New medical gas systems are pressure tested with which gas?

• A. Nitrogen
• B. Oxygen
• C. Helium
• D. Argon

Answer: (A)

New medical gas systems are pressure tested using nitrogen because it provides a safe, inert environment for a leak test. Nitrogen is non-flammable and non-toxic, so pressurizing the piping with it won’t introduce fire or oxidation risks if a leak exists, which is crucial when validating a medical gas pipeline. It allows you to raise the system to the required test pressure without altering the oxygen content inside the pipes, keeping the test environment stable. Oxygen would create a fire risk if a spark occurred, making it unsuitable for this purpose. Helium can be used for leak detection due to its detectability, but it’s more expensive and less practical as the primary test gas. Argon is also inert but cost and availability make it less convenient than nitrogen.