fast.

What a proper strategy looks like

Several factors combine to create a superior parts and service strategy. An expert like Pattons Medical works with service companies, facility managers and engineers to design a program tailored to their unique facility.

A proper strategy often includes:

Pattons Medical supports each facility by working closely with their trusted service partners to plan preventive maintenance, stock critical parts and provide access to real-time system data through built-in HMI tools. From initial setup to long-term support, we help ensure that certified technicians have the training, resources and responsiveness they need to keep systems running and compliant year after year.

When we begin working with a service partner or facility, we help to put the strategy in place, from parts planning to system walkthroughs,” Franks explained. “Then, we stay connected through regular check-ins, fast response when something’s needed and long-term support that evolves with the facility. Our goal is to make sure they never feel like they’re on their own; that we’re with them for the life of the system.

When the clock is ticking

Despite the best of parts and service plans, components can and do fail. It’s not always because of poor maintenance — storms, power surges and other unexpected events can take systems offline. The most common points of failure are pumps, belts, dryers, starters and control panels.

In critical care settings, response time becomes crucial. Working with a partner that can deliver backup parts quickly helps facilities mitigate this challenge. Pattons Medical systems are designed with redundancy, but once a component fails, a facility is only one failure away from a critical response. They need to restore redundancy fast.

“In this environment, it’s not enough to respond, you must be ready. The first step is to have the proper backup parts on hand for immediate service. Next is to work with a partner like Pattons Medical that can quickly replenish those backup parts,” Franks explained.

Pattons Medical partners rely on fast turnaround because most hospitals don’t stock more than one backup part on site. This is especially important for NICUs, ORs or during surge events, like a pandemic. Pattons Medical even
stocks parts for other OEMs to ensure its facility partners aren’t left scrambling.

We maintain a robust parts stock so that we can ship out backup parts with next-day delivery,” Franks said. “We have seen systems fail for all sorts of reasons. The best strategy is to be completely prepared with redundancy and a plan to quickly restore that redundancy when needed.

How Pattons Medical makes it easy

Pattons Medical works with a network of service partners around the country to ensure facilities have healthy strategies. That means giving them the tools, parts and training to keep systems performing at their best. HMI screens give technicians instant access to system health, alarm histories, parts numbers and more. This eliminates guesswork and speeds up service. The company ensures service reminders

are embedded directly into the interface so that partners can stay ahead of inspection deadlines, wear-related maintenance and more.

Pattons Medical offers training to service partners, equipment documentation, and technical assistance. It ensures that its partners and the facilities they service are never left without the information they need to keep medical gas and vacuum systems optimally performing. The company views itself as part of the service team. Its success is directly tied to its customers’ success.

“Our goal is to make it easy — one PO, fair pricing, parts that ship fast. If we do that right, our partners will know that their challenges are being solved. We work to earn that trust every day,” Franks said.

Engineers have a critical role to play in ensuring medical vacuum systems meet the demands of health facilities. It’s important to choose the right size of system from the outset — the system needs to meet today’s requirements and be capable of meeting future needs.

Revamping or expanding a system due to increased sizing needs could be very expensive and difficult after installation. It could also be disruptive to the medical facility. Engineers should consider a range of parameters and be sure to utilize available tools when selecting a medical vacuum system to ensure peak performance.

New medical devices

As hospitals adopt new and more advanced medical devices, their need for more capacity in their vacuum systems can continually expand. Engineers should anticipate increased usage and design systems that can handle new equipment without compromising performance.

The top priority for medical vacuum systems is NFPA 99 compliance. Regulations are constantly updated, leaving many healthcare facilities with outdated medical vacuum systems that don’t meet the latest regulatory changes, which could lead to inefficiency and potential violations. Additionally, their systems might not keep pace with new medical devices that require expanded capacity.

“There is often a lag between state compliance requirements and facility upgrades. Engineers should proactively check whether their system design aligns with the most recent NFPA 99 changes,” said Pat Coyle, Medical and Laboratory Gas Consultant, Pattons Medical. “This includes such factors as pressure loss limitations, proper equipment placement and system expansion requirements.”

External catheters

External catheters are driving a significant change in vacuum system sizing requirements. The PureWick System, for example, is typically used for patient incontinence or to help wean patients off indwelling/Foley catheters. They can be used to assist limited night-shift nursing staff.

