Chapter 13 — HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICAL VACUUM SYSTEMS
1323.1 Required Pipe Sizing — 2025 California Plumbing Code
California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-10-23 · 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) § 1323.1 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
Piping systems shall be designed and sized to deliver the required flow rates at the utilization pressures. [NFPA 99:5.1.10.11.1.1]
1323.1.1 Mains and Branches. Mains and branches in medical gas piping systems shall be not less than DN15 (NPS 1/2 ) ( 5/8 inch O.D.) size. Mains and branches in medical-surgical vacuum systems shall be not less than DN20 (NPS 3/4 ) ( 7/8 inch O.D.) size. [NFPA 99:5.1.10.11.1.2, 5.1.10.11.1.3] 1323.1.2 Drops to Individual Stations. Drops to individual station outlets and inlets shall be not less than DN15 (NPS 1/2 ) ( 5/8 inch O.D.) size. [NFPA 99:5.1.10.11.1.4] 1323.1.3 Runouts and Connecting Tubing. Runouts to alarm panels and connecting tubing for gauges and alarm devices shall be permitted to be DN8 (NPS 1/4 ) ( 3/8 inch O.D.) size. [NFPA 99:5.1.10.11.1.5]
1323.1.4 Maximum Demand. Where the maximum demand for each medical gas or vacuum system does not exceed the values in Table 1323.1.4(1) through Table 1323.1.4(6), the size of pipe of each section of the system shall be determined in accordance with Section 1323.1.5. The size for systems beyond the range of Table 1323.1.4(1) through Table 1323.1.4(6) shall be determined in accordance with Section 1323.1.6.
1323.1.5 Sizing Procedures. The size of each section of pipe in a system within the range of Table 1323.1.4(1) through Table 1324.1.4(6) shall be determined in accordance with the following:
(1) Determine the total flow rate and number of outlets or inlets for each section of pipe in accordance with Table 1305.2 and Table 1305.3.
(2) Measure the length of the section of pipe to each station outlet or inlet on the system. Multiply the measured pipe length by 1.5 (150 percent), to account for the number of fittings in the system, to determine the pipe equivalent length.
(3) Beginning with the most remote outlet or inlet, multiply the total flow rate by the diversity factor specified in Table 1323.1.5(1) for each section of pipe to determine the sizing flow rate for the piping.
(4) Select Table 1323.1.4(1) through Table 1324.1.4(6) based on the medical gas or vacuum being transported through the piping.
(5) Select an estimated pipe size for determining the system pressure loss. Multiply the pipe equivalent length, for a given section of pipe, by the pressure loss for the sizing flow rate in the applicable table. Divide that number by 100 to determine the system pressure loss for the section of pipe.
(6) Add the pressure loss for each section of piping, from the source equipment location to the outlet or
inlet, to determine the total system pressure loss to each outlet or inlet. The total system pressure loss in the piping to each outlet or inlet shall not exceed the values specified in Table 1323.1.5(2).
TABLE 1323.1.5(1) SYSTEM SIZING – FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR STATION OUTLETS AND INLETS [1]
| NUMBER OF OUTLETS AND INLETS TERMINAL UNITS PER FACILITY |
DIVERSITY PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE FLOW PER OUTLETS AND INLETS TERMINAL UNITS |
MINIMUM PERMISSIBLE SYSTEM FLOW OF ALL PRESSURIZED MEDICAL GAS SYSTEMS2 (standard cubic feet per minute) |
|---|---|---|
1–10 |
100% | Actual Demand |
11–25 |
75% | 7.0 |
26–50 |
50% | 13.1 |
51–100 |
50% | 17.5 |
Notes: 1 Flow rates of station outlets and inlets in accordance with Table 1305.2. 2 The minimum system flow is the average outlets and inlets flow times the number of station outlets and inlets times the diversity percentage.
