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Appendix 3 Quality of air for breathing apparatus 

 

 
Air quality 
 

1.

 

 Air supplied to breathing apparatus (BA) should be clean and safe to breathe, whether it is 
supplied via a fresh air hose or a source of compressed air.  

 
Fresh air hose 
 

 You should securely anchor the inlet for fresh air hose BA in an area that is free of contaminant. This 
can usually be achieved by siting the inlet well away from the work area (eg in free air outside the 
building), and upwind of any local sources of airborne contamination (eg vehicle exhaust).

 

 
 

Compressed air  

2.

 

 Compressed air for BA normally originates from a compressor system. The maintenance, 
examination and testing of compressors should be carried out according to the manufacturer’s 
instructions. The siting of air inlets to compressors should follow the same principles as for 
fresh air hose. However, because compressors themselves can generate and concentrate a 
wide range of contaminants, you should take extra care in assuring air quality.  
 

3.

 

As the BA wearer’s life and health depend on the air supplied by the compressor, you should 
ensure that the air supplied meets the quality requirements in British Standard BS EN 12021 
Respiratory protective devices. Compressed air for breathing apparatus,* in addition to the 
pressure and airflow rate requirements of the BA manufacturer.  
 

4.

 

Compressors which are moved from site to site, such as those used by the emergency services 
or on construction sites, will require a higher standard of maintenance and should be sited so 
that the quality of air they provide is not compromised by nearby contaminants.  

 
* BS EN 12021 states: ‘Compressed air for breathing apparatus shall not contain any contaminants at 
a concentration which can cause toxic or harmful effects. In any event all contaminants shall be kept 
to as low a level as possible and shall be far below the national exposure limit. Combination effects of 
more than one contaminant shall be taken into account.’ (1999)Respiratory protective equipment at 
work Page 48 of 59  
 

Periodic testing of air quality  

5.

 

 The purpose of periodically testing air quality is to make sure that the control measures you 
have put in place are delivering the air quality required by BS EN 12021. You should base the 
frequency of such tests on a risk assessment, but they should take place at least every three 
months, and more often when the quality of air cannot be assured to these levels.  

 

6.

 

 As part of the risk assessment, if a mobile compressor is being used consideration should be 
given as to how often the air supply should be checked when the compressor is moved. Testing 
for these components may be carried out using any appropriate method, eg:  

 

simple colour change tubes; 

 

on-line gas testers; 

 

sample collection for laboratory analysis elsewhere.  

Summary of Contents for Safe-Air F8100

Page 1: ...0 F8100 SAFE AIR MONITOR OPERATING MANUAL FAC QAM 221 Issue B 02 19...

Page 2: ...1...

Page 3: ...liary inputs outputs 4 5 Sensors 10 10 11 14 14 15 5 Exporting the Data Log 16 6 SMS text status and alert 17 Appendix 1 Using the test port for the Dr ger oil mist tube 18 Appendix 2 Reading the Dr g...

Page 4: ...ide and a Photo Ionisation Detector PID for Volatile Organic Compounds The moisture is measured with an electronic dewpoint meter and the instrument also records pressure and ambient temperature For m...

Page 5: ...0Hz Mains Input PC USB Connection Dr ger Impactor Oil Mist Tube Test Port On Off Button Compressed Air Inlet Ethernet Connection 2 no 4 20mA Input 2 no 4 20mA Output 2 no Alarm Volt Free Contacts Righ...

Page 6: ...ction adaptor terminating in a Rectus Plug F2195 Connection adaptor terminating in a Instantair plug Selected Test Standard Settings Battery Charge Charging Indicator Installer Access Status SIM Card...

Page 7: ...pe Oxygen O2 0 25 Electrochemical Carbon Monoxide CO 0 20 PPM Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide CO2 0 2000 PPM Non Dispersive Infrared Volatile Organic Compounds VOC 0 40 PPM 10 6 eV Photoionisation Dete...

Page 8: ...unit is free from vibration during use The F8100 Safe Air Monitor requires a 230V 1ph 50Hz mains power supply The maximum compressed air supply pressure for the F8100 Safe Air Monitor is 10 barg If th...

Page 9: ...adjusted in the installer menu If the sensor readings have already stabilised you can commence immediate sensor monitoring by pressing the Commissioning Delay countdown icon Once commissioning is com...

Page 10: ...is clears contaminants from previous tests and ensures that a representative sample is being tested Once the purge has finished the Dr ger Impactor oil tube should be inserted into the test port and t...

