In the event of a fire, piped medical oxygen should be turned off when the fire alarm operates continuously and when instructed by the fire and rescue service. This is because a continuous fire alarm indicates a serious fire situation where oxygen could fuel the fire and the fire service has the expertise to determine when it is safe to shut it off. It should not be turned off based on an intermittent alarm or solely by the ward manager without expert instruction, as patient safety must not be compromised.
Additionally, the authorized individual (such as a charge nurse or unit manager) must shut off the medical gas zone valve immediately if there is an imminent fire hazard in a room where medical oxygen is in use, to prevent intensifying and spreading the fire. After shutting off, affected patients requiring respiratory support must be attended to, and emergency services notified.
Therefore, the two key moments to turn off piped medical oxygen in a fire event are when the fire alarm sounds continuously indicating ongoing fire, and when directed by the fire and rescue service or authorized personnel on site who assess the safety risks.
