Final answer:
Autoclaves operate at 250 to 254 degrees Fahrenheit and 15 to 20 psi to ensure complete sterilization by killing all forms of microbial life, including endospores that resist regular boiling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Manufacturers of sterilizers (autoclaves) set them to reach a maximum steam temperature of 250 to 254 degrees Fahrenheit (121 to 132 degrees Celsius) and a pressure of 15 to 20 pounds per square inch (psi). This environment, with high temperature and pressure, ensures the sterilization of equipment by killing all forms of microbial life, including endospores, which are the toughest to eliminate due to their resistance to usual sterility methods such as boiling.
Autoclaves operate by applying increased pressure which allows steam to achieve temperatures higher than the boiling point of water for the purpose of sterilization. Charles Chamberland designed the modern autoclave in 1879, and it's still considered the most effective method for sterilizing items including surgical instruments and laboratory equipment.