From a vacuum system perspective, each catheter adds anywhere from .88 – 1 SCFM to the total calculated demand. If a facility is using 40 catheters, that’s an additional 40 SCFM. If the original system was sized for 50 SCFM, now it needs to handle 90 SCFM — almost doubling their initial peak calculated demand.

“If engineers don’t factor in the use of external catheters, they risk under-sizing the vacuum system, which can lead to serious performance issues after installation,” Coyle said. “A vacuum system that’s too small is difficult and expensive to retrofit once it’s in place.”

Engineers should be aware of NFPA 99 code changes to design systems in accordance with the latest standards. For example, a recent update reduced the allowable pressure drop (vacuum loss) in piping due to the increased use of external catheters. Engineers should make sure the pipes are properly sized to handle the required SCFM capacity. If they fail to
account for pressure loss, the system may not function properly.

“The key takeaway for engineers is that vacuum system sizing is changing due to the increased use of external catheters. They need to stay ahead of these changes when designing new systems,” Coyle said.

Questions engineers should ask before installation:

Elevation considerations

Engineers should factor in their geographical location when sizing a system. Changes in elevation and altitude can significantly impact vacuum system performance. At higher elevations, thinner air causes systems to run hotter and lose vacuum efficiency.

Specifically, systems lose approximately 1” Hg for every 1,000 feet of elevation. Certain technologies struggle to operate efficiently above a certain altitude — unless they are specifically sized for high-altitude use.

Dry graphite vane pumps, for example, struggle above 4,100 feet due to running excessively hot. This wears down the graphite prematurely and can damage the internal chamber of the pump. Claw vacuum pumps sized 10 horsepower and above experience reduced efficiency at high altitudes, dropping from a maximum vacuum of 24” Hg at sea level to 19” Hg at 5,000 feet. Smaller horsepower systems can pull a deeper maximum vacuum, so it may be appropriate to multiplex smaller systems around the 5,000-foot elevation mark.

Equipment choices can mitigate these challenges. For elevations much above 5,300 feet, oil-lubricated vacuum pumps may be the best option. Pumps with variable frequency drives (VFD) optimize vacuum performance based on current needs. Pattons Medical advises installing a VFD on any claw pump above 4,000 feet and using an oil-lubricated vacuum for elevations above approximately 5,200 feet.

Engineers toolkit

Specifying engineers have many tools at their disposal to calculate the proper sizing for medical vacuum systems.

A Medical Vacuum Sizing Calculator, for example, helps determine peak demand and proper sizing for a facility, taking into account a wide array of variables. It enables you to enter external catheter counts or elevation measurements, for example, to help engineers size appropriately.

A Medical Vacuum Systems in High Altitudes chart offers engineers an easy way to upsize their peak calculated demand based on a facility’s elevation.

The most important asset an engineer can have, though, is a relationship with an expert. Consultations with the experts at a medical vacuum system provider can provide insights into the latest NFPA 99 updates, design recommendations, value-engineering solutions and more.

“It’s important to ask the right questions early,” Coyle explained. “Proper planning that accounts for all the variables that can affect medical vacuum systems can prevent a lot of costly headaches down the road. By working with an expert, engineers can ensure they design a system that is compliant, efficient and reliable for decades to come.”

Pattons Medical specializes in engineering, manufacturing, selling and servicing NFPA compliant air and vacuum systems for healthcare facilities. This includes medical air compressors, medical vacuum pump systems and pipeline products. These systems are essential for powering critical hospital devices such as respirators, ventilators and external catheters.

At ASHE 2025, visitors will have the opportunity to connect with Pattons Medical experts on its latest air system solutions and how the company supports engineers who work with medical facilities.

“We’re excited to be back at ASHE and reconnect with healthcare facility professionals this year,” said Wyatt Franks, Director of Sales at Pattons Medical. “This is a great opportunity to share how our technologies evolve to support medical needs, regulations, and ultimately, patient care.”

Pattons Medical will highlight its consultative services at the conference. The company works closely with engineers — whether it be system design stages, expansions or the end of a system’s lifecycle. The company’s experience helps engineers avoid common missteps that can lead to costly redesigns or operational challenges. This includes properly sizing systems, expandability and future-proofing. Pattons Medical specializes in facility planning (such as medical and instrument air systems) and helping facilities meet NFPA 99 codes, which vary across states.

Pattons Medical’s consultative services go beyond initial system design. The team also provides guidance for expansions, compliance audits and long-term capital improvement planning. This deeper involvement helps facilities operate safely and efficiently over the long term.

