Chapter 13 — HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICAL VACUUM SYSTEMS
1317.1 Category 1 — 2025 California Plumbing Code
California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-25 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Cite as: 2025 California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) § 1317.1 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
All master, area, and local alarm systems used for medical gas and vacuum systems shall include the following:
(1) Separate visual indicators for each condition monitored, except as permitted in Section 1317.1.2 for local alarms that are displayed on master alarm panels.
(2) Visual indicators that remain in alarm until the situation that has caused the alarm is resolved.
(3) Cancelable audible indication of each alarm condition that produces a sound with a minimum level of 80 dBA at 3 feet (914 mm).
(4) Means to indicate a lamp or LED failure and audible fail ure.
(5) Visual and audible indication that the communication with an alarm-initiating device is disconnected.
(6) Labeling of each indicator, indicating the condition monitored.
(7) Labeling of each alarm panel for its area of surveillance.
(8) Reinitiating of the audible signal if another alarm condition occurs while the audible alarm is silenced.
(9) Power for master alarms, area alarms, sensors, and switches from the life safety branch of the essential electrical system as described in NFPA 99.
(10)Power for local alarms, dew point sensors, and carbon monoxide sensors permitted to be from the same essential electrical branch as is used to power the air compressor system.
(11)Where used for communications, wiring from switches or sensors that is supervised or protected as required by NFPA 70 for life safety and critical branches circuits in which protection is any of the following types:
(a) Conduit
(b) Free air
(c) Wire
(d) Cable tray
(e) Raceways
(12)Communication devices that do not use electrical wiring for signal transmission and are supervised such that failure of communication initiates an alarm.
(13)Assurance by the responsible authority of the facility that the labeling of alarms, where room numbers or designations are used, is accurate and up-to-date.
(14)Provisions for automatic restart after a power loss of 10 seconds (e.g., during generator start-up) without giving false signals or requiring manual reset.
(15)Alarm switches/sensors installed so as to be removable and accessible for service and testing. [NFPA 99:5.1.9.1]
1317.1.1 Master Alarms. A master alarm system shall be provided to monitor the operation and condition of the source of supply, the reserve source (if any), and the pressure in the main lines of each medical gas and vacuum piping system. [NFPA 99:5.1.9.2]
1317.1.2 Master Alarm Signal. The master alarm shall include at least one signal from the source equipment to indicate a problem with the source equipment at this location. This master alarm signal shall activate when any of the required local alarm signals for this source equipment activates. [NFPA 99:5.1.9.5.2]
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