4-3.
CLASSIFY EQUIPMENT ACCORDING TO LIFE EXPECTANCY AND
EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS
a. Determine Life Expectancy.
(1) Indefinite-life materiel. This classification is divided into three
subclassifications.
(a) Hospital furniture. This classification is characterized by infrequent
replacement because of slow deterioration and wear out. Hospital furniture includes
narcotics and/or medicine cabinets, surgical stands, mechanical beds, etc.
(b) Basic electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical items. These
items include patient lamps, sphygmomanometers, basic otoscopes/ophthalmoscopes,
stethoscopes, and other low-cost materiel. This subclassification is characterized by
frequent replacement because of fast wear out due to high use and industrial or
technological obsolescence.
(c) Special-purpose items. These items include a wide range of
assemblies/modules such as x-ray tubes, dental and surgical handpieces, printed circuit
boards, and so forth. These items are characterized by interchangeability between equipment
and replacement because of industrial obsolescence.
(2)
Definite-life materiel. This classification has the following characteristics.
(b) Declining MELs based on life expectancies.
(c)
Regular replacement based upon economic considerations.
(d) Replacement by exception based on other factors. These factors
include the following.
1 Long term requirement for the materiel which must be available
on a continuous basis.
2 Nonavailability of like or replacement materiel.
3 Lengthy acquisition time frames.
4 Industrial obsolescence, including industry's inability to provide
satisfactory repair-parts support.
MD0358
4-6