Identify Air Contamination
Testing can help identify contaminants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, excessive moisture and oil-related contamination where these are included in the testing scope.
Hydropayne Services Ltd | Kent & South East
Breathing Air Testing in Kent
Professional breathing air quality testing for businesses using compressed air supplied to respiratory protective equipment. Helping organisations assess breathing air quality against the relevant requirements of BS EN 12021.
Based in Chatham, Kent, Hydropayne Services supports commercial and industrial customers throughout Kent, London, Essex, Surrey, Sussex and the South East.
Established 1978 BS EN 12021 Industrial Air Specialists Kent & South East Coverage
Established 1978 Family-Run Business
Breathing Air Testing Compressed Air Quality
BS EN 12021 Relevant Air Quality Standard
Kent & South East Commercial & Industrial Customers
Understanding Breathing Air Quality
What Is Breathing Air Testing?
Breathing air testing is the assessment of compressed air supplied for breathing purposes, such as air-fed respiratory protective equipment used in certain industrial and commercial environments.
Compressed air intended for breathing must be suitable for that purpose. Air can become contaminated through compressor intake conditions, equipment faults, inadequate filtration, moisture or contaminants introduced within the distribution system.
Breathing air quality testing helps businesses assess whether the supplied air meets the relevant quality requirements. It can identify problems requiring investigation or corrective action.
Hydropayne Services provides breathing air testing support for businesses across Kent and the South East. We can also assist with related air compressor servicing and maintenance where equipment performance may affect the compressed air supply.
Protecting Breathing Air Quality
Why Is Regular Breathing Air Testing Important?
Where compressed air is used for breathing, the quality of the air supply is essential. Testing helps identify potential contamination and supports an organisation's approach to respiratory protection and workplace safety.
Support Workplace Safety
Suitable breathing air is an important part of protecting workers who rely on air-fed respiratory protective equipment in hazardous working environments.
Check System Performance
Breathing air testing provides useful information about the air being delivered and can highlight problems with compressors, filtration or associated equipment.
Breathing Air Quality Standards
Breathing Air Testing to BS EN 12021
BS EN 12021 specifies requirements for compressed gases supplied for breathing apparatus. It provides criteria relevant to the quality of breathing air used in applicable respiratory protection systems.
Breathing air testing can involve checking important air quality characteristics, including:
- Oxygen concentration
- Carbon monoxide levels
- Carbon dioxide levels
- Moisture and water content
- Oil contamination, where applicable
- Other relevant contaminants according to the system and assessment
The precise testing requirements depend on the breathing air system, intended application and applicable standards. Results should be assessed against the relevant criteria rather than assuming that all compressed air is suitable for breathing.
For businesses that operate compressed air equipment, appropriate compressor maintenance and air treatment are also important considerations.
Understanding Air Quality Risks
What Can Affect the Quality of Compressed Breathing Air?
Compressed air systems can be affected by different sources of contamination. The risks depend on the compressor, intake location, air treatment equipment and the working environment.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that can enter a compressed air system through contaminated intake air or arise from certain equipment faults.
Carbon Dioxide
Elevated carbon dioxide levels can affect breathing air suitability. The compressor intake environment and other system conditions should be considered.
Oil Contamination
Oil aerosols and vapours may be relevant where lubricated compressor equipment is used. Appropriate filtration and system maintenance are important.
Excessive Moisture
Moisture in compressed air can affect system performance and may contribute to corrosion or other operational problems.
Contaminated Intake Air
Exhaust fumes, industrial processes and surrounding environmental conditions can affect the quality of air entering a compressor.
Equipment & Filtration Issues
Incorrectly specified, poorly maintained or ineffective air treatment equipment may allow unwanted contaminants to reach the point of use.
Industrial & Commercial Applications
Where Is Breathing Air Testing Required?
Breathing air testing is relevant to workplaces where compressed air is supplied to respiratory protective equipment and workers depend on that air for safe breathing.
The need for testing, its frequency and the appropriate procedures depend on the workplace risk assessment, equipment used and applicable safety requirements.
Typical applications may include:
- Industrial spray painting and spray booths
- Automotive bodyshops and refinishing
- Manufacturing and industrial production
- Specialist surface preparation operations
- Some chemical and engineering processes
- Other work using air-fed respiratory protection
For example, an automotive spray booth using an air-fed respirator may require checks of the breathing air supply as part of its respiratory protection arrangements.
Hydropayne Services supports businesses across Kent and the South East with breathing air testing enquiries.
Arrange Breathing Air Testing
Planning Breathing Air Quality Checks
How Often Should Breathing Air Be Tested?
Breathing air quality should be monitored at intervals appropriate to the system, equipment and workplace risk assessment.
Routine Testing
Regular testing provides an opportunity to assess breathing air quality and identify changes that may affect the air supplied to respiratory equipment.
Following Equipment Changes
Additional testing may be appropriate following compressor replacement, changes to filtration, system alterations or other relevant modifications.
After Suspected Contamination
Where there is reason to suspect contamination or unsuitable breathing air, the supply should not be used until the concern has been properly investigated and resolved.
How frequently should your system be tested?
HSE guidance for breathing-air compressors commonly refers to testing at least every three months, with more frequent checks where the risk assessment indicates they are necessary. The appropriate schedule should reflect your specific installation, application and relevant guidance.
