Categorical Waiver – Corrugated Medical Tubing

• CMS regulation requires compliance with the 2012 edition of the NFPA Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99) for Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Critical Access Hospitals, End-Stage Renal Disease, Hospitals, Inpatient Hospice, Intermediate Care Facilities for Intellectuals with Disabilities, Long-term Care, Programs for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly, and Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institutions facilities. • The 2012 NFPA 99 requires medical gas and vacuum system tubing to be rigid copper tubing and does not allow for the use of corrugated medical tubing (CMT). • In certain applications, the inability to use CMT may be considered an unreasonable hardship as the installation of CMT may be more efficient and economical. • CMS is issuing a categorical waiver to allow the use of CMT in new and existing health care facilities based on provisions provided in the 2018 NFPA 99.