Is the purity of the compressed air in your production facility certified? Is it possible that the methods used to check the purity or quality of the air in your facility are purely indicative? There is a difference?
The answer to the last question is yes. There is indeed a difference, and it is in the way companies present their capabilities and qualities.
In the first part of this series, the following were discussed.
six essential factors to consider when using the ISO8573 series
to optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of air treatment in your industrial production facility. The second part, however, will discuss the standard that defines the sampling methods and equipment to be used to present the purity (quality) of compressed air as certified. We will also discover the importance of practices indicative of compressed air quality by distinguishing them from those with full certification.
Certification – ISO standards in compressed air purity
The ISO 8573 series has been the international standard in compressed air purity (quality) since 1991. It is used globally to define the quality of compressed air used in many applications in the manufacturing sector. The standard is divided into nine parts.
Beginning with ISO 8573-1, users are provided with a classification method in which limits and specific types of contaminants are defined. This method is adopted by compressed air users to choose the treatment equipment needed to ensure a certain air quality. Similarly, ISO 8573-1 is used by manufacturers of compressed air treatment equipment to define the quality of compressed air delivered by their products and systems.
However, in order to claim that the purity of compressed air is actually certified, users and manufacturers are required to go beyond IS0 8573-1 by including the other eight standards, as shown above. Parts 2 through 9 of ISO 8573 were developed to provide the most accurate measurement of major contaminants in a compressed air system. The standards tell the user what equipment and methods should be used to perform accurate tests and declare certification. Details are also offered on the precise measurement of the most common contaminants in compressed air (solid particles, water vapor, and total oil), as well as contaminants specific to certain industries, such as microbial contaminants from applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and beverage manufacturing sectors.
Indicative tests
Indicative tests are basically purity and quality tests performed in a manner that does not comply with Parts 2 to 9 of ISO 8573. Failure to comply with the ISO standard does not allow a company to declare certification of the levels of certain contaminants present in compressed air delivery.
Indicative tests, therefore, cannot be used for certification purposes, but still offer valuable information to compressed air users. They attest that air quality tests have been conducted, thus meeting the needs of specific sectors. However, it is always important for users to understand the limitations of the equipment and testing methods used. The table below provides an overview of test equipment commonly used for indicative testing of compressed air systems.
Examples of indicative tests
- Failure to use isokinetic sampling methods when required.
- Use of flow regulators/pressure regulators that change the air pressure/velocity/temperature/concentration of contaminants in a sample.
- Total oil testing performed with a PID-based digital oil analyzer.
- Total oil testing carried out with chemical detector tubes.
- Particulate tests performed with particle counters that do not count in the required particle ranges.
- Particulate testing performed with particle counters that do not measure up to the lowest particle size required by ISO 8573-1.
- Measurement of water vapor with chemical detector tubes.
Compressed air treatment equipment with certified performance
The cost and complexity of testing and certification of compressed air purity in accordance with ISO standards can prove prohibitive. Therefore, third-party certified products are an attractive option.
Parker Hannifin Corporation, a leader in compressed air treatment, offers a
comprehensive range of products whose performance is certified by third-party
. These state-of-the-art components and systems make use of air quality assurance.
The
Parker OIL-X range of compressed air and gas filters
and the ranges of
Parker adsorption dryers
are designed to ensure the purity (quality) of compressed air capable of meeting or exceeding any classification specified in all editions of ISO 8573-1. The performance of filters and dryers has also been tested by the independent third-party Lloyds Register.
This article was written by Mark White, Applications Manager for Compressed Air Processing,
Parker Gas Separation and Filtration Division EMEA
Related Content
Six Points to Consider When Applying ISO8573-1 in a Manufacturing Facility
How Oil Vapour in Ambient Air Affects Compressed Air Quality
Compressed Air Treatment Solutions for Today’s Manufacturing Plants
Why Are Coalescing Filters Installed in Pairs?
Why You Need a Maintenance Plan for Manufacturing Equipment
Is the purity of the compressed air in your production plant certified? Is it possible that the methods used to check the purity or quality of the air in your facility are purely indicative? Is there a difference?
