ISO 9170-1-2017 PDF

Full title and description

Terminal units for medical gas pipeline systems — Part 1: Terminal units for use with compressed medical gases and vacuum (ISO 9170-1:2017). This standard specifies requirements to ensure gas-specific assembly, mechanical performance, flow, leakage and pressure-drop characteristics of terminal units and related probes for use in medical gas and vacuum distribution systems.

Abstract

ISO 9170-1:2017 sets requirements for terminal units (wall/bedside outlets and their mating probes) intended for use with compressed medical gases and vacuum in healthcare facilities. It covers gas-specific connector assemblies and performance criteria to prevent interchange between gases/services, and specifies requirements for supply/disposal of gases such as oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air, carbon dioxide, certain gas mixtures, air/nitrogen for driving surgical tools and vacuum. The document explicitly excludes anaesthetic gas scavenging systems (covered in ISO 9170-2).

General information

• Status: Published; edition confirmed on review.
• Publication date: July 2017 (Edition 3).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 11.040.10 (Anaesthetic, respiratory and reanimation equipment).
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (2017).
• Number of pages: 25 pages.

Scope

Applies to terminal units for medical gas pipeline systems (in accordance with ISO 7396-1) intended for use with compressed medical gases and vacuum. The standard addresses gas-specific assemblies intended for patient administration or medical use (oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air, carbon dioxide, oxygen/nitrous oxide mixtures, helium/oxygen mixtures, oxygen 93, other medical gases and certain gas mixtures), plus gases used to drive surgical tools (air, nitrogen) and vacuum systems. Requirements for anaesthetic gas scavenging terminal units are covered in ISO 9170-2, not in this part.

Key topics and requirements

• Gas-specific assembly and non-interchangeability to prevent cross-connection between different gases/services.
• Mechanical strength and resistance requirements for terminal units and probes (durability under expected use).
• Performance criteria for flow capacity, allowable pressure drop and leakage limits.
• Requirements for probes (mating counterparts) intended to connect to the terminal units; the standard specifies performance but does not define exact probe dimensions (national/regional standards may).
• Applicability to pressure outlets on regulators and pressure outlets integrated with cylinder valves where relevant (references to ISO 10524 series).

Typical use and users

Used by hospital engineers, biomedical/clinical engineering teams, medical gas installers, equipment manufacturers (terminal units, probes, connectors), consultants for healthcare facility design, regulatory/compliance officers and testing laboratories that verify medical gas distribution components. It is referenced when designing, installing, testing and procuring terminal units and their mating probes for clinical environments.

Related standards

Commonly referenced alongside: ISO 9170-2 (Terminal units for anaesthetic gas scavenging systems) — complementary part covering AGSS terminal units; ISO 7396-1 (Medical gas pipeline systems — pipelines for compressed medical gases and vacuum) for system-level requirements; and ISO 10524 series for pressure regulators and cylinder valve interfaces. These documents form the broader normative context for medical gas pipeline and terminal unit design.

Keywords

terminal units, medical gas pipeline systems, compressed medical gases, vacuum outlets, gas-specific connectors, non-interchangeability, probes, pressure drop, leakage, ISO 9170-1:2017, ISO/TC 121/SC 6.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 9170-1:2017 is an international standard that specifies requirements for terminal units (outlets) used with compressed medical gases and vacuum in healthcare facilities, covering performance, safety and gas-specific non-interchangeability.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers terminal units and their mating probes for gases such as oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air, carbon dioxide, certain gas mixtures, air/nitrogen for driving surgical tools and vacuum. It specifies mechanical, flow, leakage and pressure-drop requirements but does not set probe dimensions (these may be defined by regional/national standards). Anaesthetic gas scavenging terminal units are addressed in ISO 9170-2.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Healthcare facility engineers, biomedical equipment manufacturers, medical gas installers, testing and certification bodies, and procurement/regulatory staff involved with design, installation, testing and purchase of medical gas terminal units.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 9170-1:2017 is the current published edition (Edition 3, July 2017) and was reviewed/confirmed in the ISO systematic review process (confirmed in 2023). It replaced earlier editions (1999, 2008). Users should check national/adopted versions for local amendments.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 of the ISO 9170 series. Part 2 (ISO 9170-2) covers terminal units for anaesthetic gas scavenging disposal systems; other related standards in the medical gas family include ISO 7396-1 (pipeline systems) and the ISO 10524 series (pressure regulators).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Terminal units, medical gas, vacuum, gas-specific connectors, probes, non-interchangeability, leakage, pressure drop, ISO 9170-1:2017.