Breathing Air Quality Testing – AS/NZS 1715
Compressed Breathing Air Testing Perth & Western Australia
Where compressed air is supplied to respiratory protective equipment, the quality of that air is critical.
Compressed air used for industrial processes should not automatically be considered suitable for breathing. Contaminants including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oil, moisture and other substances can enter or be generated within a compressed air system and may present a risk when that air is supplied to a worker's respirator.
AirGen Australia provides compressed breathing air quality testing throughout Perth and Western Australia to assist businesses in assessing the quality of air supplied to respiratory protective equipment.
Our testing is carried out by trained personnel with results recorded electronically and a written test report provided following completion.
What Is Breathing Air Quality Testing?
Breathing air quality testing assesses compressed air being supplied to respiratory protective equipment to determine whether the air supply is suitable for its intended purpose.
Rather than simply checking that sufficient compressed air reaches the respirator, testing assesses a range of characteristics that can affect the safety and quality of the breathing air.
AirGen's breathing air quality testing includes measurements for:
- air capacity, including flow and pressure
- oxygen
- carbon monoxide
- carbon dioxide
- water levels
- oil content
- ambient temperature
- airline temperature
- objectionable odours.
The results are documented in a written report, providing your business with a record of the condition of the breathing air supply at the time of testing.
Why Does Compressed Breathing Air Need to Be Tested?
An industrial air compressor draws in the atmosphere surrounding it.
Anything affecting the quality of the compressor's intake air therefore has the potential to affect the compressed air system.
In addition, the compression process, compressor condition, air treatment equipment, pipework and operating environment can all influence compressed air quality.
Potential sources of breathing air contamination can include:
- compressor intake location
- vehicle or engine exhaust gases
- carbon monoxide
- carbon dioxide
- compressor oil
- oil vapour
- excessive moisture
- contaminated pipework
- ineffective or saturated filtration
- poorly maintained air dryers
- nearby industrial processes
- changes to the compressor installation or surrounding environment.
A compressed air system that operates machinery satisfactorily is not necessarily suitable for supplying breathing air.
Testing provides objective measurements rather than relying on the assumption that the air is suitable because the compressor and filtration system appear to be operating correctly.
What Is AS/NZS 1715?
AS/NZS 1715:2009 – Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment provides guidance and requirements relating to the selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment in Australian and New Zealand workplaces.
The standard covers respiratory protection including supplied-air respiratory equipment.
Where workers rely on compressed air supplied through an airline respirator, the complete system needs to provide appropriate respiratory protection. This includes consideration of the quality and quantity of the supplied air.
Breathing air quality testing forms an important part of verifying the condition of that air supply.
Where Is Supplied Breathing Air Used?
Compressed breathing air systems are used across many industries where workers require respiratory protection from airborne contaminants.
Typical applications include:
- abrasive blasting
- spray painting
- industrial coating
- confined-space work
- tank and vessel work
- welding and fabrication
- mining
- manufacturing
- chemical handling
- surface preparation
- industrial cleaning
- maintenance operations.
The appropriate respiratory protection should always be selected for the particular hazard and work environment.
Supplied-Air Respirators and Confined Spaces
Supplied-air respiratory equipment can be particularly important where workplace conditions cannot otherwise provide a safe breathing atmosphere.
For example, supplied-air respiratory protection may be required for certain confined-space activities where control measures cannot establish or maintain a safe atmosphere, or where the work being undertaken could contaminate the atmosphere.
The breathing air supply is therefore an integral part of the worker's respiratory protection system rather than simply another compressed air service.
What Does AirGen Test?
Air Flow and Pressure
A supplied-air respirator requires sufficient air flow and pressure to operate correctly.
AirGen measures the capacity of the breathing air supply to assess the air available at the test point.
Restrictions, undersized pipework, excessive pressure drop, filtration problems or changes in system demand can affect the air available to the user.
Oxygen
The oxygen content of the supplied air is measured as part of the breathing air assessment.
Significant variation from normal atmospheric oxygen levels can indicate an unsuitable breathing air supply or other system problem requiring investigation.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is particularly important because it is colourless and odourless and cannot be reliably detected by the person breathing the air.
Potential sources can include combustion exhaust entering the compressor intake or conditions associated with the compressed air system itself.
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide levels are also measured as part of the breathing air test.
Elevated levels may indicate contamination of the compressor intake air or other environmental influences affecting the air supply.
Water
Compressing atmospheric air causes moisture to condense within a compressed air system.
Excessive moisture can affect air quality and the performance of breathing air filtration and treatment equipment.
The condition and operation of air dryers, drains and filtration therefore form important parts of maintaining a suitable compressed breathing air system.
Oil
Oil contamination can originate from the compressor, compressor intake environment or other components within the compressed air system.
Appropriate filtration and system maintenance are important in controlling oil contamination in breathing air applications.
Temperature
AirGen records both ambient and airline temperatures during testing.
Temperature can affect both the breathing air system and the comfort of the person using supplied-air respiratory equipment.
Objectionable Odours
The air supply is also assessed for objectionable odours that may indicate contamination or another issue requiring investigation.
An unusual odour should never simply be assumed to be harmless.
The Complete Breathing Air System Matters
Breathing air quality is not determined by filtration alone.
