BRITISH STANDARD BS 3970-5:

1990

Sterilizing and
disinfecting equipment
for medical products —
Part 5: Specification for low
temperature steam disinfectors

Confirmed
December 2011
BS 3970-5:1990

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Health Care
Standards Policy Committee (HCC/-) to Technical Committee HCC/14, upon
which the following bodies were represented:

Associated Offices Technical Committee

Association of British Health-Care Industries
Association of British Sterilizer Manufacturers
Association of Clinical Pathologists
Association of National Health Service Supplies Officers
British Dental Trade Association
British Surgical Trades Association
Central Sterilising Club
Department of Health
Guild of Hospital Pharmacists
Health and Safety Executive
Infection Control Nurses’ Association
Institute of Hospital Engineering
Institute of Purchasing and Supply
Institute of Sterile Services Management
Joint Committee of Professional Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting
Associations (England)
Medical Sterile Products Association
National Blood Transfusion Service
Public Health Laboratory Service
Regional Hospital Boards Engineers’ Association
Royal College of Pathologists
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Scottish Health Services
Stainless Steel Fabricators’ Association of Great Britain

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Health Care
Standards Policy Committee,
was published under the
authority of the Board of BSI
and comes into effect on Amendments issued since publication
28 September 1990

© BSI 03-1999
Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference HCC/14
Draft for comment 85/53989 DC

ISBN 0 580 18508 7

 BS 3970-5:1990

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 General requirements 1
4 Design pressure 1
5 Operating cycle 1
6 Instrumentation and controls 2
7 Performance requirements 3
Appendix A Chamber temperature test 4
Appendix B Air ingress monitor test 4
Appendix C Small load test 4
Appendix D Full load test 5
Appendix E Load dryness test 5
Appendix F Leak rate test 6
Appendix G Over-temperature cut-out test 6
Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 03-1999 i
BS 3970-5:1990

Foreword

It is recommended that this foreword be read in conjunction with the foreword of

BS 3970-1.
This Part of BS 3970 has been prepared under the direction of the Health Care
Standards Policy Committee. It forms part of BS 3970, which specifies
requirements for a range of sterilizing and disinfecting equipment intended for
medical and related uses.
The general requirements applicable to all the sterilizers and disinfectors covered
by this standard are given in Part 1. Those requirements that are not common to
most types of sterilizer or disinfector are specified in subsequent Parts of
BS 3970. These Parts, giving particular requirements, should be read in
conjunction with BS 3970-1:1990 which they supplement or modify. The titles of
these Parts are expected to be as follows:
— Part 3: Specification for steam sterilizers for wrapped goods and porous
loads;
— Part 4: Specification for transportable steam sterilizers for unwrapped
instruments and utensils;
— Part A1): Specification for steam sterilizers for fluids in sealed rigid
containers;
— Part B1): Specification for steam sterilizers for fluids in unsealed vented
containers;
— Part C1): Specification for steam sterilizers for fluids in sealed non-rigid
containers;
— Part D1): Specification for sterilizers using low-temperature steam with
formaldehyde;
— Part E1): Specification for sterilizers using ethylene oxide or ethylene oxide
mixtures.
This Part specifies requirements, in addition to those specified in BS 3970-1, for
equipment operating at sub-atmospheric pressures and designed to disinfect heat
sensitive products by using saturated steam at low temperature in the absence of
formaldehyde (see note). The process described achieves disinfection only. The
equipment specified in this Part of BS 3970 is intended for treating both wrapped
or unwrapped instruments and for those materials unsuitable for treatment at
temperatures above 80 °C. Only one operating cycle is specified; process control
is fully automatic.
It is necessary to ensure that the walls of the chamber are heated prior to
commencing stage 2 in order to minimize condensation and to achieve the correct
conditions for disinfection. Also, for successful disinfection, it is usual to have an
efficient vacuum system both to ensure steam penetration during stage 5 of the
operating cycle and to ensure that the pressure during stage 6 is sufficiently
reduced to enable the moisture to be removed from the load (see clause 5).
NOTE Although this practice is deprecated, the operating cycle specified in this standard is usually
provided as an alternative operating cycle on equipment designed for sterilization by low temperature
steam with formaldehyde. It is for this reason that this Part is included in BS 3970. The Part of
BS 3970 specifying low temperature steam sterilizers using formaldehyde is being considered at the
time of publication of this Part of BS 3970.
Attention is drawn to the fact that the production of dry packs is assisted by the
use of suitable absorbent packaging materials. Guidance in the treatment of wet
loads is given in Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 10 “Sterilizers”,
published by the Department of Health and Social Security.