TABLE 1323.1.5(2) MAXIMUM PERMITTED PRESSURE LOSS IN
MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICAL VACUUM SYSTEMS
| TYPE OF SYSTEM | MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SYSTEM PRESSURE LOSS (psi) |
|---|---|
Medical Air |
5 |
Nitrogen |
15 |
Nitrous Oxide |
5 |
| Carbon Dioxide | 5 |
Oxygen |
5 |
Medical Vacuum |
4 inches of mercury |
For SI units: 1 pound-force per square inch = 6.8947 kPa, 1 inch of mercury = 3.386 kPa
1323.1.6 Engineering Methods. For conditions other than those covered by Section 1323.1.4, such as longer runs of greater gas or vacuum demands, the size of each medical gas or vacuum piping system shall be determined by standard engineering methods acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, and each system shall be so designed that the total pressure drop or gain between the source equipment and an outlet or inlet shall not exceed the allowable pressures shown in Table 1305.1. TABLE 1323.1.4(2) PRESSURE LOSS FOR NITROGEN
| FLOW RATE (SCFM)1 |
PRESSURE DROP (psi) PER 100 FEET2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| FLOW RATE (SCFM)1 |
1⁄2 INCH PIPE |
3⁄4 INCH PIPE |
1 INCH PIPE |
| 0.35 | 0.004 | 0.001 | – |
| 0.71 | 0.012 | 0.003 | – |
| 1.06 | 0.023 | 0.005 | – |
| 1.41 | 0.037 | 0.007 | – |
| 1.77 | 0.055 | 0.011 | – |
| 2.12 | 0.075 | 0.015 | – |
| 2.47 | 0.097 | 0.019 | – |
| 2.82 | 0.123 | 0.024 | – |
| 3.18 | 0.151 | 0.029 | – |
| 3.53 | 0.181 | 0.035 | – |
| 4.24 |
0.249 |
0.048 |
– |
| 4.94 | 0.326 | 0.063 | – |
| 5.65 | 0.413 | 0.080 | – |
| 6.36 | 0.507 | 0.098 | – |
| 7.06 | 0.611 | 0.118 | 0.030 |
| 7.77 | 0.723 | 0.139 | 0.035 |
| 8.47 | 0.843 | 0.162 | 0.041 |
| 9.18 | 0.969 | 0.187 | 0.047 |
| 9.89 | 1.108 | 0.212 | 0.053 |
| 10.59 | 1.252 | 0.240 | 0.060 |
| 12.36 | 1.647 | 0.315 | 0.079 |
| 14.12 |
2.090 |
0.398 |
0.100 |
| 15.89 |
2.580 |
0.490 |
0.123 |
| 17.66 | 3.116 | 0.591 | 0.148 |
| 19.42 | – | 0.701 | 0.176 |
| 21.19 | – | 0.818 | 0.205 |
| 22.95 | – | 0.944 | 0.236 |
| 24.72 | – | 1.078 | 0.268 |
| 28.25 | – | 1.369 | 0.341 |
| 31.78 | – | 1.690 | 0.421 |
| 35.31 | – | 2.043 | 0.509 |
| 38.84 | – | 2.425 | 0.603 |
| 42.37 | – | 2.838 | 0.705 |
| 45.90 |
– |
3.280 |
0.814 |
| 49.43 | – | 3.751 | 0.929 |
| 52.97 | – | 4.249 | 1.052 |
| 56.50 | – | – | 1.181 |
| 60.03 | – | – | 1.318 |
| 63.56 | – | – | 1.461 |
| 67.09 | – | – | 1.611 |
| 70.62 | – | – | 1.768 |
| 81.21 | – | – | 2.276 |
| 88.28 | – | – | 2.647 |
| 95.34 | – | – | 3.044 |
TABLE 1323.1.4(4) PRESSURE LOSS FOR OXYGEN
| FLOW RATE (SCFM)1 |
PRESSURE DROP (psi) PER 100 FEET2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| FLOW RATE (SCFM)1 |
