How many connections should manifolds for gas cylinders have at a minimum?

Manifolds for gas cylinders are designed to ensure a safe and efficient distribution of medical gases. A manifold serves as a connection point that allows multiple gas cylinders to be safely hooked up to a single system. At a minimum, a manifold should have two connections. This design typically allows for redundancy, ensuring that one cylinder can serve as a backup if the other fails or is exhausted.

Moreover, having two connections facilitates the easy switching between gas sources while maintaining the supply of the medical gas to the system. This is critical in medical environments where a continuous supply of gases such as oxygen or nitrous oxide is necessary for patient care. The minimal two connections help maintain system integrity and operational safety, which are paramount in healthcare settings.

In contrast, options like three, four, or five connections indicate configurations that may provide additional gas supply sources but are not the minimum requirement for a basic manifold system. Thus, while more connections can enhance the system, two is sufficient to fulfill the fundamental purpose of a manifold in medical gas distribution.