RMGA Code Requirements 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: NFPA 99 prohibits the use of which type of material in medical gas piping systems due to contamination risk?
- Type K copper tubing
- Stainless steel fittings
- Lead-free brass valves
- Galvanized steel pipe (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Galvanized steel pipe
Galvanized steel pipe is prohibited in medical gas systems because zinc coating can flake off and contaminate gas flow.
Question 2: According to NFPA 99, which component must be installed between the central supply system and the distribution piping to prevent backflow?
- A pressure relief valve
- A check valve (Correct answer)
- A pressure regulator
- A shutoff valve
Correct answer: A check valve
Check valves are required between the supply source and distribution piping to prevent gas from flowing backward into the supply system.
Question 3: Under NFPA 99, what is the maximum allowable pressure drop across a medical gas zone valve when fully open?
- 5 psi
- 3 psi (Correct answer)
- 10 psi
- 1 psi
Correct answer: 3 psi
NFPA 99 limits pressure drop across fully open zone valves to 3 psi to ensure adequate delivery pressure at outlet stations.
Question 4: Per NFPA 99, medical air compressor systems serving Category 1 facilities must include what redundancy feature?
- A backup generator connection
- Duplex or multiple compressor configuration (Correct answer)
- A liquid oxygen backup supply
- A manual hand pump bypass
Correct answer: Duplex or multiple compressor configuration
Category 1 medical air systems require duplex or multiple compressors so that one unit can maintain supply while another is serviced.
Question 5: Which NFPA 99 requirement applies to penetrations of fire-rated walls by medical gas piping?
- Piping must be wrapped in fire-resistant insulation
- Penetrations must be fire-stopped to restore wall rating (Correct answer)
- Piping must use fire-rated copper only
- No special treatment is required for copper pipe
Correct answer: Penetrations must be fire-stopped to restore wall rating
All penetrations of fire-rated walls, including medical gas piping, must be fire-stopped to restore the wall's rated integrity.
Question 6: Under NFPA 99, who is authorized to perform the final tie-in connection of new medical gas piping to an existing operating system?
- A licensed master plumber only
- A qualified medical gas installer certified per ASSE 6010 (Correct answer)
- The facility biomedical engineer
- Any NFPA-certified contractor
Correct answer: A qualified medical gas installer certified per ASSE 6010
ASSE 6010 certification is required for medical gas system installers who perform tie-in connections to existing operating systems.
Question 7: According to NFPA 99, the area alarm panel for a medical gas system must be located where?
- At the nursing station serving the area (Correct answer)
- Adjacent to the master alarm panel
- Inside the mechanical room
- At the main entrance of the building
Correct answer: At the nursing station serving the area
Area alarm panels must be located at the nursing station or other continuously staffed location serving the patient care area.
RMGA Code Requirements 4
NFPA 99 prohibits the use of which type of material in medical gas piping systems due to contamination risk?