What does the American Standard Safety System (ASSS) help to prevent?

The American Standard Safety System (ASSS) is specifically designed to prevent accidental misconnections of large gas cylinders. This system employs distinct thread designs and sizes on different types of gas cylinders to ensure that only the appropriate equipment can be connected to a specific gas without mistake. By using unique connections, it effectively reduces the risk of mixing up gases that have different properties and applications, which could lead to dangerous situations. For example, connecting a medical oxygen cylinder to a line intended for a flammable gas could cause a fire hazard or other safety issues.

Other potential concerns, such as overfilling, gas leakage, or corrosion of pipeline systems, are managed through different safety protocols and practices, but the primary focus of the ASSS is to ensure that connections are made correctly, enhancing safety in handling and using medical gases.