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Where compressed air is used for breathing purposes in the workplace, there are strict legal requirements governing air quality. If your site uses respiratory protective equipment (RPE) supplied by compressed air, you have a legal obligation to ensure that air meets defined purity standards.
Disclaimer: We advise sensibly, we do not provide legal advice. For definitive guidance on your obligations, consult the relevant regulatory bodies or a qualified legal professional.
Legal Requirements Under COSHH
COSHH regulations state that as an employer, there is a clear responsibility under the requirements of the HSE to provide fit-for-purpose safety equipment for all employees who may work in an environment, or carry out a process, which may be hazardous to their health. Should an employer fail to provide and maintain this equipment, they will be liable for any damages claimed by an affected employee.
In response to these regulations, many employers provide respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to control exposure. However, providing the equipment is only the first step. The ongoing maintenance and testing of breathing air quality is essential for compliance.
British Standards for Breathing Air
BS EN 529 states that in the case of breathing air apparatus, "the volume flow and quality of the air should be thoroughly tested at intervals as specified by a competent person".
BS EN 12021, titled "Respiratory protective devices: compressed air for breathing apparatus", defines the specific air purity levels that must be met. The standard requires that compressed air for breathing apparatus shall not contain any contaminants at a concentration which can cause toxic or harmful effects. All contaminants shall be kept to as low a level as possible and shall be far below the national exposure limit.
BS EN 12021 Purity Requirements
| Substance | BS EN 12021 Requirement |
|---|---|
| Oxygen | 21% +/- 1% |
| Carbon Monoxide | Must be as low as possible but not more than 5 ml/m3 |
| Carbon Dioxide | Not more than 500 ml/m3 |
| Oil (droplets/mist) | Not more than 0.5 mg/m3 |
| Odour/Taste | Without significant odour or taste |
| Water (Liquid) | Pressure dew point sufficiently low to prevent condensation and freezing. Where usage conditions are known, at least 5 degrees C below the lowest likely temperature. Where conditions are unknown, not exceeding -11 degrees C. |
Additional Contaminant Testing
Should your site's COSHH risk assessment require tests on any specific contaminant levels beyond those listed above, these can be conducted on request.
How Airmech Can Help
Airmech has performed breathing air testing for several years and can verify that the RPE used by your staff complies with current regulations, ensuring their safety.
Our process is straightforward:
- We visit your site and evaluate your equipment
- We supply a personalised maintenance schedule suited to your requirements, whether that is a single test or multiple test points
- On completion, test certificates are produced for your records so that your compliance paperwork is kept up to date
Airmech also supplies and installs a range of filtration and purification equipment designed to meet or exceed the breathing air standards listed above.
For more information or to arrange breathing air testing, contact us or call 02476 345 658.