ASTM E3173-18

Standard Guide for Decommissioning and Disposal of Medical Equipment

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide identifies common processes to safely decommission and dispose of medical equipment. The objective is to identify common challenges unique to medical equipment to help ensure that the identification, authorization for disposition, and proper sanitization of the equipment is completed prior to disposal teams getting involved in the process.  
5.2 This guide provides information to consider when choosing disposal options in order to effectively manage the entity’s assets.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard guide addresses decommissioning and disposal of medical equipment.  
1.2 Decommissioning and disposal of medical equipment is done when equipment is no longer needed due to obsolescence, is inoperable, or has met a scheduled replacement milestone. Decommissioning is the first physical process in the disposition process and includes proper identification, authorization for disposition, and sanitization of the equipment, as well as removal of Patient Health Information (PHI) or software, or both. Disposal method is dependent upon many factors that will be described in this standard guide.  
1.3 This guide does not include detailed disposal method procedures or sales requirements or restrictions specific to any regulatory body or the various levels of government in which an entity may operate. This guide also provides practices that are common to many operations and provides flexibility to best integrate external requirements.  
1.4 While this standard describes common safety and environmental considerations associated with the decommissioning and disposal of medical equipment, it does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the entity using this standard to establish and apply appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2018
• ICS: 11.040.01 - Medical equipment in general
• Technical Committee: E53 - Asset Management
• Drafting Committee: E53.30 - Decommissioning and Disposal of Medical Supplies, Medical Equipment, and Hospitals

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E2306-18 - Standard Guide for Disposal of Personal Property Assets
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Refers: ASTM E2135-10a(2017) - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 01-May-2017
• Refers: ASTM E2306-13 - Standard Practice for Disposal of Personal Property
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2013
• Refers: ASTM E2858-12 - Standard Practice for Sales of Personal Property
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2012
• Refers: ASTM E2306-11 - Standard Practice for Disposal of Personal Property
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Refers: ASTM E2135-10a - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2010
• Refers: ASTM E2135-10ae2 - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2010
• Refers: ASTM E2135-10ae1 - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2010
• Refers: ASTM E2135-10 - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Refers: ASTM E2135-07e1 - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2007
• Refers: ASTM E2135-07 - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2007
• Refers: ASTM E2135-06 - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2006
• Refers: ASTM E2135-04 - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2004
• Refers: ASTM E2306-03 - Standard Practice for Utilization and Disposal of Personal Property
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Refers: ASTM E2135-02 - Standard Terminology for Property and Asset Management
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2002

Overview

ASTM E3173-18: Standard Guide for Decommissioning and Disposal of Medical Equipment provides comprehensive guidance for the safe, effective, and compliant end-of-life management of medical equipment. Developed by ASTM, this international standard assists hospitals, clinics, and related healthcare entities with the decommissioning and disposal processes required when medical equipment becomes obsolete, inoperable, or reaches its replacement milestone. The guide focuses on minimizing risk, ensuring proper sanitization, safeguarding sensitive data, and complying with safety and environmental regulations.

Key Topics

• Identification of Equipment
  Outlines procedures for specifying which equipment requires decommission and justifying the need based on obsolescence, condition, or organizational requirements.

• Authorization and Documentation
  Stresses the importance of confirming equipment ownership, understanding any restrictions on disposal due to grants or regulations, and properly documenting authorization for disposition.

• Sanitization and Data Protection
  Details the removal of Patient Health Information (PHI), software, and other sensitive data, as well as ensuring all chemical or biological contaminants are eliminated to protect health and confidentiality.

• Disposal Options and Asset Management
  Provides considerations for choosing optimal disposal methods, whether internal transfer, trade-in, sale, or recycling, to maximize asset value and regulatory compliance.

• Safety and Environmental Concerns
  Highlights the need for proper decontamination, handling hazardous materials, and updating any relevant registries, such as those for laser or nuclear sources within certain medical devices.

Applications

The ASTM E3173-18 standard is practical for a variety of healthcare contexts, empowering organizations to:

• Hospitals and Medical Centers
  Ensure proper handling of complex medical equipment during upgrades, department closures, or facility relocations, maintaining compliance and patient safety.

• Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Technology Management
  Facilitate smooth transitions in equipment lifecycle management, including clear processes for equipment removal, transfer, or disposal with a focus on risk mitigation.

• Property Management Departments
  Standardize procedures for equipment appraisal, record-keeping, and selection of disposal methods that align with organizational and legal requirements.

• Disposal Service Providers
  Align operational practices with recognized standards, including requirements for certification of decontamination and safe removal before further handling.

• Regulatory Compliance Officers
  Strengthen oversight and integration of external regulations regarding hazardous material, sensitive data, and environmental protection within disposal workflows.