“Involving us early in the planning process makes a big difference,” Franks said. “ASHE is the perfect place to start these conversations. We are happy to connect and show how early planning with us can set up for long-term success.”

Pattons Medical at ASHE 2025 Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference

Booth Number: #513
When: July 27th – 30th, 2025
Where: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio
Website: www.ashe.org

To learn more about Pattons Medical and Laboratory gas offerings, visit: www.pattonsmedical.com

CONTACTS

ABOUT ELGi

ELGi North America, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a subsidiary of ELGi Equipments Limited, a leader in compressed air solutions for over 60 years. Established in 2012, ELGi North America, in conjunction with its subsidiaries, Pattons Inc, Pattons Medical, and Michigan Air Solutions, offers a comprehensive range of compressed air and vacuum products and services. Pattons Medical product offering includes scroll and oil-free rotary screw and reciprocating compressors, dryers, filters, dry and lubricated claw and vane vacuums, and accessories. ELGi and its subsidiaries serve multiple industry verticals spanning medical applications, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure. For further information, please visit https://www.elgi.com/us/

ELGi Compressors USA, Inc
4610 Entrance Drive, Suite A
Charlotte, NC 28273
USA

ABOUT PATTONS

Patton’s Inc. (Pattons), a distributor of industrial compressed air systems and full line service provider was established in 1945, is now owned and operated by ELGi North America, a global industrial air compressor manufacturer. Pattons has seven branches across Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia providing a full line of reciprocating, scroll, and rotary screw air compressors, vacuum systems, and air system accessories such as dryers, filters, piping, and condensate management systems. Pattons services include preventative maintenance programs, emergency breakdown services, and full system auditing capabilities. For information on Pattons product offering and services, visit www.pattonsinc.com

Expansions. Emergencies. Technological advances. These are all good reasons to expect
that a facility’s medical requirements can rapidly grow overnight. For some hospitals, the
need for ventilators during COVID-19 was a wake-up call. For other institutions, such as
those in growing population areas where patient populations surged, the lesson was that
expanding a medical air and vacuum system is not simple, nor inexpensive.

“Expandable systems protect hospitals from the unknown — whether it’s a pandemic, a
new technology, or a surge in patient load,” said Greg Hood, Vice President – Pattons
Medical. “Designing to minimum demand isn’t enough anymore. Facilities need flexibility
built in from day one.”

Designing expandability into a medical air system is prudent, and it can save a facility from
future disruption. Hospitals frequently add new ICUs, patient wings and surgical suites.
When these sites need more capacity, expansions need to be simple and timely.

Similarly, healthcare facilities need to expand to accommodate the growth in new medical
devices, such as external catheters and ventilators. These devices require great SCFM
capacity and can push older systems to their limits.

Medical gas consultants work with engineers to ensure expandability is designed into a
system from the start. This means that a medical air or vacuum system can be scaled up in
the future by adding pumps, compressors, capacity, alarms and control systems — without
a full system redesign or overhaul.

“When we’re brought in early, one of the first things we ask is what’s on the drawing board,
such as future wings, towers or ICUs. Even if it’s three years out, we help engineers design a
system that can grow with the facility, not one that must be torn out and replaced,” Hood
said.

The cost of inadequacy

The cost of designing a medical gas and vacuum system without expandability in mind is
high. It could lead to expensive retrofits. Completely removing and reinstalling a new
system costs more than designing it to be expandable in the first place. It’s extremely
disruptive in medical environments. Retrofits could require temporary shutdowns in
facilities or compromise patient care.

There is also the opportunity cost. Healthcare facilities generally put a premium on ESG
(Environmental, Social, Governance) programs. They might include equipment that is not
as efficient or sustainable as other options, increasing energy consumption, and in turn,
emissions. They could miss out on valuable grants or rebates that incentivize energy
efficiency as part of sustainability initiatives or reward forward-thinking designs.

“We’ve walked into hospitals that were locked into undersized systems because nobody
planned for expansion. By the time they’re ready to grow, it’s too late — they’re tearing out
walls and missing out on efficiency incentives they could’ve had with just a little foresight,”
Hood said.

Preparing for the future

Consultants work methodically to ensure a system is expandable for future needs. They
integrate modern control panels that can be pre-designed to control additional pumps or
compressors that can be later added without major overhauls to infrastructure.

They institute modular system architectures, such as duplex systems expandable to
triplex, to add capacity by simply installing a new module. They over-design systems to
include larger distribution piping for increased flow rates and extra space in mechanical
rooms to accommodate additional units. They ensure that electrical infrastructures can
handle more electrical load and more power.

