Compressed Air Quality according to ISO 8573-1: A comprehensive Guide
Compressed air quality is a crucial factor for numerous industrial applications. Contaminated compressed air can disrupt production processes, shorten the lifespan of machinery, and ultimately lead to costly failures. The international standard ISO 8573-1 defines the purity classes for compressed air and ensures that companies worldwide have uniform standards for assessing compressed air quality. This comprehensive guide provides detailed insights into maintaining optimal compressed air quality and understanding its impact on efficiency and reliability.
What is ISO 8573-1?
ISO 8573-1 is a standard that sets the requirements for compressed air quality. This standard classifies compressed air into different purity classes based on three main parameters:
- Particle size and count
- Moisture content
- Oil concentration
The Seven Purity Classes of ISO 8573-1
ISO 8573-1 defines seven purity classes for compressed air. These classes are numbered from 0 to 6, with Class 0 representing special requirements that can be stricter than Class 1. Each class specifies maximum limits for particles, moisture, and oil.
Although there are numerically seven classes (0 to 6), Class 0 is used for specific and stricter requirements that exceed the standards of Class 1. This explains why there are considered to be seven purity classes, even though at first glance, only six standard classes (1 to 6) appear in an overview.
1. Particles:
- Class 0: Determined by the equipment operator or supplier, stricter requirements than Class 1
- Class 1: Maximum 20,000 particles per cubic meter of air (0.1 µm < d ≤ 0.5 µm), 400 particles per cubic meter of air (0.5 µm < d ≤ 1.0 µm), 10 particles per cubic meter of air (1.0 µm < d ≤ 5.0 µm)
- Class 2: Maximum 400,000 particles per cubic meter of air (0.1 µm < d ≤ 0.5 µm), 6,000 particles per cubic meter of air (0.5 µm < d ≤ 1.0 µm), 100 particles per cubic meter of air (1.0 µm < d ≤ 5.0 µm)
- Class 3: No specification for 0.1 µm < d ≤ 0.5 µm, maximum 90,000 particles per cubic meter of air (0.5 µm < d ≤ 1.0 µm), 1,000 particles per cubic meter of air (1.0 µm < d ≤ 5.0 µm)
- Class 4: No specification for 0.1 µm < d ≤ 0.5 µm and 0.5 µm < d ≤ 1.0 µm, maximum 10,000 particles per cubic meter of air (1.0 µm < d ≤ 5.0 µm)
- Class 5: No specification for 0.1 µm < d ≤ 0.5 µm and 0.5 µm < d ≤ 1.0 µm, maximum 100,000 particles per cubic meter of air (1.0 µm < d ≤ 5.0 µm)
- Class 6: No specification for particles
2. Moisture:
- Class 0: Determined by the equipment operator or supplier, stricter requirements than Class 1
- Class 1: Maximum pressure dew point of -70°C
- Class 2: Maximum pressure dew point of -40°C
- Class 3: Maximum pressure dew point of -20°C
- Class 4: Maximum pressure dew point of +3°C
- Class 5: Maximum pressure dew point of +7°C
- Class 6: Maximum pressure dew point of +10°C
3. Oil:
- Class 0: Determined by the equipment operator or supplier, stricter requirements than Class 1
- Class 1: Maximum oil content of 0.01 mg/m³
- Class 2: Maximum oil content of 0.1 mg/m³
- Class 3: Maximum oil content of 1 mg/m³
- Class 4: Maximum oil content of 5 mg/m³
- Class 5: Oil content greater than 5 mg/m³
| Class | Solid particles, max. number of particles per m³ |
Pressure dew point °C |
Oil content (liquid, aerosol, oil vapor) mg/m³ |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 µm < d ≤ 0.5 µm | 0.5 µm < d ≤ 1.0 µm | 1.0 µm < d ≤ 5.0 µm | |||
| 0 | Determined by the equipment operator or supplier, stricter requirements than Class 1 | ||||
| 1 | ≤ 20,000 | ≤ 400 | ≤ 10 | ≤ -70 | ≤ 0.01 |
| 2 | ≤ 400,000 | ≤ 6,000 | ≤ 100 | ≤ -40 | ≤ 0.1 |
| 3 | - | ≤ 90,000 | ≤ 1,000 | ≤ -20 | ≤ 1 |
| 4 | - | - | ≤ 10,000 | ≤ +3 | ≤ 5 |
| 5 | - | - | ≤ 100,000 | ≤ +7 | > 5 |
| 6 | - | - | - | ≤ +10 | - |
Why is compressed air quality important?
Insufficient compressed air quality can lead to a variety of problems:
- Wear and tear on machinery and equipment: Particles and oil can damage moving parts and shorten the lifespan of devices.
- Production downtime: Contaminated compressed air can disrupt production processes and lead to costly shutdowns.
- Product quality: In sensitive production environments, such as the food or pharmaceutical industries, contaminated compressed air can compromise the quality of the final products.
Products to ensure compressed air quality
To meet the high requirements of ISO 8573-1, we at BERG Kompressoren offer a range of products specifically designed to improve compressed air quality:
Compressed Air Filters
These remove particles from compressed air and are available in various purity classes to meet different requirements.
Compressed Air Dryers
Dryers reduce the moisture content of compressed air, which is particularly important in low-temperature environments.
Conclusion
Compliance with the ISO 8573-1 standard is essential for any company that uses compressed air. By using high-quality compressed air filters, dryers, and oil separators, you can ensure that your compressed air meets the highest purity standards.
Do you have any questions about ISO 8573-1? Contact us and our experts will be happy to assist you.