1)
In preparation; each Part will be allocated a number in its respective order of publication.

ii © BSI 03-1999
 BS 3970-5:1990

Product certification. Users of this British Standard are advised to consider

the desirability of third party certification for product conformity with this
British Standard, based on testing and continuing surveillance which may be
coupled with assessment of a supplier’s quality systems against the appropriate
Part of BS 5750.
Enquiries as to the availability of third party certification schemes will be
forwarded by BSI to the Association of Certification Bodies. If a third party
certification scheme does not already exist, users should consider approaching an
appropriate body from the list of Association members.
Alternatively, users of this British Standard may wish to consider the desirability
of assessment and registration of a supplier’s quality systems against the
appropriate Part of BS 5750 by a third party certification body.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i to iv,
pages 1 to 8, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

© BSI 03-1999 iii

iv blank

1 Scope
This Part of BS 3970 specifies particular
requirements for disinfectors using a single
specified operating cycle and using mains supplied
steam. These requirements apply in addition to the
general requirements specified in BS 3970-1. The
disinfector specified is applicable to the disinfection
of heat labile materials (see foreword).
NOTE 1 It is emphasized that equipment complying with this
Part of BS 3970 is only designed to disinfect (see 2.2).
NOTE 2 The titles of the publications referred to in this
standard are listed on the inside back cover.
2 Definitions
For the purposes of this Part of BS 3970, the
definitions given in BS 3970-1 apply, together with
the following.
2.1
low temperature steam
pure water vapour in equilibrium with liquid water
at a temperature below 100 °C
NOTE In practice, low temperature steam refers in this Part of
BS 3970 to water at its boiling point at an absolute pressure
of 350 mbar2) or 35 kPa. This pressure corresponds to
approximately 73 °C.
2.2
disinfection
the process used to reduce the number of viable
micro-organisms in a load but which may not
necessarily inactivate some viruses and bacterial
spores
NOTE The disinfection process may not achieve the same
reduction in microbial contamination levels as sterilization.
3 General requirements
3.1 Disinfectors shall comply with the requirements
of BS 3970-1, and with 3.2 and clauses 4 to 7 of this
Part of BS 3970.
NOTE Users of this Part of BS 3970 are advised that reference
should be made to The Electrical Safety Code for Hospital
Laboratory Equipment (ESCHLE) as certain of its requirements
are specified in BS 3970-1.
3.2 Unless otherwise stated in this British
Standard, compliance with this Part of BS 3970
shall be checked by visual inspection and, if
appropriate, by direct measurement.
4 Design pressure
The design pressure of the vessel shall permit its
operation within the gauge pressure range – 1 bar
to 0.2 bar2). The design pressure of the jacket, if
fitted, shall be within the same limits.
2)
1 bar = 105 N/m2 = 105 Pa.
© BSI 03-1999
BS 3970-5:1990
5 Operating cycle
5.1 Cycle stages
The disinfector shall perform the following
operating cycle with a load of mass not
exceeding 170 kg for each cubic metre of the usable
chamber space. if in any of the following stages the
specified conditions are not achieved, a fault shall be
indicated.
a) Stage 1: Pre-heating. Before stage 2 can
commence, the walls of the chamber shall be at a
temperature of 71 °C to 78 °C (see 7.1).
b) Stage 2: Air removal. Sufficient air shall be
removed from the chamber and the load to permit
attainment of the disinfecting conditions
(see 7.2 and 7.3).
c) Stage 3: Air ingress monitoring. Means
shall be provided to monitor the ingress of air into
the chamber commencing when the pressure in
the chamber is at its lowest value. If the rate of
pressure increase is greater than 5 mbar/min, the
operating cycle shall proceed directly to stage 6.
(See 7.5.)
d) Stage 4: Steam admission. Steam shall be
admitted to the chamber until the temperature
attained throughout the load (see 7.2 and 7.3)
is 73 ± 2 °C.
e) Stage 5: Disinfection. During this stage the
temperature throughout the chamber and the
load shall be not less than the nominal
disinfecting temperature 73 °C for a period of not
less than 10 min. The chamber temperature,
measured at the active chamber discharge, shall
be controlled at 73 ± 2 °C during this stage. In
addition, after the first 5 min of this stage and
until the conclusion of this stage, the
temperature of the chamber wall shall be not
less than the temperature of the active chamber
discharge. (See 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3.)
f) Stage 6: Drying. Steam shall be extracted
from the chamber, and the chamber pressure
shall be reduced sufficiently to permit the
evaporation of condensate from the load either by
prolonged evacuation of the chamber or by the
