Is the air from your compressor safe to breathe?
Did you know that you can test your Breathing Air Quality? The purpose of periodically testing air quality is to make sure that the control measures you have in place are delivering the air quality required.
All employers have a duty of care to their staff to ensure that the breathing air supplied by their equipment is safe to breathe
What is the Standard for Breathing Air?
COSHH regulations require a maximum interval of three months between tests of breathing air systems. BSEN 12021 stipulates minimum quality standards for breathable compressed air. This covers levels of oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, lubricants, water, other types of contaminants and odour
The purpose of the test is to make sure that the control measures put in place by the employer, such as inline filters, are delivering the air quality required by BS EN 12021:2014. In summary, BS EN 12021:2014 sets these limits for the breathing air testing:
- Oxygen must be at 21% ± 1%.
- Carbon monoxide must be as low as possible and must not exceed 5 ppm.
- Carbon dioxide must not exceed 500 ppm.
- Oil mist and vapour must not exceed 0.5 mgm-3
- Odour/taste – Without significant odour or taste.
- Water (liquid) – 290 mgm-3 at 5 bar and 20oC.
In addition, the compressed air quality testing must show a dew point low enough to prevent condensation and freezing. The dewpoint must be at least 5oC below the lowest temperature that the operators use and store the equipment. Furthermore, the pressure dew point must not exceed -11oC where the conditions of usage and storage are unknown.
Whatever your needs, our team are happy to guide you through whatever your industry requirements are and will provide the most suitable solution. Once the test is completed, we can issue you with a Test Result Certificate to prove your compliance to the relevant authorities.
If you would like to find out more or have a free quotation, please follow this link to send us an email: sales@air4ultd.co.uk