Compressed air quality requirements vary significantly by industry and are established in international standards such as ISO 8573-1. This standard defines nine quality classes for contaminants such as solid particles, water, and oil. Your industry determines which class you need, with the pharmaceutical industry and food industry setting the highest requirements.
Why are compressed air quality requirements so important?
Compressed air quality requirements protect your business processes against disruptions, product failures, and equipment damage. Contaminated compressed air can have direct consequences for your production quality and operational safety.
Contaminated compressed air often contains water, oil, and solid particles that can contaminate your products. In heating systems, this can lead to corrosion of pipes and valves, resulting in increased repair costs. For nitrogen generators that prevent oxidation, clean compressed air is necessary to ensure the purity of the produced nitrogen gas.
Standardization through compressed air standards ensures consistent quality and helps you choose the right equipment. This prevents you from having to make expensive modifications to your installations later.
What is the ISO 8573-1 standard and how does it work?
The ISO 8573-1 is the international standard for compressed air quality that classifies contaminants into nine classes, from 0 (highest purity) to 9 (lowest purity).
This standard categorizes three main types of contaminants. Solid particles are measured in micrometers and number of particles per cubic meter. Water content is expressed as dew point or relative humidity. Oil content includes both oil mist and oil vapor in milligrams per cubic meter.
| Class | Solid particles (mg/m³) | Water (dew point °C) | Oil (mg/m³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.1 | -70 | 0.01 |
| 2 | 1 | -40 | 0.1 |
| 3 | 5 | -20 | 1 |
| 4 | 15 | +3 | 5 |
The classification system works with three digits that respectively indicate the class for solid particles, water, and oil. For example: class 1.4.1 means very low particle concentration, moderate water purity, and very low oil concentration.
What quality requirements apply per industry?
Different industries have specific compressed air requirements that align with their production processes and safety requirements.
The pharmaceutical industry maintains the strictest requirements with class 1.2.1 or higher for direct product contact. The food industry requires at least class 2.2.1 to prevent food contamination. The automotive industry often uses class 1.4.2 for painting processes and precision work.
Electronics manufacturing needs class 1.2.1 to avoid static electricity and dust particles. Dental practices must comply with class 2.2.1 for patient safety. Laboratory environments vary between class 1.2.1 and 3.4.2 depending on the analyses.
For heating systems in horticulture, class 4.4.3 is often sufficient, unless there is direct contact with crops. In that case, stricter requirements apply comparable to the food industry.
How do you determine what compressed air quality your business needs?
Begin with a risk analysis of your business processes to determine where compressed air has direct or indirect contact with your product or critical equipment.
Analyze all applications where you use compressed air. Direct product contact requires the highest quality classes, while indirect applications such as pneumatic drives can accept lower classes. Critical processes such as nitrogen generation for oxidation protection have specific purity requirements.
Consider these factors in your choice:
- Type of product you manufacture
- Sensitivity of your equipment to contaminants
- Legal requirements in your industry
- Environmental conditions of your installation
- Costs of product failure versus purification costs
Consult industry-specific guidelines and discuss with suppliers about the appropriate compressed air classification for your specific situation.
What are the costs of not complying with compressed air quality requirements?
Ignoring compressed air standards leads to significant financial and operational problems that far exceed the initial savings on purification equipment.
Product failure due to contamination can shut down your entire production. Equipment damage from corrosion and contamination requires expensive repairs and replacement of parts. Pneumatic systems break down faster due to contaminated compressed air, resulting in higher maintenance costs.
Compliance issues can lead to fines and product recalls. In the food industry, contamination can permanently damage your reputation. For heating installers, this means customer loss and claims for defective installations.
Energy loss due to clogged filters and inefficient equipment increases your operational costs. Frequent interruptions for maintenance reduce your productivity and can jeopardize delivery agreements.
Key considerations for compressed air quality in your industry
Ensuring proper compressed air purity requires a systematic approach with regular monitoring and preventive maintenance.
Implement a suitable filter system that matches your quality class. Perform regular quality measurements to check if your compressed air meets the established requirements. Plan preventive maintenance of filters, dryers, and compressors to guarantee consistent quality.
Document your quality measurements for compliance and traceability. Train your personnel in recognizing quality problems and performing basic maintenance. Work with reliable suppliers who have experience in compressed air generation systems.
At Presscon, we understand the specific challenges in different industries. Our years of experience with compressed air and nitrogen installations helps you choose the right quality requirements and implement reliable systems that meet your industry-specific requirements. Contact our expert team for guidance tailored to your specific needs.