Haw. Code R. § 12-224.1-6 - Installation of pressure vessels for human occupancy (PVHOs)

(a) Scope. This section provides general information and guidance for installation to help manufacturers, owners, users, and inspectors understand PVHO systems and their unique characteristics. The PVHO systems covered in this section include only monoplace (single human occupancy) medical systems used for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO). The PVHO system is comprised of one or more monoplace PVHOs each with pressurization and vent controls, monitoring, and communication supplied by facility medical gas systems or dedicated breathing gas systems, gas distribution, controls, and gas storage.

(b) General. A pressure vessel for human occupancy, as defined by ASME PVHO-1, is a pressure vessel that encloses one or more human beings within its pressure boundary while it is subject to internal or external pressure that exceeds a two (2) psi (15 kPa) differential pressure. PVHOs include, but are not limited to, submersibles, diving bells, personal transfer capsules, decompression chambers, recompression chambers, hyperbaric chambers, high-altitude chambers, and medical hyperbaric oxygenation facilities. Unique characteristics of PVHOs include:

(1) Fire hazard due to oxygen enrich environment;

(2) Fire hazard due to in-service hydrocarbon contamination;

(3) Rapid decompression hazard;

(4) Pressure boundary valves at PVHO penetrators;

(5) Cleanliness of gases inside the PVHO system;

(6) In-service life expectancy of flat disc acrylic windows in protected environments, including cylindrical windows, can be up to twenty years with periodic inspections;

(7) Manual or pneumatic control systems; and

(8) Heat, ultraviolet light, and solvents are harmful to acrylic windows.

(c) Documentation, registration, and regulatory requirements. The following shall apply:

(1) PVHO systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with ASME PVHO-1. This code requires Section VIII for steel and other allowed vessel materials and therefore shall bear a "U" or "U2" ASME designator and forms. PVHO-1 also has several Code Cases that address PVHOs manufactured from non-Section VIII materials such as reinforced fabrics. PVHO Code Cases are subject to jurisdictional authority and shall have all the documentation required by the Code Case, but not necessarily Section VIII forms;

(2) Viewport acrylic windows shall be designed and constructed in accordance with PVHO-1 and maintained following the rules of PVHO-2. The owner and user should follow PVHO-2 and manufacturer manuals for in-service guidance;

(3) The manufacturer shall retain PVHO system documentation or submit and register with the NB; and

(4) The PVHO system owner shall have copies of the following documents on site:

(A) Manufacturer data report for a Section VIII vessel (FORM U1-A or U2-A);

(B) Manufacturer data report for PVHO-1 (Form GR-1);

(C) PVHO-1 Forms VP-1 to VP-5;

(D) PVHO system installation instructions; and

(E) PVHO system operation and maintenance manuals.

(d) Pressure vessels for human occupancy system configuration and installation. The following shall apply:

(1) PVHOs include the following pressure boundary components:

(A) Shells and heads of revolution;

(B) Openings and their reinforcements;

(C) Nozzles and other connections;

(D) Door seals and quick actuating closures; and

(E) Viewports including acrylic windows;

(2) Pressure vessels designed for human occupancy (such as decompression or hyperbaric chambers) shall be provided with a quick opening stop valve between the pressure vessel and its pressure relief valve. The stop valve shall be normally sealed open with a frangible seal and be readily accessible to the pressure relief attendant;

(3) A PVHO system, comprised of one or more monoplace PVHOs each with operational controls, should be supplied by a hospital or clinic medical gas system. Installers of medical gas systems that meet NFPA 99 Chapter 5 requirements should be qualified to, and hold third-party certification, in accordance with American Society of Safety Engineers 6010;

(4) Facility installation. The following shall apply to facility installation:

(A) PVHO systems installed and operated within buildings are subject to local building codes, NFPA 99, and the requirements of the department;

(B) The rooms designated for PVHO systems shall be adequately sized, allowing operation and inspection access to all sides of the PVHO system, and dedicated to only hyperbaric system operation;

(C) PVHO system oxygen exhaust and ventilation lines shall be independently piped to the building exterior; and

(D) Temperature in the PVHO room should be maintained for patient comfort;

(5) Electrical. The following shall apply to electrical components of PVHOs:

(A) All electrical controls should be located externally;

(B) Electrically powered control equipment should be connected to grounded facility outlets matching the equipment power specifications;

(C) Electrical penetration connectors should be as specified by the manufacturer and checked for leak tightness;

(D) Electrical wiring should be supported to prevent obstruction or tripping hazard; and

(E) Electrical systems within the PVHO should protect low-voltage communication and monitoring equipment from being exposed to voltages greater than twenty-eight (28) volts alternative current and currents greater than 0.5 amps and should be grounded in accordance with NFPA 99 Chapter 14;

(6) Controls. The following shall apply to PVHO controls:

(A) Medical PVHO controls, piping, hoses, connections, pressure gages, control valves, gas system should meet PVHO-1 Section 4-Piping Systems, and Section 5-Medical Hyperbaric Systems;

(B) Pressurization, ventilation, and depressurization controls should be manual or pneumatic;

(C) The operator at the PVHO control station should be present and have visual sight and audio communication with PVHO occupant during operation;

(D) Separate oxygen and air supply to the PVHO and occupant should be from the facility medical gas systems or a standalone medical gas system;

(E) The gas system should be sized (both flow and volume) for normal and emergency PVHO operations in accordance with manufacturer's specification or manual. The owner shall have this information available on-site; and

(F) The facility gas system piping or tubing and controls shall be secured to the facility structure up to the adjacent PVHO wall connects. Hoses or tubing shall connect to these wall connections and supply the gases to the PVHO operational controls. Hoses or tubing shall be secured to prevent obstruction or tripping hazards;

(7) Internal system cleanliness and toxicity. The following shall apply:

(A) PVHO systems that include breathing gas systems with air and oxygen enriched gases (greater than 25 per cent oxygen) shall be cleaned and maintained to NFPA 99 Chapter 5; and national consensus standards (e.g., Compressed Gas Association);

(B) Manufacturer maintenance manuals shall be available on site and provide guidance for the owner or user to maintain system cleanliness, and prevent contamination during operation and maintenance; and

(C) Hoses shall be off-gas toxicity tested prior to installation;

(8) Maintenance. The following shall apply to maintenance:

(A) PVHO systems shall be maintained in accordance with PVHO-2 and the manufacturer's maintenance manual;

(B) Periodic window inspections shall be performed in accordance with PVHO-2; and

(C) Replacement windows shall meet PVHO manufacturer specifications (with new PVHO-1 VP-1 to VP-5 forms), and once installed checked for leak tightness.

Notes

Haw. Code R. § 12-224.1-6

[Eff 9/8/2024] (Auth: HRS § 397-4) (Imp: HRS § 397-4)