This recommended practice covers steam sterilization in health care facilities. The
recommendations are intended to promote sterility assurance and to guide health care personnel
in the proper use of processing equipment. Included within the scope of the recommended
practice are functional and physical design criteria for sterilization processing areas
(decontamination, preparation, sterilization, and sterile storage areas), staff qualifications,
education, and other personnel considerations, processing procedures, installation, care, and
maintenance of steam sterilizers, quality control, and quality process improvement.