injection and subsequent extraction of heated air
or other gases within the chamber (see 7.4).
If the load is dried without the injection of hot
gases, the duration of the drying stage shall be
not less than 3 min and the chamber pressure at
the end of stage 6 shall be not greater
than 40 mbar absolute.
1
BS 3970-5:1990
If the load is dried by injecting heated gases into
the chamber, the gases shall be filtered
(see clause 15 of BS 3970-1) and the temperature
of the injected gas shall not exceed 80 °C; the
duration of the drying stage (stage 6) shall be not
less than 3 min and the chamber pressure at the
end of stage 6 shall attain 40 mbar absolute or
less.
g) Stage 7: Air admission. Air shall be admitted
to the chamber through the filter (see clause 15 of
BS 3970-1) until the chamber pressure is
within 100 mbar of atmospheric pressure.
The duration of the specified overall cycle time
(stage 2 to stage 7 inclusive) shall not exceed 60 min
(see note).
NOTE The specified overall cycle time includes the drying,
i.e. stage 6, that is required to achieve a dry load with the test
load described in Appendix C. However in practice, other loads
may be more difficult to dry and thus are likely to require
extended drying times (see 6.1.2) leading to an extension of the
overall cycle time.
Compliance is checked by inspection and as
described in Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C,
Appendix D and Appendix E.
5.2 Leak test cycle
The disinfector shall be provided with the facility for
a leak test cycle under the control of the automatic
controller. Selection of this cycle shall only be
accessible to the operator by means of a special key,
code or tool.
NOTE 1 The leak test cycle may be incorporated by
modification of stage 2, stage 3 or stage 6 of a normal operating
cycle. If the leak test cycle is achieved by modification of stage 2
or stage 3, the leak test cycle may exclude stages 4 to 7 inclusive
of the normal operating cycle.
Selection of the leak test cycle shall initiate the
following operations carried out in sequence with no
load in the chamber.
a) The pressure in the chamber is reduced to
less than 40 mbar. (See also note to B.2.1.)
b) All the valves directly connected to the
chamber are closed.
c) Either the vacuum pump is stopped or, if the
vacuum source is external to the machine, a
second valve isolating the evacuated chamber is
closed.
d) The isolating valve, if fitted between the
chamber and the absolute pressure gauge, is
opened and remains open for a period of not
less than 15 min and not more than 20 min,
the period being monitored by a leak test timer
(see Appendix B).
e) After this period, air is admitted to the
chamber through the filter (see clause 15 of
BS 3970-1) until the chamber pressure is
within 100 mbar of atmospheric pressure.
2 © BSI 03-1999
There shall be an indication, visible to the operator,
when the leak test timer is operating.
At the end of the leak test cycle the automatic
controller shall indicate a “FAULT”.
NOTE 2 The automatic controller may also indicate that the
leak test cycle has been completed.
Compliance is checked as described in Appendix F.
6 Instrumentation and controls
6.1 Instruments and control equipment
additional to that specified in BS 3970-1
6.1.1 If an indicating thermometer is fitted to
monitor the temperature of the chamber wall, the
sensor for this thermometer shall be attached either
to the chamber wall or, if a jacket is fitted, within
the jacket space.
6.1.2 A system for controlling additional drying time
shall be fitted to enable stage 6 to be extended
by 20 min or less (see note to 5.1).
6.1.3 A monitoring timer shall be fitted so that if the
combined time for stages 4 and 5 exceeds the
disinfection time (stage 5) by more than 3 min, a
fault is indicated.
6.1.4 A leak test timer shall be fitted, capable of
indicating periods of at least 20 min to an accuracy
of ± 10 s.
6.1.5 Over-temperature cut-outs shall be fitted, in
addition to those specified in BS 3970-1. These
cut-outs shall ensure that the chamber wall and the
chamber free space will not exceed 80 °C. The
cut-outs shall effect this by disconnecting the source
of heat to the chamber and, if necessary, to the
chamber walls or, if fitted, to the jacket; and the
operating cycle shall proceed immediately to stage 6
and a fault shall be indicated.
Compliance is checked as described in Appendix G.
6.2 Additional requirements for instruments
and control equipment specified in BS 3970-1
6.2.1 Means shall be provided for recording the
chamber temperature throughout the operating
cycle (see 6.2.3). The temperature scale range shall
be 0 °C to 100 °C.
The recording instrument shall comply with 13.3 of
BS 3970-1. The speed of the imprint surface shall be
not less than 2 mm/min at the disinfecting
temperature.
6.2.2 The chamber pressure recorder, as specified
in 13.3 of BS 3970-1, shall have a scale range
from 0 bar to 1 bar absolute. The chart speed shall
be the same as that of the chamber temperature
recorder (see 6.2.1).

