Do You Need a Bottle or Gravity Trap on Your Suction Regulator?

If you are using wall suction in your facility, then you have probably seen gravity traps or “trap bottles” installed between suction regulators and vacuum sources. These simple devices prevent fluids from entering the regulator or the hospital vacuum pipeline. But are they always needed? And how do you decide when to use one?

Let’s break it down.

What a Gravity Trap or Bottle Actually Does

A trap bottle is designed to protect the suction regulator and the facility vacuum system by catching fluids before they can be drawn into the regulator or pipeline.

Trap bottles:

• Prevent gross fluid intrusion from suctioned material
• Help reduce regulator damage or contamination
• Serve as a visual indicator of fluid backflow
• Can improve infection control in multi-user environments

They are often paired with bacterial filters or hydrophobic barriers for additional protection.

What the Guidelines Say

The National Fire Protection Association Standard 99 Medical Gas Code recommends using trap bottles or other protective measures to prevent fluid backflow in vacuum systems. While it is not a mandate in all settings, the guidance is widely accepted for hospitals and surgical centers where:

• Suction is used for fluids, not just air
• There is a risk of regulator flooding or canister overflow
• Shared suction pipelines serve multiple rooms

Situations Where a Trap Bottle Is Especially Helpful

• Bedside suction stations where fluids could spill back into the wall outlet
• Surgical or trauma areas with high-volume or unpredictable fluid evacuation
• Portable setups where negative pressure inconsistencies could cause backflow
• Facilities without inline filters or maintenance programs to catch system failures early

If your regulators are showing signs of residue, inconsistent performance, or you are replacing them more often than expected, a trap bottle may help extend their lifespan.

Do All Regulators Need a Bottle?

Not always. Some modern regulators include built-in protection or are used only for gas evacuation, where fluid contact is unlikely. Others operate in closed systems with single-patient suction canisters that already protect the pipeline.

Use case matters. If your regulator is not exposed to fluids and your suction setup is isolated or single-use, then you may not need a bottle.

Boehringer’s Take on Traps

Boehringer supports the use of properly installed gravity traps where fluid ingress risk exists. Our devices are compatible with:

• Standard bottle traps
• Sterile traps for sensitive environments
• Magnetic valve systems for fluid isolation
• Hydrophobic filters for added barrier protection

Our team can help you decide if a bottle or trap is appropriate based on your regulator use case, patient population, and maintenance capacity.

Bottom Line

Trap bottles and gravity traps serve a simple but critical role: protecting your regulators and your facility’s infrastructure. They are inexpensive, easy to install, and can prevent major equipment failures or costly contamination events.