All piped gas systems used for medical or industrial purposes require monitoring to ensure that failures or errors create alarms to alert the relevant persons.

In the hospital environment, these alarm panels measure the pressure of the gases in the cylinders and pipes as well as the compressed air and vacuum plant.

Should any pressure drop, cylinder run empty or a compressor or vacuum plant fail, an alarm is shown on the alarm panel by flashing red with an audible buzzer.

A master panel is installed in the gas bank/plant room and slave panels are positioned in various places in the hospital to warn people of the problem. Normally these slave panels are placed in important areas where people are always present such as reception, theatres, ICU or security offices.

As regulated by South African National Standard. (SANS 7396-1:2016), these alarms are compulsory and are called Operating Alarms with a minimum of one master panel and at least 1 slave panel installed in every hospital.