6.2.3 The chamber temperature indicating
thermometer, as specified in 13.2.1 of
BS 3970-1:1990 shall have, in addition, a scale
range not exceeding 100 °C (see 6.2.1).
6.2.4 The chamber pressure gauge, as specified
in 13.2.3 of BS 3970-1, shall have a gauge pressure
scale range of – 1 bar to not less than 0 bar, or a
pressure scale range of 0 bar absolute to not less
than 1 bar absolute.
6.2.5 An absolute pressure indicator, as specified
in 13.2.5 of BS 3970-1, shall be fitted to the chamber
for the purposes of the leak rate test
(see Appendix F).
7 Performance requirements
7.1 Chamber temperature
When tested as described in Appendix A, the
removal of air (stage 2) shall not commence until the
temperatures indicated by the
sensors [A.2.1 a) and b)] are between 71 °C
and 78 °C. Not more than 5 min after the start of the
disinfection stage (stage 5) and thereafter until the
end of stage 5, the temperatures indicated by all the
sensors shall be not less than the temperature of the
active chamber discharge.
7.2 Performance using a small load test pack
When tested as described in Appendix C, the
disinfector shall comply with the following
requirements.
a) Throughout stage 5 the temperature at the
nominal geometric centre of the small load test
pack shall be not lower than 71 °C and not
greater than 80 °C.
b) Throughout stage 5, the temperature in the
chamber free space shall not differ by
more than 4.0 °C from the temperature at the
active chamber discharge.
© BSI 03-1999
BS 3970-5:1990
c) Throughout stage 5, the temperatures of the
nominal geometric centre of the small load test
pack, the active chamber discharge and the
chamber free space shall be not lower than 71 °C.
d) The operating cycle shall be completed
within 60 min of the start of stage 2.
Failure to comply with any of the requirements
specified in items a) to d) shall lead to the
indication of a fault.
7.3 Performance using a full load test pack
When tested as described in Appendix D, the
disinfector shall comply with the following
requirements.
a) Throughout stage 5, the temperature at the
nominal geometric centre of the full load test
pack shall be not lower than 71 °C and not
greater than 80 °C.
b) Throughout stage 5, the temperatures at the
nominal geometric centre of the full load test
pack and the active chamber discharge shall be
not lower than 71 °C.
c) The operating cycle shall be completed
within 60 min of the start of stage 2.
Failure to comply with any of the requirements
specified in items a) to c) shall lead to the
indication of a fault.
7.4 Load dryness
When a fabric load is tested as described in
Appendix E, its mass after the operating cycle shall
not exceed its mass before undergoing the operating
cycle by more than 1% (m/m).
7.5 Air leakage
When tested as described in Appendix F, the
disinfector shall achieve an absolute pressure of
less than 40 mbar in the empty chamber and
subsequent air ingress shall not cause the pressure
to increase at a rate greater than 0.5 mbar/min after
the initial stabilizing period of 5 min.
3
BS 3970-5:1990
Appendix A Chamber temperature
test (see 7.1)
A.1 Apparatus and materials
A.1.1 Temperature sensors,twelve.
A.1.2 Recording thermometer(s), with sufficient
channels to connect to all the sensors (A.1.1), and
with an accuracy of ± 0.25 °C within the range
of 73 ± 5 °C.
A.2 Procedure
A.2.1 Locate the temperature sensors (A.1.1) in the
disinfector as follows.
a) Place eight sensors on the chamber walls
adjacent to each of the eight corner positions of
the usable chamber space.
b) Place two sensors at the geometric centre of
each side wall of the chamber.
c) Place one sensor in the active chamber
discharge.
d) Place one sensor on the projected geometric
centre of the steam inlet to the chamber in a
position on the rear plane of the usable chamber
space.
NOTE If a steam inlet is fitted with baffles, these should not be
removed when carrying out the chamber temperature test.
Then connect each of the sensors to the recording
thermometer(s) (A.1.2).
A.2.2 With the chamber empty except for its fixed
furniture and the temperature sensors, carry out an
operating cycle as specified in 5.1 recording the
temperatures indicated by each of the sensors.
A.2.3 Note the temperatures of all the sensors when
stage 2 (air removal stage) commences.
A.2.4 Note the temperatures indicated by each of
the sensors for the final 5 min of stage 5
(disinfection stage).
A.3 Reporting of results
A.3.1 Record whether or not stage 2 commenced
before the temperature indicated by all the sensors
was 71 °C to 78 °C.
A.3.2 Record after the first 5 min of stage 5 whether
or not the temperatures indicated by all the sensors
during stage 5 were within – 0 °C, + 5 ° C of the
temperature of the active chamber discharge.
Appendix B Air ingress monitor test
(see item c) of 5.1)
B.1 Apparatus and materials
B.1.1 Variable flow device, capable of controlling the
entry of air into the disinfector chamber.
B.1.2 Small load test pack, as described in C.2.
4 © BSI 03-1999
B.2 Procedure
B.2.1 Connect the variable flow device (B.1.1) to the
disinfector chamber. With the chamber empty
except for the fixed furniture, carry out an operating
cycle. During stage 3, adjust the flow device to allow
air to enter the chamber so that the pressure rise
+2
is 50 – 0 mbar during a 10 min period.
B.2.2 At the conclusion of the operating cycle, place
in the chamber the small load test pack (B.1.2) and
carry out another operating cycle.
B.2.3 Check that at stage 3, the automatic
controller immediately causes the operating cycle to
proceed directly to stage 6, and that a fault is
indicated.
B.3 Results
Record whether or not the operating cycle proceeded
immediately to stage 6 after stage 3 started and
whether or not a fault was indicated.
Appendix C Small load test (see 7.2)
C.1 Apparatus and materials
C.1.1 Coarse hand-towels, unbleached, of
huckaback weave and having a nominal size
of 900 mm × 600 mm, complying with fabric
reference 1.6 or 1.7 of BS 1781.
NOTE If towels complying with fabric reference 1.7 of BS 1781
are used, more than 25 towels will be required to form the test
pack (see C.2).
Wash new towels thoroughly to remove the dressing
and wash soiled or discoloured towels to reinstate
both cleanliness and softness. During washing, do
not use fabric softeners or conditioners and do not
starch, iron or calender the towels.
C.1.2 Recording thermometer, with a minimum of
three sensors, with an accuracy of not
less than 0.5 % at the maximum of the scale
range 0 °C to 150 °C, and with an accuracy
of ± 0.25 °C within the range 73 ± 5 °C.
The thermometer records either:
a) continuously, with a chart speed of not
less than 20 mm/min; or
b) at intervals, not exceeding 8 s for each channel.
C.2 Assembly of the small load test pack
C.2.1 Assemble the small load test pack afresh as
described in C.2.2 before each test.