The answer to the last question is yes. There is indeed a difference, and it is in the way companies present their capabilities and qualities.
The first part of this series discussed six essential factors to consider when using the ISO8573 series to optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of air treatment in your industrial production facility. The second part, however, will discuss the standard that defines the sampling methods and equipment to be used to present the purity (quality) of compressed air as certified. We will also discover the importance of practices indicative of compressed air quality by distinguishing them from those with full certification.
Download this whitepaper for an in-depth look at what it takes to test compressed air for ISO certification, the methods and equipment used for indicative testing, and cost-effective and performance-certified compressed air treatment options.
Certification – ISO standards in compressed air purity
The ISO 8573 series has been the international standard in compressed air purity (quality) since 1991. It is used globally to define the quality of compressed air used in many applications in the manufacturing sector. The standard is divided into nine parts.
Beginning with ISO 8573-1, users are provided with a classification method in which limits and specific types of contaminants are defined. This method is adopted by compressed air users to choose the treatment equipment needed to ensure a certain air quality. Similarly, ISO 8573-1 is used by manufacturers of compressed air treatment equipment to define the quality of compressed air delivered by their products and systems.
However, in order to claim that the purity of compressed air is actually certified, users and manufacturers are required to go beyond IS0 8573-1 by including the other eight standards, as shown above. Parts 2 through 9 of ISO 8573 were developed to provide the most accurate measurement of major contaminants in a compressed air system. The standards tell the user what equipment and methods should be used to perform accurate tests and declare certification. Details are also offered on the precise measurement of the most common contaminants in compressed air (solid particles, water vapor, and total oil), as well as contaminants specific to certain industries, such as microbial contaminants from applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and beverage manufacturing sectors.
Indicative tests
Indicative tests are basically purity and quality tests performed in a manner that does not comply with Parts 2 to 9 of ISO 8573. Failure to comply with the ISO standard does not allow a company to declare certification of the levels of certain contaminants present in compressed air delivery.
Indicative tests, therefore, cannot be used for certification purposes, but still offer valuable information to compressed air users. They attest that air quality tests have been conducted, thus meeting the needs of specific sectors. However, it is always important for users to understand the limitations of the equipment and testing methods used. The table below provides an overview of test equipment commonly used for indicative testing of compressed air systems.
Examples of indicative tests
Failure to use isokinetic sampling methods when required.
Use of flow regulators/pressure regulators that change the air pressure/velocity/temperature/concentration of contaminants in a sample.
Total oil testing performed with a PID-based digital oil analyzer.
Total oil testing carried out with chemical detector tubes.
Particulate tests performed with particle counters that do not count in the required particle ranges.
Particulate testing performed with particle counters that do not measure up to the lowest particle size required by ISO 8573-1.
Measurement of water vapor with chemical detector tubes.
Compressed air treatment equipment with certified performance
The cost and complexity of testing and certification of compressed air purity in accordance with ISO standards can prove prohibitive. Therefore, third-party certified products are an attractive option.
Parker Hannifin Corporation, a leader in compressed air treatment, offers a full range of products whose performance is third-party certified. These state-of-the-art components and systems make use of air quality assurance.
Parker’s OIL-X range of compressed air and gas filters and Parker’s adsorption dryer ranges have been designed to ensure the purity (quality) of compressed air capable of meeting or exceeding any classification specified in all editions of ISO 8573-1. The performance of filters and dryers has also been tested by the independent third-party Lloyds Register.
Download this whitepaper for an in-depth look at what it takes to test compressed air for ISO certification, the methods and equipment used for indicative testing, and cost-effective and performance-certified compressed air treatment options.
This article was written by Mark White, applications manager for compressed air processing, Parker Gas Separation and Filtration Division EMEA
Related Content
Six Points to Consider When Applying ISO8573-1 in a Manufacturing Facility
How Oil Vapour in Ambient Air Affects Compressed Air Quality
Compressed Air Treatment Solutions for Today’s Manufacturing Plants
Why Are Coalescing Filters Installed in Pairs?
Why You Need a Maintenance Plan for Manufacturing Equipment
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