13
Maintenance program
Leak test
Fully automatic process for steam autoclaves
With autoclaves equipped with an analogue pressure transducer the leak
test can easily be automatically performed. The leak test is to be
performed with an empty chamber. The chamber additionally has to
have been warm, for example as a result of a heating program having
been run beforehand.
The checking process has its own program button (see program list)
which starts with the vacuum system evacuating the chamber.
Depending on the equipment of the sterilizer, steam may pass through
before the evacuation. The pump in the vacuum system stops when a
deep vacuum has been created. For a short period of time after this
evacuation a slight rise in the chamber pressure takes place which is not
due to leakage but results from evaporation of condensate and
temperature-volume changes in the recently rarefied residual steam.
It is therefore not possible to establish that an increase in pressure in
the chamber is caused by leakage until conditions in the chamber have
stabilized. It is not until about 10 minutes after the pump has stopped
that the pressure and time start to be measured.
A satisfactory leak test allows for a maximum permissible pressure rise
of 13 mbar / 10 minutes.
With double-ended autoclaves, the loading door opens after a
completed leak test either automatically or manually, depending on how
it has been programmed.
A Normal vacuum 5 min.
B Stabilization of chamber atmosphere 10 min.
C Check time 10 min.
D Pressure stepping max. 13 mbar.
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