If you’re involved with compressed air systems, chances are you've come across the name CAGI and for good reason. The Compressed Air and Gas Institute has been part of the compressed air industry since 1915, representing leading manufacturers of air compressors, compressed air dryers, industrial blowers, compressed air system filters and other essential components.
But CAGI isn’t only a trade association. It’s behind many of the standards and practices that keep the compressed air and gas world running safely and efficiently. Its work includes promoting energy efficiency and system reliability, as well as shaping best practices used across facilities worldwide.
At its core, the organization exists to help compressed air users and manufacturers alike make smarter, more informed decisions. Through its commitment to education, standardization and advocacy, CAGI continues to elevate the compressed air industry, setting the bar for performance, trust and transparency.
A VFD air compressor installation showcasing a compact, energy-efficient design.
What is the CAGI Performance Verification Program?
To further support transparency and confidence in compressed air system equipment performance, CAGI established the Performance Verification Program. This third-party testing initiative verifies that participating manufacturers’ published performance data, such as energy consumption, flow rate and efficiency, are accurate and consistent with industry standards.
By choosing compressed air products that have been certified through this program, end-users can trust they’re getting the performance they expect, supporting better system design, lowering operating costs and making smarter sustainability investments. It’s a powerful tool for building trust between manufacturers, distributors and customers in the compressed air and gas marketplace.
In the compressed air industry, accurate and consistent performance data is essential for ensuring system efficiency, reliability and cost-effectiveness. Recognizing this need, CAGI has taken a leading role in promoting standardization and transparency through its Performance Verification Program.
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Compliant participants in the CAGI Performance Verification Program earn the right to display the CAGI Performance Verification Seal, signaling to customers that their equipment meets verified performance standards.
Collaboration with Global Standards Organizations
CAGI works in close partnership with global organizations such as ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and Pneurop (the European association of manufacturers of air compressors, vacuum pumps and pneumatic tools). Together, they help develop and refine globally recognized standards for measuring and reporting compressed air system performance. These collaborations ensure that CAGI’s initiatives align with the latest technological and environmental requirements worldwide, while also matching performance expectations across markets.
Simplified Test Codes and Standardized Data Sheets
One of the key challenges in the compressed air industry has been the lack of consistent and comparable performance data. To address this, CAGI introduced simplified test codes and standardized data sheets for lubricated and oil-free rotary air compressors (fixed speed or variable frequency drive) and refrigerated cycling and non-cycling compressed air dryers. These tools make it easier for buyers to compare different models side by side – based on verified data – without needing to decipher complex technical specifications. Standardized data fosters fair competition and better decision-making for compressed air system designers, facility managers and procurement teams.
Compressed Air System Energy Costs and Total Cost of Ownership
Perhaps the most compelling reason for the Performance Verification Program is the significant impact of energy consumption on the total cost of ownership. While the initial purchase price of an air compressor is important, energy costs over the lifetime of the equipment can exceed the purchase price many times over. In fact, energy consumption can account for up to 70-80% of an air compressor's lifetime costs. By providing verified energy efficiency data, the program empowers customers to select compressed air equipment that minimizes operating costs and maximizes long-term value.
CAGI Performance Verification Program Overview
The CAGI Performance Verification Program is a third-party testing initiative designed to validate the accuracy of published performance data for compressed air equipment. Testing is conducted independently by Intertek, a globally recognized certification and testing organization.
The program includes verification testing for lubricated and oil-free rotary air compressors (fixed speed or variable frequency drive) ranging from 5-200 horsepower (hp) and refrigerated compressed air dryers with capacities from 50-1,000 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm). Participation in the program is voluntary and open to all compressed air manufacturers in the industry, promoting a level playing field and greater transparency for buyers. The key standards used are ISO 1217 for rotary air compressor performance testing and ISO 7183 for refrigerated compressed air dryer performance testing.
By participating, manufacturers demonstrate a commitment to quality, accuracy and customer trust through compliance with globally recognized standards.
This compressed air system controller is integrated in an air compressor room for centralized compressed air system management.
