Breathing Air Testing

We can carry out Breathing Air Quality Testing to ensure your compliance with COSSH regulations, Contact Wessex Compressors Ltd today to discuss.

Air Treatment

Breathing Air Quality Testing (Low Pressure)

The required quality of breathing air is stated in EN12021 & EN12021:2014, this provides information on the safe limits of potentially harmful contaminant gases, oil and ensures the correct amount of oxygen is present. In the UK EN12021 advises that samples of air should be tested every 3 months, whilst HSE document HSG53 states you should base the frequency of tests on a risk assessment, however they should take place periodically at an interval of no greater than 3 monthly.

All employers have a duty of care to their employees to ensure that the breathing air they are supplied with is adequate for the Respiratory Protective Device (RPD) they are using and is safe to breathe.

The following should be tested to satisfy the EN12021 standard:

  • Odour – The gas shall be free from unsatisfactory odour or taste
  • Oxygen – 21% (+/- 1%) by volume
  • Carbon Dioxide – CO2 ≤ 500PPM
  • Carbon Monoxide – CO ≤ 5PPM
  • Oil – ≤ 0.5 mg/m3
  • Water – Where the apparatus is stored at a known temperature the pressure dew point shall be 5 degrees C below the likely lowest temperature. Where the conditions of storage and usage are not known the pressure dew point shall not exceed -11 degree C
  • Flow Rate – Suitable for correct operation of the Respiratory Protective Device (170 – 200l/min)
system design

Our Breathing Air Quality Testing Service

We have chosen to use  FACTAIR’s SAFE-AIR TESTER Model F6000 this is one of the latest generation of Safe-Air Testers on the market, ensuring accurate air quality testing to the requirements of EN12021 and a range of international standards even easier to complete.  In the UK this ensures compliance with the mandatory requirements of COSHH L5.  This instrument utilises all electronic sensors to complete the testing to the most accurate levels.  Once the testing has been carried out you will be emailed with a report for each test carried out, which you are required to keep for a period of 5 years.