Breathing Air Quality Testing Services
UK Compliant Compressed Breathing Air Testing to BS EN 12021
When compressed air is used for breathing purposes, air quality is critical. Contaminated breathing air can expose operators to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, oil vapour, moisture and other harmful substances, creating serious health and safety risks in the workplace.
At Air Kraft Ltd, we provide professional breathing air testing services for businesses across the UK, helping employers comply with current HSE guidance, COSHH regulations and BS EN 12021 breathing air standards.
Whether you operate in manufacturing, paint spraying, confined spaces, pharmaceuticals, offshore, food production or engineering, regular breathing air testing is essential to ensure your compressed air supply remains safe for use.
What Is Breathing Air Testing?
Breathing air testing is the process of analysing compressed air used for respiratory protection equipment and breathing apparatus systems.
Unlike standard workshop compressed air, breathing air must meet strict purity requirements to ensure it is safe for human respiration.
Our testing service checks the quality of compressed breathing air systems to confirm compliance with:
- COSHH Regulations 2002
- HSE Guidance HSG53
- BS EN 12021:2014 Breathing Air Standard
Following testing, a detailed certificate is provided for your compliance records.
Why Is Breathing Air Testing Important?
Compressed air systems can contain harmful contaminants even when fitted with filtration systems.
Without regular testing, users may unknowingly inhale dangerous substances.
Potential contaminants include:
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Oil Mist & Oil Vapour
- Water Vapour
- Particulates
- Atmospheric Contamination
Poor breathing air quality can lead to:
- Headaches and dizziness
- Respiratory irritation
- Nausea and fatigue
- Long-term health risks
- Serious injury or fatality in extreme cases
Routine testing helps identify issues before they become dangerous while supporting legal compliance and workforce safety.
UK Breathing Air Compliance Requirements
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), employers have a duty to ensure that breathing air supplied to employees is safe and adequately maintained.
HSE guidance recommends breathing air quality testing is carried out regularly, with many industries adopting a minimum testing frequency of every 3 months.
Breathing air systems should comply with BS EN 12021:2014, which specifies acceptable limits for:
- Oxygen content
- Carbon monoxide
- Carbon dioxide
- Oil contamination
- Water content and dew point
Maintaining compliant breathing air systems is particularly important where airline respirators or breathing apparatus are used.
What Does Our Breathing Air Test Include?
Our breathing air testing service typically includes testing for:
Oxygen (O2)
Verifies safe oxygen concentration for breathing applications.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Detects dangerous toxic gases that may enter the compressor intake.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Checks for elevated CO2 levels that may affect breathing safety.
Oil Vapour & Oil Mist
Identifies compressor oil carryover and filtration performance issues.
Water Content & Dew Point
Ensures moisture levels remain within acceptable limits.
Odour Assessment
Checks for unusual smells indicating contamination. Upon completion, we provide a documented test certificate showing compliance results for your records and audits.
Industries We Support for Air Testing
We provide breathing air testing services for a wide range of industries including:
Why Choose Air Kraft Ltd?
- Experienced compressed air specialists
- UK compliance support
- Fast and reliable testing service
- Detailed certification provided
- Support for ongoing maintenance and filtration improvements
- Independent advice on air quality and system performance
We can also advise on filtration upgrades, dryer performance, compressor maintenance and air quality improvements to help maintain safe and compliant breathing air systems.
Arrange a Breathing Air Test
Contact us today to arrange your breathing air quality test or discuss your compressed air system requirements.