Steam autoclaves are the workhorse of sterilization in hospitals, clinics and laboratories. Choosing between a vertical, horizontal or tabletop (Class B) autoclave depends on how much you sterilise each day, what you sterilise, and the space you have.
Vertical autoclaves
Vertical autoclaves are loaded from the top. They are compact and economical, and are common in clinics, nursing homes, small hospitals and laboratories. Single, double and triple chamber versions are available, and capacities range from roughly 20 to 100 litres or more. Loading heavy drums from the top is harder, so they suit smaller daily loads.
Horizontal autoclaves
Horizontal autoclaves are loaded from the front, often with trolleys and drums, and come in cylindrical or rectangular chambers. Fully automatic high-pressure high-vacuum (HPHV) models remove air before sterilising, which improves steam penetration into wrapped packs and porous loads. Double-door models separate the dirty and clean sides of a CSSD. These suit hospital CSSDs and large OT complexes.
Class B tabletop autoclaves
Class B autoclaves are small, fully automatic units with a vacuum cycle that sterilises wrapped, hollow and porous instruments. They are widely used in dental clinics, day-care surgery and dermatology.
What about heat-sensitive items?
Plastics, cables, scopes and some electronic instruments cannot go into a steam autoclave. These need low-temperature sterilization such as ethylene oxide (ETO). ETO sterilizers need a ventilated area and aeration time after the cycle.
How to size your autoclave
- Count the instrument sets, drums and linen packs processed per day
- Allow for peaks, such as several OT lists on the same day
- Check power, water quality and drainage at the site
- Plan validation and indicators (chemical and biological) for every cycle
For a hospital, the autoclave is one part of a CSSD that also needs cleaning, packing and sterile storage areas. See our turnkey CSSD page and sterilization equipment.