Standards

CAGI Releases Compressed Air Purity Guide

By Chad Larrabee, Technical Editor, Compressed Air and Gas Institute

The Compressed Air and Gas Institute has released a Compressed Air Purity Guide to help industries achieve clean, dry compressed air and improve system reliability. The guide applies ISO 8573-1 to classify contaminants such as particles, water and oil, and defines purity levels for plant, instrument and process air. It also outlines key technologies like dryers and filtration systems to ensure optimal air quality and equipment protection.

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Transitioning to Oil-Free Compressed Air

By Todd Stelzer, strategic account manager, Ingersoll Rand.

Compressed air quality is measured by the amount of solid particulates, water and oil content in one cubic foot (cu. ft.) of compressed air. Many of these contaminants are introduced from the air surrounding the installation site that is drawn into the system at the beginning of the compression process. The relative humidity, type of compressor and air treatment and filtration system can also affect air quality. Minimum air quality requirements vary by industrial application; the most stringent standards apply to manufacturers whose end products, packaging or critical instrumentation come in direct contact with compressed air.

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Hospital Air System Savings

By Ron Marshall CET, CIM, for the Compressed Air Challenge®. Edited by Jan Zuercher and David Booth

Large hospitals often use compressed air for important operational related end uses. The systems that produce this air need to supply clean and dry compressed air with a high level of reliability. These systems are not immune to efficiency problems as is the case for any compressed air system.

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An Introduction to WAGD System Implementations

By Mark Allen, Director of Marketing, BEACONMEDAES

This article will examine in detail four of the five acceptable WAGD implementations under NFPA 99, along with some alternative ways they may be implemented. This article will not deal with passive implementations.

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BSA LifeStructures

By Rod Smith, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

BSA LifeStructures is a full service architectural and engineering firm specializing in healthcare, higher education and technology facilities. We employ close to 260 associates and are established in two locations; Indianapolis and Chicago. Our strongest focus is on hospitals and university facilities.

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The Importance of Dewpoint for Medical Air Systems

By Chris Duffell and Mark White, Parker domnick hunter

The most abundant contaminant in any compressed air system is water. This can be in either liquid or vapour form. Atmospheric air is already very wet, and becomes saturated when compressed. This water vapour will condense when the temperature drops, after the compressor, and will damage air receivers, pipework and equipment. For this reason coalescing filters and then dryers are used to remove the bulk of this water.

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Supplied Air Respiratory Protection

By Jay Francis, Americas Sales Manager, Strategic Accounts & Rental Group, SPX FLOW

Hazardous breathing conditions exist in routine industrial operations, such as hospitals, abrasive blasting, paint spraying, industrial cleaning, and arc welding. In these and other operations that introduce contaminants into the workplace, supplied-air respirators are frequently used for worker protection.

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Profile: The Total Equipment Company

By Compressed Air Best Practices®

A good-size hospital with 200 beds and ten operating rooms can have a medical air system, a laboratory air system, and pneumatic air systems. The medical air systems must all follow the NFPA 99 guidelines. We follow these guidelines, from the beginning, when we assess the demand for air in a hospital.

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Profile: BeaconMedaes

Compressed Air Best Practices® interviewed Mark Allen (Director of Marketing) of BeaconMedæs.

In the U.S. as an example, the NFPA has taken the view that if your compressor draws in good clean ambient air, the air stays clean through the compressor, is then dried and filtered, when you deliver it to the patient it will be entirely satisfactory. After all, when you went into the hospital that’s what you were breathing and when you leave you will breathe it again!

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Air Quality Standards ISO 8573.1 & ISO12500

Jay Francis, Commercial Lead, Air Treatment Solutions, Industrial Technologies and Services-Americas, Hankison

The next time you sit down for dinner, take a good look at your food. There’s a very good chance compressed air played an essential role in preparing your meal for consumption.

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Displacement Compressor Performance Standards

By Wayne Perry, Technical Director, Kaeser Compressors

If you have ever looked at the small print of a compressor brochure or a CAGI Data Sheet or a compressor technical information page, you have probably seen some reference to one of the above standards. At one time or another, US compressor manufacturers have used these standards to test and report compressor performance. These are referred to as “Acceptance Test” codes.

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