Can level two medical air compressors be simplex?

In medical gas systems, a level two medical air compressor is typically designed to ensure a higher level of redundancy and reliability. Duplex systems, which consist of two compressors, are often required for critical applications like medical air to provide continuous operation. This setup allows one compressor to function while the other acts as a backup, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of medical air.

While simplex compressors, which consist solely of one compressor, could theoretically function, they do not provide the necessary level of reliability and safety that healthcare facilities require for patient care. The primary concern in medical settings is to prevent any potential downtime of essential medical gases, making duplex configurations the standard practice.

In summary, the requirement for redundancy in critical medical applications supports the assertion that level two medical air compressors must always be duplex, as this configuration enhances reliability and ensures that there is always a backup available to maintain the supply of medical air.