1⁄2 INCH PIPE | 3⁄4 INCH PIPE | 1 INCH PIPE |
| 0.35 | 0.004 | – | – |
| 0.71 | 0.014 | – | – |
| 1.06 | 0.029 | – | – |
| 1.41 | 0.047 | – | – |
| 1.77 | 0.070 | – | – |
| 2.12 | 0.096 | – | – |
| 2.47 | 0.125 | – | – |
| 2.82 | 0.159 | – | – |
| 3.18 | 0.195 | – | – |
| 3.53 | 0.235 | 0.045 | – |
| 4.24 | 0.324 | 0.062 | – |
| 4.94 | 0.425 | 0.081 | – |
| 5.65 | 0.539 | 0.103 | – |
| 6.36 | 0.664 | 0.127 | – |
| 7.06 | 0.802 | 0.153 | 0.038 |
| 7.77 | 0.950 | 0.181 | 0.045 |
| 8.47 | 1.110 | 0.211 | 0.053 |
| 9.18 | 1.281 | 0.243 | 0.061 |
| 9.89 | 1.463 | 0.278 | 0.070 |
| 10.59 | 1.656 | 0.314 | 0.079 |
| 12.36 | 2.186 | 0.413 | 0.103 |
| 14.12 | 2.752 | 0.525 | 0.131 |
| 15.89 | 3.442 | 0.648 | 0.162 |
| 17.66 | 4.166 | 0.783 | 0.195 |
| 19.42 | – | 0.929 | 0.231 |
| 21.19 | – | 0.744 | 0.270 |
| 22.95 | – | 0.858 | 0.312 |
| 24.72 | – | 0.980 | 0.356 |
| 28.25 | – | 1.244 | 0.453 |
| 31.78 | – | 1.537 | 0.560 |
| 35.31 | – | 1.858 | 0.677 |
| 38.84 | – | 2.205 | 0.804 |
| 42.37 |
– |
2.581 |
0.941 |
| 45.90 |
– |
2.982 |
1.088 |
| 49.43 |
– |
3.411 |
1.245 |
| 52.97 |
– |
4.249 |
1.411 |
| 56.50 |
– |
– |
1.587 |
| 60.03 |
– |
– |
1.772 |
| 63.56 | – | – | 1.967 |
| 67.09 | – | – | 2.174 |
| 70.62 | – | – | 2.385 |
| 79.45 | – | – | 2.959 |
| 88.28 | – | – | 3.589 |
For SI units: 1 standard cubic foot per minute = 28.32 SLPM, 1 inch = 25 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound-force per square inch = 6.8947 kPa
Notes: 1 Based on the pressure of 14.7 psig (101 kPa) at 68°F (20°C). 2 Based on the pressure of 55 psig (379 kPa) at 68°F (20°C). TABLE 1323.1.4(5) PRESSURE LOSS FOR VACUUM (continued)
| FLOW RATE (SCFM)1 |
VACUUM LOSS (inch of mercury) PER 100 FEET FOR COPPER TUBE2 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLOW RATE (SCFM)1 |
3⁄4 INCH TUBE |
1 INCH TUBE |
11⁄4 INCH TUBE |
11⁄2 INCH TUBE |
2 INCH TUBE |
| 49.43 | – | – | – | 3.645 | 0.956 |
| 52.97 | – | – | – | 4.122 | 1.081 |
| 56.50 | – | – | – | 4.626 | 1.212 |
| 63.56 | – | – | – | – | 1.495 |
| 70.62 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
1.803 |
| 77.68 | – | – | – | – | 2.138 |
| 84.74 | – | – | – | – | 2.497 |
| 91.81 | – | – | – | – | 2.882 |
| 98.87 | – | – | – | – | 3.291 |
| 105.93 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
3.724 |
| 112.99 | – | – | – | – | 4.181 |
For SI units: 1 standard cubic foot per minute = 28.32 SLPM, 1 inch = 25 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 inch of mercury = 3.386 kPa
Notes: 1 Based on the pressure of 14.7 psig (101 kPa) at 68°F (20°C). 2 Based on the pressure of 19 inches of mercury gauge vacuum (64 kPa) at 68°F (20°C).
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