Page 11: ...the home screen press on the current standard Enter user log in password installer The standards menu will then display the available test standards For EN12021 2014 there are 4 different requirements...

Page 12: ...to discard press the waste basket icon 4 2 Configuring the main alarm To enter the set up mode press this icon which is located in the top right hand corner of the screen near the battery icon Enter...

Page 13: ...nverse tick box By selecting the Sounder an audible tone will be emitted from the instrument in the event of any of the readings exceeding their minimum and maximum value This is an optional factory f...

Page 14: ...S Message feature can be enabled by selecting this tick box When activated a message will be sent when any of the readings reach their alarm values The SMS alarm message can be altered by pressing on...

Page 15: ...ted an SMS message 4 4 Auxiliary Inputs and Outputs The F8100 can display readings from external sensors which have a 2 wire 15V 4 20 mA output The description units of measure and the 4 and 20mA para...

Page 16: ...15 4 5 Sensors The order in which sensors are displayed on the home screen can be set you can also choose which sensors you want to be displayed Any changes need to be saved to take effect...

Page 17: ...0 connect the USB cable between the F8100 and your PC and open the Safe Air Tester Results F8000 series software With the F8100 successfully connected the status light will turn green The unit will th...

Page 18: ...heck the instrument from another mobile number by texting the SIM card number in the F8100 with the text Status an example of this is shown below By texting the SIM card number in the F8100 with the t...

Page 19: ...press the button to proceed If you can determine with a high degree of certainty the specific compressor lubricant being used then refer to the test times chart provided on Factair s website marked fo...

Page 20: ...roceed as described in section 4 and at the end of it you will be prompted to enter the result from the tube The result will then be displayed on the final test result screen and stored in the instrum...

Page 21: ...s circumference this allows the user to easily and quickly identify minute quantities of oil For tests that pass with an oil concentration of less than 0 05mg m3 the screen will remain blank For tests...

Page 22: ...e to break the tip 3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the other end of the tube Using the tube tip cutter with the Dr ger oil tube 1 Using the Tube Tip Cutter place the ampoule section in the platform at the...

Page 23: ...ed their expiry date they should be disposed of using one of the following methods Used Tubes Submerge the tube s in a beaker or metal container filled with water and allow to soak for 24 hours Treat...

Page 24: ...system Suggested Test Limits for VOCs In EN12021 2014 it states compressed gas for breathing shall not contain contaminants at a concentration which can cause toxic or harmful effects In any event all...

Page 25: ...ior to fitting detector tubes clean if required Always remove the ends of the detector tubes cleanly using the correct tube tip cutter Do not use pincers or other devices Always remove both ends of th...

Page 26: ...g will result in air entering the filtration at too high a temperature this will cause the filtration to prematurely fail and pass excess levels of oil and water Malfunctioning dryers can disturb the...

Page 27: ...onditions of usage and storage of any compressed air supply is not known the pressure dewpoint shall not exceed 11 C Dewpoint 50 F 67 PPM v v for SCBA use in extreme cold a dew point not to exceed 65...

Page 28: ...e condition of the equipment and details of any defect found including for canister or filter respirators the state of the canister and the condition of the filter for self contained compressed air ga...

Page 29: ...quality of the air supplied Table A 2 provides a summary of the main elements associated with a compressor system for producing breathable air In addition to the careful and installation of the system...

Page 30: ...quency of use When the air supply is from mobile compressors the employer should ensure that wherever a compressor is located the quality of air it supplies is not compromised by nearby contaminants I...

Page 31: ...is not in use The adequacy of the accommodation will vary according to the quantity type and its use eg pegs labelled lockers shelves or containers etc The storage should be adequate to protect the PP...

Page 32: ...adequate clean air supply is available for all users Ensure that the compressed air quality meets the minimum requirements of BS EN 12021 15 Always plan your exit from the contaminated area so you don...

Page 33: ...requirements of the BA manufacturer 4 Compressors which are moved from site to site such as those used by the emergency services or on construction sites will require a higher standard of maintenance...

Page 34: ...s for five years Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and Queen s Printer for Scotland Source Acknowledgement HSG53 Respiratory Protective Equipment at...

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Page 38: ...37 Factair Ltd 49 Boss Hall Road Ipswich Suffolk IP1 5BN UK Tel Sales 44 0 1473 746400 Tel Hire 44 0 1473 746444 Email enquiries factair co uk www factair co uk...

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