The medical-surgical vacuum exhaust shall be turned down and screened. The screening shall be fabricated using what type of material?

• A. steel mesh
• B. steel wire
• C. any non-corroding material
• D. all of the above

Answer: (C)

Screening for the medical-surgical vacuum exhaust must be made from a material that will not corrode in the hospital environment. Corrosion resistance is essential because moisture, cleaning agents, and fluids are common in patient care areas, and any corrosion could contaminate the exhaust path or shed particulates into the system. Because the requirement is simply to use a non-corroding material, the screening can be stainless steel or other approved non-corroding substances, as long as they withstand disinfection and do not shed fibers or particles. Steel mesh or steel wire might rust under exposure, so they aren’t guaranteed non-corroding. “All of the above” isn’t correct because not all listed options meet the non-corroding criterion.