Breathing air quality testing
A quarterly air check is the only way to know what's going into your crews' cylinders. We sample at your fill station, test through an accredited lab, and fix what the report finds.
How an air check works
- We come to the stationWe schedule air checks by region, so a quarterly visit to your station usually lines up with your neighbors and keeps travel cost down.
- We pull the sample at the fill pointThe sample is drawn from the fill station or cascade outlet, the same air your cylinders get, using the lab's sampling kit so the chain of custody is clean.
- An accredited lab tests itSamples go to an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory that measures oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor, oil, hydrocarbons, odor, and particulates against the NFPA 1989 limits.
- You get the report, we handle the restA pass goes straight into your compressor log. A failure gets a phone call from us, a fix, and a retest.
What the lab measures
| Contaminant | NFPA 1989 limit | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen | 19.5–23.5% | Outside the normal range points to a compressor or intake problem. |
| Carbon monoxide | 5 ppm max | The dangerous one. Usually traced to an intake near an exhaust source, or a compressor running hot. |
| Carbon dioxide | 1,000 ppm max | Elevated CO2 means poor intake air or spent purification. |
| Water vapor | 24 ppm max (dew point ≤ −65°F) | Moisture freezes regulators in winter and corrodes cylinders year-round. The most common failure we see. |
| Oil and particulate | 2 mg/m³ max | Worn rings or spent filters push oil mist into the air stream. |
| Non-methane hydrocarbons | 25 ppm max | Fuel vapor and solvents pulled in at the intake. |
| Odor | None pronounced | Anything you can smell has no business in a cylinder. |
Testing is required at least quarterly, and again after a filter change, a repair, a move, or any suspected contamination. A system that fails stays out of service until a retest passes. Oil-lubricated compressors also need a tamper-proof CO monitor that shuts the compressor down above 5 ppm.
Compressor service while we're there
Most air failures are maintenance problems. On every visit we can change purification cartridges and filters, check the auto-drain, calibrate the CO monitor, and look at intake placement. Tell us the compressor make and model when you schedule and we'll bring the right cartridges.
Frequently asked
Who has to test their breathing air?
Any department that fills SCBA cylinders from its own compressor. The NFPA breathing-air quality standard calls for compressor-produced air to be sampled and tested at least quarterly, and most state fire marshals and insurers expect to see those quarterly reports in your records.
What does the test check?
Oxygen percentage, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor (dew point), condensed oil and hydrocarbons, odor, and particulates. The lab compares each against the NFPA limits and reports a pass or a specific failure.
How long do results take?
Samples ship the day we pull them and most results come back from the lab within one to two weeks. You get the full lab report by email and a copy for the compressor log.
What happens if we fail?
We call you first, not the lab. Most failures come down to purification cartridges, moisture, or intake placement, and we fix those on the spot or on a return visit, then retest at no additional service charge.
Do cascade-only systems need testing?
If you fill cylinders from stored air that came from someone else's compressor, the test belongs to whoever runs the compressor. Ask them for their current report and keep a copy. If you run a compressor into a cascade, the compressor needs testing.
Schedule an air check
Tell us where the compressor is and when it was last tested. We'll put you on the next regional route.
Request an air checkOr call (870) 555-0100
Standing quarterly schedule
Put your station on a standing schedule and we show up every quarter without you having to remember. Priced per visit, with the route discount built in.
Need a compressor?
If yours can't pass or can't keep up, we sell, install, and commission new and refurbished breathing air compressors.
See compressors