When consultants work with engineers, they ask questions like:

• Is there a tower expansion planned in the next five years?
• How many ventilators or catheters could the facility need in an emergency?
• Is there adequate space to add more control panels, pumps or compressors?
• What percentage of the facility’s demand is currently being used?
• Are there any regulatory changes that could influence equipment decisions?
• Has the hospital searched for grants, incentives or rebates?

“Expandable design isn’t just about hardware — it’s about strategy,” Hood explained. “We
help facilities think ahead. We don’t just ask questions; we help engineers answer them.”

Expandability as a principle

Designing medical gas and vacuum systems to a minimum design is no longer acceptable.
Whether it’s the looming possibility of emergency surge situations, game-changing medical
devices or facility expansions, expandable systems are the new standard.

The effects are wide-ranging: economic, practical, sustainable and patient-driven. When
expandability is a principle of design engineers, hospitals and healthcare facilities are
ready for whatever the future may hold.

“If you’re not thinking about expansion today, you’re planning for disruption tomorrow,”
Hood said. “Working with a good medical gas consultant ensures the best possible
outcomes for engineers, facilities and patients alike.”

Designing a medical gas system is complex. It requires strict NFPA 99 compliance and precise system sizing. Creating systems that are future-proofed for new medical devices or facility expansions is just as critical. Engineers who need
to design and spec a new medical gas system should seek out expertise as early in the process as possible. This will enable them to ensure that systems are adequate for current and future needs. It will also give them guidance to avoid
costly mistakes, compliance failures and inefficient systems

Medical gas systems consultants are easy to reach and eager to help. They work directly with manufacturers and distributors to understand up-to-date products and how they perform. They maintain their knowledge of the most cutting-edge
medical devices that rely on gas systems. Most crucially, they keep a sharp focus on the evolution of NFPA 99 regulations

“We’re not just selling equipment. We work alongside engineers to ensure their designs meet both today’s and tomorrow’s needs,” said Elizabeth Abell, Medical & Laboratory Gas Consultant at Pattons Medical. “We can assist as early as
schematic design. We step in as a resource, offering training, guidance and real-world expertise. That’s not something a product catalog can do.”

Avoiding costly mistakes

If consultants are brought in too late, it can lead to expensive redesigns, regulatory violations or underperforming systems. The most common pitfalls include:

• Improperly sizing systems
• Underestimating SCFM demand
• Not accounting for new medical devices
• Failure to design for expandability and future upgrades
• Placing components incorrectly
• Missing value engineering solutions
• Failure to comply with changing NFPA 99 codes

Examples include underestimating the SCFM demand of new external catheter devices, placing a zone valve box in a non-accessible location, or not allocating enough future capacity for facility expansions. Consultants can provide the
expertise needed to head off these mistakes long before the equipment is purchased and plans are in motion

“An engineer could get halfway through the design process before realizing they need a bigger system or a logistical overhaul. At that point, going back to the hospital to request changes is awkward and expensive.” Wyatt Franks,
Director of Sales at Pattons Medical said. “We’ve also seen projects where engineers undersized a system by not accounting for future expansions. Correcting that post-installation is a nightmare.”

The risk isn’t just cost and hassle, there can be further implications. Under-sizing a system that doesn’t factor in the use of external catheters, for example, can lead to serious performance issues after installation. The placement of
zone valve boxes and area alarms isn’t just about convenience, it’s about life safety. A misplaced alarm can mean a delay in response time during a critical event.

Value-Engineering

Consultants can help engineers streamline projects and provide Value-Engineering solutions. This means identifying strategies that reduce both short- and long-term costs, while still ensuring system performance. Consultants do this
through ensuring NFPA 99 compliance, creating designs that prevent expensive modifications, properly locating system components, avoiding last-minute design changes and much more.

NFPA 99 updates every two years, but states adopt at different rates. Some hospitals might still be operating under 2012 codes, while others have moved to 2024 standards. Consultants help engineers balance cost vs. compliance, ensuring
they meet legal requirements without unnecessary overspending.

“VE is not about cutting corners. It’s about making sure hospitals get the best system for their needs at the best price,” Steve Torrez, Medical & Laboratory Gas Consultant at Pattons Medical said. “Engineers rely on us to make sure
their design-engineering specifications are optimized and efficient, and that their specs are correct from the outset. We help them navigate NFPA 99 code because the cost of getting compliance wrong is far greater than the cost of
getting it right the first time.”