Air Treatment & Equipment
Breathing Air Filtration & Compressed Air Equipment
Producing suitable breathing air involves more than simply compressing atmospheric air. The complete system must be designed and maintained for the intended breathing application.
Depending on the installation, relevant equipment may include appropriately selected compressors, air treatment systems, filtration, moisture control, monitoring and suitable distribution pipework.
Hydropayne Services supplies, installs and maintains industrial compressed air equipment and can discuss the wider system requirements where breathing air quality is a concern.
- Industrial air compressors
- Air dryers and moisture control
- Compressed air filtration
- Air receivers and associated equipment
- Compressed air distribution pipework
- Servicing and preventative maintenance
Learn more about our air compressor products and EQOfluids compressed air pipework systems .
Important: General industrial filtration equipment is not automatically suitable for breathing air. Equipment must be appropriately specified for the intended use.
Our Testing Approach
Our Breathing Air Testing Process
We aim to make arranging breathing air quality testing straightforward for businesses throughout Kent and the South East.
The exact testing procedure depends on the compressed air supply, respiratory equipment and applicable requirements.
Our team can discuss the testing required, relevant equipment information and the arrangements for your premises.
Where testing identifies a concern, further investigation or corrective action may be needed before the air supply is considered suitable for breathing use.
Step 1
Contact Our Team
Tell us about your business, breathing air system and testing requirements.
Step 2
Review the System
We discuss the equipment and application to establish the appropriate testing arrangements.
Step 3
Carry Out Testing
Relevant air quality measurements are taken using the appropriate testing method.
Step 4
Review Results
Results are assessed against the applicable requirements and any concerns can be discussed.
Need Breathing Air Quality Testing?
Contact Hydropayne Services to discuss your compressed breathing air system.
Why Choose Hydropayne Services?
Experienced Industrial Compressed Air Specialists
Hydropayne Services Ltd is a family-run compressed air business established in 1978 and based in Chatham, Medway, Kent.
We support commercial and industrial customers with compressed air equipment, repairs, servicing, installations and specialist testing requirements.
Established in 1978
Decades of experience working with compressed air equipment and supporting industrial and commercial customers.
Complete Compressed Air Support
Alongside breathing air testing, Hydropayne provides compressor servicing, repairs, installation and associated compressed air engineering services.
Kent & South East Coverage
Based in Chatham, we support businesses across Kent, London, Essex, Surrey, Sussex and surrounding areas.
Additional Hydropayne Services
More Services for Your Compressed Air System
Hydropayne Services provides specialist support for businesses operating industrial compressed air equipment.
Air Compressor Repairs & Servicing
Fault diagnosis, industrial compressor repairs, planned maintenance and ongoing servicing throughout Kent and the South East.
Written Schemes of Examination
Support with Written Schemes of Examination for qualifying pressure systems under the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000.
EQOfluids Compressed Air Pipework
Aluminium and stainless steel compressed air distribution systems for commercial and industrial premises.
Areas We Cover
Breathing Air Testing Across Kent & the South East
Hydropayne Services is based in Chatham, Medway, and supports commercial and industrial businesses throughout Kent, London, Essex, Surrey, Sussex and the wider South East.
We support businesses in Maidstone, Sittingbourne, Dartford, Ashford, Tonbridge, Gravesend, Canterbury and surrounding areas. Contact our team to discuss your breathing air testing requirements and location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Breathing Air Testing FAQs
What is breathing air testing?
Breathing air testing assesses the quality of compressed air intended for breathing purposes. It helps identify contaminants and determine whether the supplied air meets the relevant quality requirements.
What is BS EN 12021?
BS EN 12021 is a standard specifying requirements for compressed gases supplied for breathing apparatus. It includes relevant air quality criteria for applicable breathing air systems.
How often should breathing air be tested?
The appropriate testing frequency depends on the equipment, application, risk assessment and relevant guidance. HSE guidance commonly refers to at least three-monthly testing for breathing-air compressors, with more frequent checks where necessary.
What contaminants can breathing air testing identify?
Depending on the testing scope, measurements may include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen concentration, moisture and oil contamination. The relevant checks depend on the system and application.
Is breathing air testing required for spray booths?
Where a spray booth uses compressed air supplied to air-fed respiratory protective equipment, breathing air quality is an important safety consideration. Appropriate testing should reflect the workplace risk assessment and applicable guidance.
Can ordinary industrial compressed air be used for breathing?
No assumption should be made that general industrial compressed air is suitable for breathing. A breathing air supply must be appropriately designed, treated, maintained and assessed for its intended use.
Can compressor servicing replace breathing air testing?
No. Routine compressor servicing is important for equipment maintenance, but it does not establish that the delivered air meets the relevant breathing air quality requirements.
Do you offer breathing air testing outside Kent?
Hydropayne Services supports commercial and industrial customers throughout Kent, London, Essex, Surrey, Sussex and the wider South East. Contact our team to discuss your location and testing needs.
Arrange Professional Breathing Air Testing
Contact Hydropayne Services to discuss breathing air quality testing for your commercial or industrial premises in Kent, London, Essex, Surrey, Sussex and the South East.