ASSE/ANSI Series 6000, a professional qualification standard and certifying document that addresses the installation, testing and verification of piped medical gas systems, is undergoing a revision that is projected to be completed in early 2001. It will also be harmonized with the like Canadian Standards Association standard.
With this revision, ASSE/ANSI 6000 will become the most all-inclusive professional qualification standard of its type. It will surpass standardizing all facets of the installation, testing and verification of medical gas piping systems. The revision of Series 6000 will now offer standardized service interruption and maintenance procedures. These new procedures will include recommendations for tools and special equipment. The revision will also include a section specifying training procedures for the certification of trainers of installers.
ASSE/ANSI 6000 addresses the need to enhance the installer, tester and verifier training and certification requirements of NFPA 99C. Presently, only the installer must be certified, and then only as a brazer, to be considered legally qualified to install today's life-supporting medical gas systems.
Because many medical gas systems have already been installed, countless more medical gas systems will be installed in the future, and current delivery equipment and alarms have been made as reliable as possible, the only opportunities remaining to improve medical gas safety consist of the improved training and added certification requirements of everyone involved with medical gas installation and maintenance.
