Oxygen  Firebreaks  - Critical Safety Devices for Oxygen Systems

Oxygen firebreaks, also known as thermal fuses, are vital components that prevent fires from spreading through oxygen tubing. Designed for use in home and clinical oxygen systems, these devices activate when heat is detected, instantly stopping oxygen flow and reducing fire risk. 

Fires involving home oxygen can spread quickly and turn deadly. Oxygen firebreaks are simple, affordable safety devices that can save lives by stopping fires in oxygen tubing. 

• Background
  1. 1.5 million people in the U.S. must use home oxygen therapy (HOT)
  2. HOT increases levels of oxygen in the blood, relieving symptoms of fatigue and breathlessness resulting from a variety of health ailments.
  3. HOT is continuously delivered to patients in their home through various delivery methods – oxygen concentrators, liquid oxygen, and oxygen cylinders. 

• The Problem
  1. While oxygen is not flammable, it is an oxidizer. This significantly increases risk and severity of fire, as increased concentrations will enable fires to start more easily and burn much more fiercely.
  2. Nationally, an estimated 100-150 people die each year in HOT fires and over 1,200 suffer burn injuries. There is 1 death every 4 days in the US.
  3. These fires can start when the patient is smoking, using candles, or even cooking.
  4. The health dangers extend to firefighters, also.  There are documented cases of firefighters responding to HOT fires and dying during the firefight.
  5. In addition, leading fire safety experts report that these fires are particularly insidious at causing psychological trauma to firefighters and EMS workers. 
• The Solution: Firebreaks for Home Oxygen Systems 
  1. Firebreaks are safety devices that stop the flow of oxygen in the event of a fire in the tubing. These are now used in more than 25 countries around the world.
  2. These have been used in England since 2013.   Between 2013 and 2017, only one HOT fire was recorded among a patient population of around 80,000.  That’s around 20 times fewer than in the U.S. 

Oxygen Firebreak Video - YouTube

Oxygen Firebreak Video

Oxygen Firebreaks in Kansas

Kansas currently allows for reimbursement of oxygen firebreaks through Medicaid under HCPCS Code E0700, but does not mandate their use. As the item is funded with no limit through a Medicaid code, Medicaid will pay for all requested eligible Firebreaks through the code.