The present study investigated the formation and fixation of silicate deposits during steam sterilization. First, transfer of silicic acid from the feed water into the sterilization steam onto the sterile supplies was analysed in theory by comparing the process parameters of all substeps of a typical steam sterilization process with a solubility diagram for silicic acid in water and in steam.

The Bowie-Dick (BD) test is performed daily as well as in the weekly, quarterly, annual and revalidation tests. When an autoclave undergoes a maintenance or repair procedure, the autoclave should return to service in a short time in the busy environment of acute care units: an operating theater and so on.

Part 10 of the publication Requirements for Construction or Reconstruction of a Reprocessing Unit for Medical Devices (RUMED) focuses on compressed air for medical use, generally known simply as medical compressed air. Part 11: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a RUMED