Related Standards

Utilizing ASTM E3173-18 often involves reference to or alignment with additional standards, including:

• ASTM E2135 - Terminology for Property and Asset Management
  Provides essential definitions related to asset tracking and lifecycle management.

• ASTM E2306 - Practice for Disposal of Personal Property
  Lays out general processes for the responsible disposal of organization-owned assets.

• ASTM E2858 - Practice for Sales of Personal Property
  Offers guidance for structuring and documenting the sale of retired equipment.

• International Principles: Developed under World Trade Organization (WTO) guidelines for standards and technical barriers to trade, ensuring global applicability and harmonization.

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Keywords: decommissioning medical equipment, disposal of medical equipment, medical device sanitization, medical equipment asset management, healthcare equipment disposal compliance, ASTM standards, PHI removal, hospital equipment decontamination.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3173 − 18
Standard Guide for
Decommissioning and Disposal of Medical Equipment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3173; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This standard guide addresses decommissioning and
E2135 Terminology for Property and Asset Management
disposal of medical equipment.
E2306 Practice for Disposal of Personal Property
1.2 Decommissioning and disposal of medical equipment is
E2858 Practice for Sales of Personal Property
done when equipment is no longer needed due to obsolescence,
is inoperable, or has met a scheduled replacement milestone.
3. Terminology
Decommissioningisthefirstphysicalprocessinthedisposition
3.1 Definitions—For additional definitions for property and
process and includes proper identification, authorization for
asset management, see Terminology E2135.
disposition, and sanitization of the equipment, as well as
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
removal of Patient Health Information (PHI) or software, or
3.2.1 decommission, v—to remove from active service.
both. Disposal method is dependent upon many factors that
3.2.2 medical equipment, n—non-expendable, tangible,
will be described in this standard guide.
moveable property needed for the performance of, primarily or
1.3 This guide does not include detailed disposal method
uniquely, a medical task.
procedures or sales requirements or restrictions specific to any
3.2.3 sanitization, n—the process of removing undesired
regulatory body or the various levels of government in which
features such as chemical, biological contaminants from all
an entity may operate. This guide also provides practices that
surfaces, and personal or sensitive data from data storage
are common to many operations and provides flexibility to best
devices.
integrate external requirements.
1.4 While this standard describes common safety and envi- 4. Summary of Guide
ronmental considerations associated with the decommissioning
4.1 Hospitals and medical organizations decommission and
and disposal of medical equipment, it does not purport to
dispose of many types of highly complex medical devices and
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
equipment.
use. It is the responsibility of the entity using this standard to
4.2 Entities must understand what equipment is to be
establish and apply appropriate safety, health, and environ-
disposed, ownership and use agreements, and restrictions on
mental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
disposal as part of the decommissioning process.
limitations prior to use.
4.3 An appraisal by an accredited member of the American
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
Society ofAppraisers (ASA) or theAssociation of Machinery
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
and Equipment Appraisers (AMEA) should be performed
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
prior to decommissioning expensive and complex medical or
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
scientific equipment to better understand the potential value of
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E53 on Asset the ASTM website.
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E53.30 on Decom- American Society of Appraisers (ASA),11107 Sunset Hills Rd, Suite 310,
missioning and Disposal of Medical Supplies, Medical Equipment, and Hospitals. Reston, VA 20190, http://www.appraisers.org.
Current edition approved July 1, 2018. Published July 2018. DOI: 10.1520/ Association of Machinery and Equipment Appraisers (AMEA), 315 South
E3173-18. Patrick Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314, http://www.amea.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E3173 − 18
the equipment. In some cases, extensive decommissioning of 7.2 The property office should review every request for the
medicalequipmentpriortosaleortransfercanreducethevalue decommissioninganddisposalofapieceofmedicalequipment
oftheequipment.Whenacertifiedappraisalisnotavailable,an and determine the condition and value of the equipment. The
abbreviated or “desktop” appraisal can be performed. property office must also check the property records and
coordinatewiththedepartmentthathastheequipmenttoverify
4.4 Decommissioning should be conducted by authorized/
ownership and if there are any restrictions on the disposal of
trained personnel to ensure the safety of everyone concerned
the equipment.
with the disposal process.
7.3 Once ownership and disposal authorization has been
4.5 Disposal methods considered should maximize the ben-
verified, then internal transfer may be considered. A review to
efit to the entity, minimize the risk subsequent to the disposal,
determine the best disposal method should be made prior to
and ensure compliance with regulations and restrictions on
beginning the decommissioning process. Transfers or trade-in
disposal method.
of equipment usually require coordination by the gaining
department, organization, or vendor and should be done prior
5. Significance and Use
to
...