Compressed Air Analysis Based on ISO 8573: Test Parameters, Method and Results Interpretation

Why does Compressed Water need testing?

Compressed water is often referred to as "fourth utility" After electricity, water, and gas. In many industries, pressurized air is being used directly in the production process, from moving a pneumatic instrument to a direct contact with products in the food industry, pharmaceutical, electronics, and oil & gas.

Although it looks clean, compressed water can actually bring in various contaminants that come from the atmosphere, the compressor system, the pipeline, or lubricant compressor. The contaminant can lower the quality of the product, cause equipment damage, increase the maintenance costs, resulting in a discrepancy of regulatory requirements.

Therefore, the quality testing compressed water periodically becomes an important part of the quality insurance system. The most widely used international standard as reference is ISO 8573, which regulates pressurized air quality classification as well as testing methods.

What is ISO 8573?

ISO 8573 is an international setting standard water compressed quality based on the type and number of contaminants allowed.

These standards consist of some complementary parts.

ISO 8573 Section	Scope
ISO 8573-1	Compressed water quality classification
ISO 8573-2	Aerosol oil measuring method
ISO 8573-3	Humidity Measure
ISO 8573-4	Solid particle measurement
ISO 8573-5	Vapor oil measure
ISO 8573-6	Gas contaminant
ISO 8573-7	Microorganisms
ISO 8	Particle concentration by mass
ISO 8573-9	Liquid water content (liquor water)

In laboratory practice, ISO 8573-1 became the reference to determining water compressed quality class, while other parts explain the sample method and test each parameter.

Main Contaminan in Compressed Air

In general, the compressed water quality is determined by three major contaminant groups.

1. Firm Particle

Particles can come from:

Atmospheric dust
Corrosion on the pipe
Metal splinters
Karat
Malformed filter material

Very small particles can cause:

Pneumatic instrument malfunction
Nozzle blockage
Decrease product quality
Contamination of manufacturing process

2. Water (Moisture)

Atmospheric air always contains water vapor. Once compressed, the concentration of water vapor increases so potentially form condensate.

Moisture can cause:

Pape corrosion
Microorganism growth
Porumatic valve malfunction
System efficiency drop

The usual parameters are:

Pressure Dew Point
Relative Humidity
Liquid Water

3. Oil

Oil contamination can come from:

Lubricated compressor
Unoptimal Oil separator
System lubrication

This contaminant contamination became:

Aerosol Oil

The liquid particles of oil are carried by air flow.

Oil Vapor

Oil in the form of steam is invisible visually.

These two parameters must be analyzed separately because they use different testing methods.

Testing Parameters in ISO 8573 Testing

The water compressed labs generally do some of the following tests.

Particle Count

This parameter determines the number of particles at a given size.

Sample size:

0.1 p.m.
0.5 p.m.
1x03
5m

Results used to determine ISO Class as ISO 8573-1.

Aerosol Oil

Aerosol oil is analyzed using special media filters that capture oil particles during the sampling process.

This parameter is important to:

The pharmaceutical industry.
Food & Beverage
Electronic
Air Instrument

Oil Vapor

Contrary to aerosol, oil vapor requires an adsorben media to capture the hydrocarbons compound in the gas phase.

Lab analysis determines the concentration of oil vapors in mg / m units.

Pressure Dew Point

Pressure Dew Point (PDP) shows temperatures when water vapor starts to condense at certain pressures.

The lower the GDP value, the drier the water compressed.

For example:

PDP -20 ° C
PDP -40 ° C
PDP -70 ° C special application

Microbiological Test

For the pharmaceutical industry, food, water, and health facilities, compressed water that comes directly to contact with products also needs to be tested against:

Count's total
Yeast & Mold
Coliform
Another microorganism.

Compressed Air Peak on Laboratory

The water-compressed testing didn't begin with lab analysis, but from the proper sampling process.

Stage 1 — Sampling Point Detention

The sampling location should represent the air quality that was actually used in the production process.

Several common locations selected:

After the water dryer
After the end filter
Before the use point (point of use)

Phase 2 — Sample Fetch

Sample Technique should pay attention:

Flow rate
System pressure
Samling Length
Cleanliness fitting and hoses

An error at this stage can produce unrepresentational data.

Stage 3 — Lab Analysis

Once the samples are received, the lab does an analysis of the parameters requested using a relevant method based on ISO 8573.

Stage 4 — Data Validation

Data analyzed to ensure:

No anomalies.
Result meets quality control
Testing meets method requirements

Stage 5 — Results Reporting

Test results report generally contain:

Test parameters
Results
Units
ISO Class (if true)
Test method

ISO 8573 Results Reading Way

For example the test results show:

Parameter	Results
Particle	ISO Class 2
Oil	0.004 mg / m
Pressure Dew Point	-40 ° C

The interpretation is:

Particle content meets ISO Class 2 boundaries.
The oil content is very low and suitable for many industrial applications.
Air has a good degree of drought so the risk of condensation can be minimized.

The result interpretation should consider the specific process and industrial requirements in effect, not just compare numbers to maximum limits.

General Error While Sampling Compressed Air

The accuracy of the test results is greatly influenced by the quality of the sample process. Some mistakes are common among others:

Sample points don't represent actual conditions.
A hose or a contaminated sampling fitting.
The sampling path rate doesn't fit the method.
Sampling done before the system reaches stable operating state.
The sampling time is too short so the results are unrepresentational.

That error may cause the test results to deviate from the actual conditions and affect operational decisions.

ISO 8573 application in Various Industries

Food & Beverage

Compressed water is often in direct contact with products or packaging so that air quality should be controlled to prevent contamination.

Pharmaceutical Industries

pressurized air is used in the process of production, refueling, and loading of drugs. The control of particles, oil, water and microorganisms becomes very important to meet GMP requirements.

Electronic Industries

Particles and motives can damage sensitive electronic components. Therefore, compressed water with a high cleaning class is required in manufacturing.

Oil & Gas

Compressed water used as water instructionPneumatic actuators, control systems, to the utility of the process. Air containing water or oil can cause corrosion, instrument interference, and lower systems reliability.

It's an accredited Laboratory.

Testing compressed water should be done by the lab implementing SNI ISO / IEC 17025 Because this standard ensures technical competence, method validation, measurement, and test control. Thus, the generated data is more trustworthy as the basis of compressing water quality evaluations and fulfilling customer requirements as well as regulator.

Conclusion

The testing compressed water based on ISO 8573 is not only intended to know whether the air is pressurized "clean," but ensuring that the air quality is consistent with the process's needs and not causing risk to products or equipment.

Through testing parameters like particles, oil aerosol, oil vapor, pressure dew point, and microbiology, companies can identify the potential contamination early on, improve the system's reliability, and support industrial standards.

The presentation of a representative sample, the proper test method, and the proper interpretation of the results is three key factors to acquire accurate data and can be the basis for decision making.

Compressed Air Testing Service Information

PT Hidea Core provides service Compressed Air Analysis In industrial need, covering sample retrieval and pressure quality parameters to support ISO 8573 standards.

For technical consulting and service information, please contact:

Customer Service PT. Hidea Inti Daya
📞 +62 877-6494-5736