5306 Medical Gases — 2025 California Fire Code

Medical gases at health care-related facilities intended for patient or veterinary care shall comply with Sections 5306.2 through 5306.5 in addition to other requirements of this chapter and Section 427 of the California Building Code .

5306.1.1 Training. Personnel who handle medical gases and associated equipment and cylinders shall be trained on the use, safe handling and associated hazards.

Medical gases shall be located in areas dedicated to the storage of such gases without other storage or uses. Rooms containing medical gases shall be labeled in accordance with NFPA 99. Where containers of medical gases in quantities greater than the permit amount are located inside buildings, they shall be in a 1-hour exterior room, a 1-hour interior room or a gas cabinet in accordance with Section 5306.2.1, 5306.2.2 or 5306.2.3, respectively. Rooms or areas where medical gases are stored or used in quantities exceeding the maximum allowable quantity per control area as set forth in Section 5003.1 shall be in accordance with the California Building Code for high-hazard Group H occupancies.

5306.2.1 One-hour exterior rooms. A 1-hour exterior room shall be a room or enclosure separated from the remainder of the building by fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the California Building Code or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the California Building Code, or both, with a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour. Openings between the room or enclosure and interior spaces shall be self-closing smoke- and draft-control assemblies having a fire protection rating of not less than 1 hour. Rooms shall have not less than one exterior wall that is provided with not less than two vents. Each vent shall have a minimum free opening area of 36 square inches (232 cm [2] ) for each 1,000 cubic feet (28 m [3] ) at normal temperature and pressure (NTP) of gas stored in the room and shall be not less than 72 square inches (465 cm [2] ) in aggregate free opening area. One vent shall be within 6 inches (152 mm) of the floor and one shall be within 6 inches (152 mm) of the ceiling. Rooms shall be provided with not less than one automatic sprinkler to provide container cooling in case of fire.

5306.2.2 One-hour interior room. Where an exterior wall cannot be provided for the room, a 1-hour interior room shall be provided and shall be a room or enclosure separated from the remainder of the building by fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the California Building Code or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the Cali- fornia Building Code, or both, with a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour. Openings between the room or enclosure and interior spaces shall be provided with self-closing, smoke- and draft-control assemblies having a fire protection rating of not less than 1 hour. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed within the room. The room shall be exhausted through a duct to the exterior. Supply and exhaust ducts shall be enclosed in a 1-hour-rated shaft enclosure from the room to the exterior. Approved mechanical ventilation shall comply with the California Mechanical Code and be provided at a minimum rate of 1 cfm per square foot [0.00508 m [3] /(s × m [2] )] of the area of the room.

5306.2.3 Gas cabinets. Gas cabinets shall be constructed in accordance with Section 5003.8.6 and shall comply with the following:

1. Exhausted to the exterior through dedicated exhaust duct system installed in accordance with Chapter 5 of the California Mechanical Code .

2. Supply and exhaust ducts shall be enclosed in a 1-hour fire-resistance-rated shaft enclosure from the cabinet to the exterior. The average velocity of ventilation at the face of access ports or windows shall be not less than 200 feet per minute (1.02 m/s) with not less than 150 feet per minute (0.76 m/s) at any point of the access port or window.

53-8 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

COMPRESSED GASES

3. Provided with an automatic sprinkler system internal to the cabinet.

Oxidizer medical gas systems located on the exterior of a building with quantities greater than the permit amount shall be located in accordance with Section 6304.2.1.

Transfilling areas and operations including, but not limited to, ventilation and separation, shall comply with NFPA 99.

Medical gas systems and equipment shall be installed, tested and labeled in accordance with NFPA 99 and the general provisions of this chapter. Existing medical gas systems and equipment shall be used and maintained in accordance with the use, maintenance, inspection and testing provisions of NFPA 99 for medical gas systems and equipment.

5306.5.1 Medical gas cylinders. Operation and management of medical gas cylinders shall be in accordance with NFPA 99.