C.2.2 Immediately before the test, unfold each
towel (C.1.1) and allow to air for at least 1 h in an
atmosphere at between 15 °C and 25 °C and a
relative humidity of between 30 % and 70 %. Then
fold each towel in half, three times, to provide eight
thicknesses with a nominal area
of 300 mm × 225 mm. Form a small load test pack
by placing not more than 36 towels horizontally, one
above another, to form a stack 265 ± 15 mm high. If
more than 36 towels are needed to give the required
height, replace the worn towels.
NOTE The exact number of towels required will depend on how
often the towels have been laundered. With new towels of fabric
reference 1.6 at least 25 are likely to be needed.
C.3 Procedure
C.3.1 Introduce monitoring thermocouples into the
chamber through the thermocouple entry
connection, and then carry out the air leakage test
as described in Appendix F. Do not proceed with the
small load test if the air leakage is greater
than 5 mbar in 10 min.
C.3.2 After a successful air leakage test, carry out
at least one normal operating cycle with the
chamber empty except for the fixed furniture.
C.3.3 Place one of the temperature sensors (C.1.2)
at the nominal geometric centre of the small load
test pack (C.2). Compress the stack of towels by
hand pressure and secure the stack by one of the
following methods:
a) placing in a casket complying with BS 3281; or
b) wrapping in sterilization grade paper,
complying with BS 6254 or BS 6255; or
c) tying with tapes or cords.
Ensure that, when handled, the pack is stable and
the towels are secure.
Place the complete test pack with the centre of the
bottom of the test pack at between 100 mm
and 200 mm above the nominal geometric centre of
the chamber base.
C.3.4 Secure the second temperature sensor in the
active chamber discharge in contact with the
condensate to a depth of at least 10 mm.
C.3.5 Secure the third temperature sensor in the
chamber free space between 45 mm and 55 mm
above the upper surface of the test pack and
approximately above the nominal geometric centre
of the test pack.
C.3.6 Carry out an operating cycle with the chamber
containing only the small load test pack, the
temperature sensors and the fixed chamber
furniture. Observe and record the elapsed time for
each stage and the monitored temperatures in the
small load test pack, the active chamber discharge
and the chamber free space.
© BSI 03-1999
BS 3970-5:1990
C.3.7 At the completion of the test, examine the
temperature records for compliance with 7.2.
Appendix D Full load test (see 7.3)
D.1 Apparatus and materials
D.1.1 Fabric material, laundered without the
addition of starch or fabric conditioner, aired and
having a mean density of between 150 kg/m3
and 170 kg/m3.
NOTE The fabric should be predominantly cotton or linen and
should contain not more than 20 % (m/m) of synthetic fibre.
D.1.2 Small load test pack, as described in C.2
and C.3.3.
D.1.3 Recording thermometer, with a minimum of
two sensors; with an accuracy of not less than 0.5 %
at the maximum of the scale range 0 °C to 150 °C,
and with an accuracy of ± 0.25 °C within the
range 73 ± 5 °C.
The thermometer records either:
a) continuously, with a chart speed of not
less than 20 mm/min; or
b) at intervals, not exceeding 6 s for each channel.
D.2 Procedure
D.2.1 Load the usable chamber space with the fabric
material (D.1.1) and with a small load test
pack (D.1.2). Position the small load test pack at the
nominal geometric centre of the usable chamber
space.
Ensure that the mass of the load corresponds
to 160 ± 10 kg for each cubic metre of the usable
chamber space, and that two temperature sensors
are located as described in C.3.3 and C.3.4.
D.2.2 Carry out an operating cycle, recording the
elapsed time for each stage and the monitored
temperatures in the small load test pack and the
drain.
D.2.3 At the completion of the test, examine the
temperature records for compliance with 7.3.
Appendix E Load dryness test (see 7.4)
E.1 Apparatus and materials
E.1.1 Small load test pack, as described in C.2