Value in partnerships

It’s important to choose a consultant that won’t disengage after a system is installed. They can be considered long-term partners, in it for the long haul, continuing to support facilities with system health monitoring, expansions,
capital improvement planning and more. Over time, they become an extension of the engineering team. They understand the history of a facility, its needs and its evolution. They can help facilities plan for upgrades, expansions and
compliance audits.

“Hospitals don’t just need products — they need partners who understand their long-term needs. We have had hospitals come to us 10 years after installation needing to retrofit a system. Because we were involved from the start, we
already know how to optimize their setup,” Torrez said.

Ultimately, productive long-term partnerships between engineers and consultants can help everyone achieve the same goal — delivering systems that perform reliably when it matters most.

“Medical gas systems are critical to patient safety. There’s no room for guessing or miscalculations,” Greg Hood, Vice President of Pattons Medical said. “We stay engaged for the life of the system.”

HCAI’s Special Seismic Certification ensures that medical equipment meets high safety and performance standards across California’s healthcare facilities. For hospitals and medical facilities, choosing HCAI-certified Pattons Medical equipment means relying on products that have undergone rigorous seismic testing and evaluation. Thisenhances patient safetyin the event of an earthquake, a critical concern in healthcare settings.

“Achieving the HCAI certification is a significant milestone for Pattons Medical,” said Greg Hood, Vice President, Pattons Medical “It reconfirmsour commitment to adhering to top-tier standards and providing superior medical gas solutions.”

At the conference, industry experts from the PattonsMedical team will be on hand to demonstrate the System Health feature and connect with attendees. Pattons Medical emphasizes the crucial role of reliability in medical gas equipment and ensures their products meet or exceed NFPA 99 and being U.L. listed. System Health monitoring, a standard in all medical and laboratory air compressor and vacuum pump systems offered by Pattons Medical, utilizes the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) on the control panels. This allows medical professionals to continuously monitor system performance and ambient conditions, ensuring early detection of potential issues before they lead to system failure.

Key parameters monitored by the Pattons Medical System Health Include :

• Ambient Temperature
• Current
• Dew Point
• Carbon Monoxide
• Pumps Running
• Pressure/Vacuum

“Our System Health feature provides a proactive measure to ensure optimal operation of medical gas systems,” said Hood. “We look forward to showcasing how our solutions can enhance the safety and reliability of medical air compressors and vacuum pump systems.”

Pattons invites all conference attendees to visit booth #403 to learn more about the Pattons Medical System Health feature and its potential to enhance safety and efficiency in the healthcare environment.

Pattons Medical at ASHE 2024 Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference
Booth Number : 403
When : July 21st – 24th, 2024
Where : Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
Website : https://www.ashe.org/education/health-care-facilities-innovation-conference

To learn more about Pattons Medical and Laboratory gas offerings, visit : www.pattonsmedical.com

Press Contacts

About ELGi North America

ELGi North America, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a subsidiary of ELGi Equipments Limited, a leader in compressed air solutions for over 60 years. Established in 2012, ELGi North America, in conjunction with its subsidiaries, Pattons, Pattons Medical, and Michigan Air Solutions, offers a comprehensive range of compressed air products and services. Our product offering includes oil-lubricated and oil-free rotary screw and reciprocating compressors, dryers, filters, and ancillary accessories. ELGi and its subsidiaries serve multiple industry verticals spanning medical applications, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure. For further information, please visit https://www.elgi.com/us/

ELGi North America

4610 Entrance Drive, Suite A
Charlotte, NC 28273
USA

Charlotte, NC July 17, 2023 – Pattons Medical, a leading provider of medical gas solutions and a subsidiary of ELGi North America, will showcase the Pattons Medical System Health feature at the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) 2023 Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition, taking place from August 6 to 9th, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. Medical industry experts from the Pattons team will be present at the conference to showcase the Pattons Medical System Health feature and connect with attendees.

“We are excited to showcase our System Health feature at the ASHE 2023 conference,” said Greg Hood, Vice President at Pattons Medical. “Our System Health feature serves as a proactive measure to ensure optimal operation of medical gas systems. We provide healthcare professionals with an indispensable tool that allows them to preempt potential issues, thereby ensuring optimal system performance and, ultimately, patient safety.”

