How Does ISO 8573 Define Air Quality Standards and What This Means for You

Your industry needs to meet ISO 8573 air quality standards in order to run smoothly. But what is ISO 8573 and how does it apply to you? We have all the information you need when it comes to safely store your compressed air.

What Is ISO 8573?

ISO 8573 is a regulation designed by the International Standards Organization to uphold the quality of compressed air. It consists of two parts. The first part determines air quality levels by identifying various contaminants. The following parts allow you to test compressed air for these contaminants so that air can be deemed unusable or cleansed for future use.

ISO 8573 identifies three primary contaminants. These include: Solid particles, Humidity & water and Oil.

The Three Primary Contaminant Types

Solid Particles

There are nearly four million particles per cubic foot of air which means that if there are any solid particles when air is compressed, they’ll take up a lot of space. For this reason, it’s necessary to remove solid particles otherwise the compressed air will be unusable.

ISO 8573 recommends using a 1micron filter to cleanse compressed air. This will allow you to capture any spores or bacteria as well as larger solid contaminants.

Humidity & Water

Water makes up the largest number of contaminants and is dangerous because it promotes bacterial or micro organismal growth. The dryer your air is, the less likely there will be bacterial growth.

That’s why you need an air dryer to absorb all moisture from your compressed air. This will allow you to store air at dew point, which is the prime temperature for eliminating water vapors.

Oil

Oil is the most widely discussed contaminant in ISO 8573 because it’s vital that compressed air is free from oil. This is because if you’re using an oil-lubricated air compressor, your compressed air will hold 18 liters of oil within hours. As a result, whatever application you’re using compressed air for will be spoilt.

To combat this, ISO 8573 recommends using a carbon filter on top of any other filtration systems you have in place. This will help to eliminate as much oil contaminants as possible.

What Does This Mean for You?

Complying with ISO 8573 is a necessity. It ensures that you’re meeting industry standards. For this reason, you need to make sure that systems are in place to remove contaminants from your compressed air.

At CDA, we will help you perform all necessary tests and put contamination filtration systems in place. Our on-site experience and knowledge of your plant, allow us to quickly & effectively resolve issues. CDA Systems can help with any kind of filtration needed to help you meet the ISO Standard including Donaldson, SPX Flow and Pall Filtration.  You can get in touch with our team on: 925.667.3400/sales@cdasystems.com.