and C.3.3, but not including the temperature
sensors.
E.1.2 Polyethylene bags, three, 350 mm × 250 mm
or larger, manufactured from polyethylene sheets
with a thickness of not less than 250 4m.
E.1.3 Balance, capable of weighing loads of up
to 1 kg with an accuracy of ± 0.1 g, or better.
E.1.4 Indelible marker.
5
BS 3970-5:1990
E.2 Procedure
E.2.1 Allow the towels of the small load test
pack (E.1.1) to equilibrate as described in C.2.2.
E.2.2 Mark three of the towels and similarly mark
each of the polyethylene bags (E.1.2) so that all are
individually identified.
Place each towel in its corresponding bag, weigh
each bag and record its mass (m1).
E.2.3 Remove the towels from the bags and replace
them in the small load test pack; place one in the
centre and the others as the fourth towel from either
end of the test pack. Secure the test pack as
described in C.3.3.
E.2.4 Place the test pack in the disinfector and carry
out an operating cycle as described in C.3.6. Start
the operating cycle within 60 s of placing the test
pack in the disinfector chamber. Do not permit the
cycle to include any extended drying time (see note
to 5.1).
E.2.5 At the completion of the operating cycle and
after not more than 60 s, remove the test pack from
the chamber. Remove the three marked towels from
the test pack and immediately place each in its
corresponding bag. Seal each bag by turning its
open end over several times. Ensure that total time
taken from the end of the operating cycle to the
enclosure of the three towels does not exceed 3 min.
NOTE The transfer of the towels to the polyethylene bags
should be accomplished with the greatest possible economy of
movement in order to minimize loss of retained moisture.
E.2.6 Allow the towels to cool. Then weigh and
record the mass (m2) of each towel in its bag.
E.3 Expression of results
Calculate the moisture content of each towel,
expressed as a percentage, using the formula:
m2 – m1
−−−−−−−−−−−−− × 100
m1
where
m1 is the initial mass, in grams, of a towel in its
bag; and
m2 is the finals mass, in grams, of the same
towel in its bag.
Report the mean of the three results and check that
the mean is not more than 1 %.
6 © BSI 03-1999
Appendix F Leak rate test (see 7.5)
F.1 Apparatus and equipment
F.1.1 Absolute pressure indicator, barometrically
compensated, as specified in 6.2.5.
F.1.2 Stopwatch, graduated in 0.2 s, and with an
accuracy over a period of 15 min of not
less than ± 0.5 s.
F.2 Procedure
F.2.1 Stabilize the temperature of the chamber
(see note) by carrying out a normal operating cycle
and ensure that, throughout the period in which the
chamber pressure is monitored, the temperature
does not change by more than 10 °C.
NOTE In a closed vessel at 40 mbar absolute pressure, the
pressure changes by approximately 1 mbar for each 10 °C change
in temperature, over the range 20 °C to 100 °C. The test could be
inconclusive if the temperature changes by more than 10 °C
during the period in which the chamber pressure is monitored.
F.2.2 With the temperature stabilized and the
chamber empty except for its fixed furniture and
necessary monitoring sensors, select and start the
leak test cycle (see 5.2). Observe and record the time
(t1) and the absolute pressure (p1) when the leak
test timer (see 6.1.4) starts.
F.2.3 Wait for 300 ± 10 s after t1 and then observe
and record the absolute pressure in the chamber
(p2). After a further 600 ± 10 s, again observe and
record the absolute pressure in the chamber (p3).
F.3 Results
Determine whether p1 is less than 40 mbar and
whether (p3 – p2) is less than 5 mbar.
Appendix G Over-temperature cut-out
test (see 6.1.5)
G.1 Apparatus and materials
G.1.1 Temperature sensors, twelve.
G.1.2 Recording thermometer(s), with sufficient
channels to connect all the sensors (G.1.1), and with
an accuracy of ± 0.25 °C within the range 73 ± 5 °C.
(See also A.1.2.)
G.2 Procedure
G.2.1 Inactivate the chamber temperature control
system.
G.2.2 Place the sensors (G.1.1) in the locations
described in A.2.1 and connect them to the
recording thermometer(s) (G.1.2).

