NFPA-99 Practice Exam

What is the purpose of using an oxygen analyzer to ensure the pipeline is purged prior to breathing?

1. Assure that ambient air has been removed from the pipeline

2. Maintain a nitrogen atmosphere at least 95% with the piping system

3. Provide continuous monitoring during the verification test

4. Reduce the oxygen concentration below 5% for brazing

The correct answer is: Assure that ambient air has been removed from the pipeline

Using an oxygen analyzer for the purpose of ensuring that the pipeline is purged prior to breathing is fundamentally about confirming that the ambient air, which contains oxygen, has been effectively removed from the pipeline. This is crucial because the presence of oxygen in medical gas pipelines can lead to serious safety hazards and health risks. When the pipeline is to be used for delivering pure gases, especially in medical settings, it is essential to eliminate any contaminants, including oxygen, to ensure that the gas delivered is safe for patient use. The verification process involves measuring the oxygen concentration within the pipeline. A sufficient purge effectively reduces the oxygen levels to an acceptable threshold, ensuring the gas being circulated is of the requisite purity. By affirmatively determining that ambient air has been excluded from the system, healthcare facilities can safely utilize the pipelines for their intended medical gas purposes. In contrast, maintaining a nitrogen atmosphere, providing continuous monitoring, or reducing oxygen concentrations to specific levels for brazing pertains to different operational or safety protocols that do not focus exclusively on the necessity for oxygen removal before pipeline use for breathing.