The complete compressed air installation should be considered, including:
- compressor type and condition
- compressor intake location
- air receiver
- compressed air dryer
- filtration
- breathing air purification equipment
- pipework
- hoses and connections
- drains
- system operating pressure
- maintenance condition.
Changes elsewhere in the compressed air system can potentially affect the quality of air supplied to respiratory equipment.
For this reason, breathing air quality should be considered as part of the ongoing maintenance and management of the complete system.
Compressor Intake Location
The location of the compressor air intake deserves particular attention in breathing air applications.
Compressors should not draw intake air from an area where exhaust gases, fumes, vapours or other contaminants could enter the compressed air system.
Potential contamination sources may include:
- vehicle exhausts
- diesel engines
- generators
- forklifts
- process exhausts
- paint or solvent vapours
- chemical storage areas
- other combustion equipment.
Changes around an existing compressor installation should also be considered. An intake location that was previously suitable may be affected by new equipment, building alterations or changes to surrounding operations.
Breathing Air Filtration and Purification
Appropriate air treatment is required when compressed air is intended for breathing applications.
The treatment arrangement required will depend on the compressor, operating environment and application.
A breathing air purification system may incorporate multiple stages of treatment designed to reduce contaminants within the compressed air supply.
However, installing breathing air filtration does not eliminate the need for ongoing maintenance and testing.
Filters have finite service lives, dryers require maintenance and compressor operating conditions can change.
Periodic air quality testing provides a means of checking the quality of the air actually being delivered by the system.
What Happens After the Test?
Following testing, AirGen provides a written breathing air quality test report containing the recorded test results.
This provides the business with documented evidence of the air quality measurements taken at the time of testing and allows results to be retained as part of workplace respiratory protection and maintenance records.
Where results identify an issue with the breathing air supply, the cause should be investigated and appropriate corrective action taken.
Depending on the result, this could involve examination of the compressor, intake location, filtration, dryer, pipework or breathing air purification equipment.
Ongoing Testing and Record Keeping
Breathing air systems should not be treated as a "fit and forget" installation.
Compressors wear, filters become saturated, dryers require maintenance and workplace conditions change.
Maintaining records of breathing air quality tests can help businesses monitor their systems over time and demonstrate that the breathing air supply is being actively managed.
AirGen stores key testing information electronically to assist with ongoing record keeping.
Never Miss a Breathing Air Test
Managing recurring compliance and maintenance requirements can be difficult, particularly across larger sites or where multiple breathing air systems are in use.
AirGen maintains testing records for our customers and can notify you when your next breathing air quality test is approaching.
This provides a straightforward way of managing ongoing testing requirements without relying solely on internal calendar reminders.
Breathing Air Quality Testing Across Western Australia
AirGen Australia is based in Wangara, Western Australia, and provides compressed breathing air quality testing throughout Perth and across WA.
Testing can be carried out on existing breathing air installations regardless of the manufacturer of the compressor or breathing air purification equipment.
AirGen can also assist with the broader compressed air system, including compressor servicing, air treatment, filtration, dryers and breathing air purification equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is normal compressed air safe to breathe?
Compressed air used for machinery and pneumatic equipment should not automatically be considered suitable for breathing.
Air intended for respiratory protection requires appropriate system design, treatment, maintenance and assessment of its quality.
What standard applies to supplied-air respirators?
AS/NZS 1715:2009 covers the selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment, including supplied-air respiratory protection.
The appropriate respiratory protection and breathing air system will depend on the workplace hazard and application.
What does AirGen test in breathing air?
AirGen's testing includes air flow and pressure, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, oil, ambient and airline temperatures, and objectionable odours.
The results are recorded and provided in a written report.
Why is carbon monoxide tested?
Carbon monoxide is particularly hazardous because it cannot be reliably detected by smell or sight.
It may enter a compressed air system through contaminated compressor intake air or other sources, making measurement an important component of breathing air quality testing.
Can I use my workshop compressor for breathing air?
A workshop compressor should not simply be connected to a respirator on the assumption that its compressed air is suitable for breathing.
The compressor installation, intake location, air treatment, filtration, capacity and quality of the delivered air all need to be appropriate for the breathing air application.
Does installing a breathing air filter mean I don't need testing?
No.
Filtration and purification equipment requires maintenance and its performance can be affected by operating conditions, filter condition and contamination elsewhere in the system.
Testing assesses the quality of the air actually being supplied.
Can AirGen test breathing air systems that it didn't install?
Yes.
AirGen can carry out breathing air quality testing on existing compressed air systems regardless of who originally supplied or installed the compressor or breathing air equipment.
What happens if the breathing air doesn't meet the required quality?
The breathing air supply should be investigated to determine the cause.
Depending on the results, this may involve checking the compressor intake, compressor condition, filtration, dryer, purification equipment, drains, pipework or surrounding environment.
Corrective work should be completed and the air quality reassessed as appropriate before relying on the system for respiratory protection.
Book a Breathing Air Quality Test
If your workers use compressed air supplied respiratory equipment, AirGen Australia can assess and document the quality of the compressed air supply.
We provide breathing air quality testing throughout Perth and Western Australia.
AirGen Australia Pty Ltd
Unit 1/67 Windsor Road
Wangara WA 6065
Phone: 08 9409 9623
Email: service@airgenaustralia.com.au
Breathing Air Quality Testing | AS/NZS 1715 | Supplied-Air Respirators | Perth & Western Australia