Performance Verification Process Overview
The CAGI Performance Verification Program ensures accuracy and transparency through a rigorous, standardized testing process. With the program’s random sampling, each participating manufacturer has two units tested annually, which are selected at random from production to ensure real-world performance. Independent testing by Intertek compares the units’ actual performance against the manufacturer’s published data sheets, verifying key metrics including airflow, power consumption and efficiency. If a unit fails, the manufacturer must retest or re-rate the product within 30 days. A second failure in two years results in visible penalties that could include expulsion from the program, protecting the integrity of the verification process.
Compliant participants earn the right to display the CAGI Performance Verification Seal, signaling to customers that their equipment meets verified performance standards. This process builds trust, supports informed decision-making and promotes higher performance standards across the industry.
CAGI Data Sheets and Performance Metrics
The CAGI Performance Verification Program uses standardized data sheets that provide clear, consistent and comparable performance information for air compressors and refrigerated compressed air dryers.
All participating manufacturers use the same CAGI-approved format for their data sheets, making it easy for end-users to compare products side-by-side across brands. The specific power rating (kW/100 cfm) indicates how efficiently an air compressor produces compressed air. Lower values mean greater efficiency. The isentropic efficiency rating measures thermodynamic efficiency, offering deeper insight into air compressor performance and design quality. By standardizing how performance is reported, CAGI empowers buyers to prioritize efficiency and long-term value in their equipment choices.
These VFD air compressors are part of a clean, modern air compressor room setup for optimized performance and energy efficiency.
Benefits for End Users and the Compressed Air Industry
The CAGI Performance Verification Program delivers meaningful value to both compressed air equipment users and manufacturers by promoting integrity, efficiency and transparency across the compressed air market.
- Reliability: End users gain confidence knowing that published performance data has been independently verified by a third party, ensuring the equipment performs as advertised.
- Transparency: With public listings and searchable directories available on CAGI’s website, buyers can easily access verified data to support their decision-making.
- Informed Purchasing: Standardized performance metrics allow users to compare energy usage, efficiency and long-term operating costs, leading to smarter investments and lower total cost of ownership.
- Brand Trust: For manufacturers, participation in the program enhances credibility and provides a competitive edge by demonstrating a commitment to performance, honesty and customer satisfaction.
Outlook for Compressed Air Performance Verification
As the compressed air industry evolves, the CAGI Performance Verification Program may expand to cover additional equipment types including nitrogen gas generators, nitrogen gas filters, vacuum pumps and industrial blowers.
Energy efficiency regulations are shifting to reflect more accurate performance metrics, such as isentropic efficiency, increasing the relevance and importance of verified data in both U.S. and global standards.
The future of compressed air system verification may include alignment with Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives, as well as deeper integration with connected systems, enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and smart analytics to further validate and optimize compressed air system performance.
Verified performance data is important in today’s compressed air and gas systems. With energy costs making up the largest portion of total ownership expenses, accuracy, transparency and trust are more important than ever.
Facility managers, industrial engineers and procurement teams are strongly encouraged to prioritize equipment backed by the CAGI Performance Verification Program. Look for the CAGI Verified Data Sheets and Performance Verification Seal when evaluating air compressors and compressed air dryers. Investing in verified performance is an investment in long-term value, operational reliability and environmental responsibility.
This article was prepared with invaluable assistance from CAGI. All photos courtesy of Atlas Copco Compressors.
About the Author
Jayme Leonard is a marketing communications professional at Atlas Copco Compressors, specializing in strategic planning, graphic design, website management and social media. She has developed a wide range of materials including marketing plans, brochures, newsletters and digital content.
About Atlas Copco Group
Atlas Copco Group enables technology that transforms the future. The company innovates to develop products, services and solutions that are key to its customers’ success. Its four business areas offer compressed air and vacuum solutions, energy solutions, dewatering and industrial pumps, industrial power tools and assembly and machine vision solutions. For more information, visit https://www.atlascopcogroup.com/en.
About CAGI
For more than 100 years, the Compressed Air and Gas Institute has been the leading source on all matters related to compressed air. As the united voice of the industry, CAGI’s activities include the development and organization of educational material, including compressed air system training programs to benefit the users of compressed air systems. For more information, visit https://www.cagi.org. For list of participants in the CAGI Performance Verification Program, visit https://www.cagi.org/performance-verification.
To read more CAGI Standards articles, visit https://www.airbestpractices.com/standards/iso-cagi.
For expert presentations on Compressed Air Standards, visit our webinar archive section at https://www.airbestpractices.com/webinars.
