RMGA Installation Codes & Standards Compliance 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NFPA 99, what is the maximum concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) permitted in medical air?
- 5 ppm (Correct answer)
- 10 ppm
- 25 ppm
- 50 ppm
Correct answer: 5 ppm
NFPA 99 limits CO in medical air to 5 ppm to protect patients who may be particularly sensitive to CO exposure.
Question 2: Which NFPA 99 provision addresses the requirement for a reserve supply in a medical gas system?
- The reserve must equal 100% of average daily use
- A reserve supply that automatically activates when the primary supply is depleted (Correct answer)
- A reserve must be located outside the building
- Reserve cylinders must be kept at a separate facility
Correct answer: A reserve supply that automatically activates when the primary supply is depleted
NFPA 99 requires an automatic reserve supply that activates seamlessly when the primary supply is depleted to ensure continuous gas availability.
Question 3: Per ASSE 6020 standards, what qualification is required for personnel who inspect and maintain medical gas systems?
- ASSE 6010 installer certification
- ASSE 6020 inspector/verifier certification (Correct answer)
- State plumbing inspector license
- NFPA certified fire protection engineer
Correct answer: ASSE 6020 inspector/verifier certification
ASSE 6020 is the separate certification for medical gas system inspectors and verifiers, distinct from the ASSE 6010 installer certification.
Question 4: What is the required minimum pipe size for a medical vacuum (WAGD) system riser serving an ICU per NFPA 99 design criteria?
- Determined by flow calculation per NFPA 99 Annex B (Correct answer)
- Always 1 inch minimum regardless of flow
- Always 2 inches minimum for ICU applications
- 4 inches for all riser applications
Correct answer: Determined by flow calculation per NFPA 99 Annex B
NFPA 99 requires pipe sizing to be based on flow calculations per its Annex B, accounting for the number of simultaneous users and pressure loss.
Question 5: According to NFPA 99, which condition requires immediate notification of the responsible person in charge (RPIC)?
- A zone valve being closed for scheduled maintenance
- Master alarm activation indicating pressure out of normal range (Correct answer)
- A cylinder being changed during normal operations
- A quarterly test of the alarm system
Correct answer: Master alarm activation indicating pressure out of normal range
Master alarm activations indicating abnormal system pressure require immediate notification of the RPIC who can authorize corrective action.
Question 6: What does NFPA 99 specify regarding the installation of medical gas piping in return air plenums?
- Permitted if piping is copper
- Permitted if piping has fire-rated insulation
- Not permitted without AHJ special approval (Correct answer)
- Permitted when pipe is enclosed in a chase
Correct answer: Not permitted without AHJ special approval
NFPA 99 restricts medical gas piping in return air plenums and requires AHJ approval for any such installation due to fire and contamination concerns.
Question 7: Under NFPA 99, how often must medical gas alarm panels be tested?
- Monthly
- Quarterly (Correct answer)
- Annually
- Every 5 years
Correct answer: Quarterly
NFPA 99 requires quarterly functional testing of all medical gas alarm panels to verify proper operation and alarm transmission.
RMGA Installation Codes & Standards Compliance 4
Under NFPA 99, what is the maximum concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) permitted in medical air?