Keeping medical gas equipment functioning properly is critical, as reliability can be the difference between life and death. Therefore, Pattons Medical offers the System Health standard feature for its medical and laboratory air compressor and vacuum pump systems. Using the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) on the control panels, medical professionals can constantly monitor information on the systems’ performance and ambient conditions. Consequently, the system can issue alerts regarding any issues before a system failure occurs.

Key parameters monitored by the Pattons Medical System Health include:

• Ambient Temperature
• Current
• Dew Point
• Carbon Monoxide
• Pumps Running
• Pressure/Vacuum

“ASHE provides an exception platform for us to engage with healthcare engineers,” Hood said. “We look forward to showcasing how our solutions can enhance the safety and reliability of medical air compressors and vacuum pump systems.”

Pattons invites all conference attendees to visit booth #616 to learn more about the Pattons Medical System Health feature and its potential to enhance safety and efficiency in the healthcare environment.

Pattons Medical at ASHE 2023 Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition
Booth Number: 616
When: August 6th – 9th, 2023
Where: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas
Website: https://www.ashe.org/ashe-annual

To learn more about Pattons Medical and Laboratory gas offerings, visit : www.pattonsmedical.com

Contacts

About ELGi North America

ELGi North America, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a subsidiary of ELGi Equipments Limited, a leader in compressed air solutions for over 60 years. Established in 2012, ELGi North America, in conjunction with its subsidiaries, Pattons, Pattons Medical, and Michigan Air Solutions, offers a comprehensive range of compressed air products and services. Our product offering includes oil-lubricated and oil-free rotary screw and reciprocating compressors, dryers, filters, and ancillary accessories. ELGi and its subsidiaries serve multiple industry verticals spanning medical applications, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure. For further information, please visit https://www.elgi.com/us/

ELGi North America

4610 Entrance Drive, Suite A
Charlotte, NC 28273
USA

When designing medical gas systems for small facilities, you might face some space constraints. Often these pieces of source equipment are an afterthought to the design space in a small facility as they typically don’t have a full maintenance room or staff. Depending on the capacity calculated to the facility, Pattons Medical offers a small vertical tank mount skid of 34” x 38” that provides adequate capacity in a duplexed unit for the medical vac and/or medical air systems. These systems will still need the required 24” around the skid for proper maintenance and airflow to ensure you meet code. Communicating with your medical gas specialist and the architect at the early phases of a project is important to make sure enough space is available.

Manifolds are another piece of source equipment that needs to be considered. These need to have their own space separate from the rotating equipment. Depending on the calculated capacity, a high pressure or a liquid system will be offered. When a facility is sized for an 8×8 or larger high-pressure system, it might be beneficial to consider a liquid system depending on the facility’s usage. If a facility is borderline between a high pressure and a liquid system, Pattons Medical offers the Intelliswitch manifold that allows for a system to be changed to a high pressure, liquid, or hybrid manifold just by programing the control panel. These have proven to be very helpful to customers that may need a few months to a year after opening to grow their caseload before they need to switch to a liquid system.

Monitoring the source equipment in a Category 1 facility requires two Master Alarm Panels (MAP). One MAP needs to be placed in the area of the person responsible for maintaining the equipment, such as a Business Manager’s office, and one needs to be placed in a 24-hour location or wherever staff will be when the facility is open. This is often located at the Nurses Station as it’s typically always staffed when opened.

Moving on from the source equipment and monitoring, the next step would be laying out the different zones and valving and alarming them per NFPA 99 code. A pre/post operatory area would need its own zone valve box (ZVB) as well as its own area alarm panel (AAP). Each anesthetizing room (Operating Room/OR, Procedure, etc.) would need its own ZVB and here code allows an anesthetizing area to share a common AAP. When placing ZVBs you must ensure adequate wall space is available. A ZVB must be able to be accessed at a standing position at all times. This means a ZVB cannot be hidden behind an open doo r or in a closed room. Make sure it’s not located in an alcove where a bed or cart could cover it up. Your med gas specialist can help calculate proper wall space based on the line size and help locate a code-compliant space on the drawings.

In an effort to save wall space in a small facility, we can combine multiple area and master alarms onto one panel. For instance, for an ASC with one pre-op area, one post-op area, and four ORs and you needed to place a MAP as well, you could have one alarm panel in the RN station that has all three zones (OR, pre, and post) and a master module.

To help determine the level of care and category of the small facility to be designed, the code requirements for each facility, and help sizing and placement of the med gas equipment in a facility please reach out to Pattons Medical’s team of experienced Medical and Laboratory Gas Specialists.