Professional Qualifications Standard for Medical Gas Systems Personnel
ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 6000-2015, Professional Qualifications Standard for Medical Gas Systems Personnel, has been designated as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is now available for purchase. The 2015 edition of ASSE Series 6000 parallels the medical gas-related requirements of the updated NFPA 99-2015, Health Care Facilities Code.
ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 6000 provides uniform minimum requirements for medical gas systems generalists, installers, inspectors, verifiers, maintenance personnel, instructors, bulk systems installers, bulk systems medical gas verifiers and bulk systems instructors, which are referenced by regulatory officials to determine if personnel are qualified to work on piped medical gas systems in their jurisdictions. The specialized disciplines covered in ASSE Series 6000 are necessary to provide for all aspects involved in the installation, testing, and maintenance of the piped medical gas/vacuum distribution systems that are installed in health care facilities throughout the United States.
“A speedy revision of this standard was necessary because the prior edition (2012) did not parallel the current edition of NFPA 99,” said ASSE Series 6000 Working Group Chairman Edward J. Lyczko. “Now that the ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 6000 is up to date, medical gas professionals can be trained and certified to the 2015 updates of NFPA 99, many of which further enhance patient safety.”
Most changes to the 2015 edition of ASSE Series 6000 directly reflect the changes to the 2015 edition of NFPA 99, including the addition of an auxiliary source connection point at all source systems on the patient side of the source valve, and the addition of a procedure for an “odor test” at all patient-station outlets. Also added to the 2015 edition, to protect all health care facility workers, are requirements for the knowledge of infection control and knowledge of dangerous pathogens of all types. All referenced standards and references to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) medical gas standard were also brought up to date.
To purchase ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 6000-2015, please visit the ASSE International Webstore. The cost of the 2015 edition is $90; the 2012 edition will remain available for $60.
For questions regarding the 2015 edition of ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 6000, contact Marianne Waickman, ASSE International professional qualifications coordinator, by email at marianne.waickman@asse-plumbing.org or by telephone at (708) 995-3015.
ASSE International is an ANSI-accredited standards developer and product certification body comprised of members representing all disciplines of the plumbing and mechanical industries. ASSE’s product performance standards, professional qualifications standards, professional certification and product listing programs aim to improve the performance and safety of plumbing and mechanical systems. Learn more about ASSE International at http://www.asse-plumbing.org.
Last modified: September 21, 2015