Breathing air normally originates from a compressor system. The intake air includes contaminants such as fumes, oil, vapour, gases, solid particles and micro-organisms.
As per the standard for breathing air, NF EN 12021, the main requirements are as follows:
- Oxygen content (O2): 21% (±1%)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) content: < 500 ppm
- Carbon monoxide (CO) content: < 5 ppm
- Oil vapour < 0.5ppm or 0.5 mg/m3 (mainly from the air compressor)
- Inhaled air must be odourless and tasteless
- The breathing air network must not contain water in a liquid state. The dew point must be low enough to avoid condensation or icing, i.e., -5°C from the lowest temperature
In polluted environments like shot-blasting, tank cleaning, tunnelling, chemical / pharmaceutical manufacturing, spray painting, offshore/marine, asbestos removal, high-pressure cylinder filling applications, breathing air purifier equipment are used.