G.2.3 With the chamber empty except for its fixed
furniture and the temperature sensors, start an
operating cycle.
G.2.4 Check that when the over-temperature
cut-out (see 6.1.5) operates:
a) the heat source to the disinfector is
disconnected;
b) the operating cycle proceeds immediately to
stage 6;
© BSI 03-1999
BS 3970-5:1990
c) none of the recorded temperatures
exceeds 80 °C; and
d) a fault is indicated.
G.2.5 Re-activate the chamber temperature control
system and inactivate the chamber wall control
system. Then repeat G.2.2 to G.2.4.
G.3 Reporting of results
Report whether or not the disinfector performed as
described in G.2.4 and G.2.5.
7
8 blank
 BS 3970-5:1990

Publications referred to

BS 1781, Specification for linen and linen union textiles.

BS 3281, Specification for rectangular metal boxes for use in high vacuum steam sterilizers.
BS 3970, Sterilizing and disinfecting equipment for medical products.
BS 3970-1, Specification for general requirements.
BS 3970-3, Specification for steam sterilizers for wrapped goods and porous loads.
BS 5750, Quality systems3).
BS 6254, Specification for creped sterilization paper for medical use.
BS 6255, Specification for plain sterilization paper for medical use.
Health Technical Memorandum No. 10 “Sterilizers”, DHSS, 19814).
The Electrical Safety Code for Hospital Laboratory Equipment (ESCHLE), Health Equipment Information
(HEI) No. 158, DHSS, SHHD, Welsh Office and DHSS (Northern Ireland), August 19865).

3)
Referred to in foreword only.
4)
Available from HMSO, 49 High Holborn, London WC1 for personal callers or by post from HMSO, PO Box 276,
London SW8 5DT.
5) Available from DHSS (Leaflets), PO Box 21, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA5 1AY.

© BSI 03-1999
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