Compressed Air Quality Testing Instruments
How clean is your compressed air and gas? Does it meet industry standards?
Compressed air is important in many industries. However, contamination of your compressed air and gas system can lead to poor product quality, damage to machines and high costs in food, pharmaceuticals and automotive production areas.
Therefore, compressed air quality testing should be done on a regular basis to detect oil, water and particles that may cause the problems.
SUTO iTEC provides high-level compressed air quality monitoring solutions for more than 20 years. Our real-time compressed air testing solutions enable companies around the world to maintain clean air and ensure their systems meet industry standards, like the ISO 8573-1.
Our Compressed Air Quality Testing Solutions
SUTO iTEC offers a complete range of instruments for monitoring compressed air and gas quality. Our solutions detect oil vapor, moisture and particles in real time, helping to ensure ISO 8573-1 compliance and reliable air quality in your production.
Why Monitor Compressed Air Quality?
Poor compressed air purity can contaminate products, damage machinery, and cause costly downtime. Continuous monitoring keeps purity within ISO 8573 1 limits and warns early so maintenance can act before problems escalate.
According to ISO 8573 1, compressed air purity is classified based on three key parameters:
- Oil content (mg/m³)
- Particle concentration (cn/m³)
- Water concentration (Dew point in °C Td)
A reliable testing process assures compliance, protects sensitive applications, and keeps production stable by controlling oil content, particle concentration, and water levels in compressed air.
What Should Operators Check When Testing Compressed Air Quality?
Operators should ask these questions when considering compressed air purity testing
- Is the compressed air free from oil, water, and particles?
- Is the dew point at a safe level?
- What ISO 8573-1 class does the compressed air have?
- Do filters and dryers work properly?
- Is the air regularly checked and calibrated?
- Are there contamination sources or leaks?
- Can energy costs be reduced?
- Is the air safe for employees and processes?
Regular compressed air quality testing helps detect problems early and prevents costly failures. Our experts are happy to provide guidance.
How Does Contamination Enter Compressed Air Systems?
Compressed air and gas systems can be affected by many contamination sources:
- Compressor Air intake: Dust, moisture, and oil vapors from the environment
- Compressors: Wear particles and contaminants / lubricants
- Pipes and fittings: Rust, scale, and debris buildup
- Filters and dryers: Clogging or malfunctions
- Leaks: Entry of dirt and moisture
A frequent compressed air purity test at those key areas of the compressed air system helps to identify issues immediately before it is too late. It helps to keep the compressed air clean and protects production processes.
ISO 8573-1: The Standard for Compressed Air Purity
Understanding Compressed Air Quality Parameters
The ISO 8573-1 standard defines air quality classes to ensure clean and safe compressed air purity worldwide. It focuses on three key parameters:
- Particles: Solid contaminants in the air (measured in µm)
- Water content: Determined by the pressure dew point (°C)
- Oil content: Oil concentration in the compressed air (mg/m³) (Often produced by the compressor)
ISO 8573-1 Air Quality Classes
| Class | Particle Concentration | Pressure Dew Point | Oil Concentration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cn/m3 | ºC (ºF) | mg/m3 | |||
| 0.1 < d ≤ 0.5 µm | 0.5 < d ≤ 1.0 µm | 1.0 < d ≤ 5.0 µm | |||
| 0 | As specified by the equipment user or supplier and more stringent than class 1 | ||||
| 1 | ≤ 20,000 | ≤ 400 | ≤ 10 | ≤ -70 (94.0) | ≤ 0.01 |
| 2 | ≤ 400,000 | ≤ 6,000 | ≤ 100 | ≤ -40 (-40.0) | ≤ 0.1 |
| 3 | undetermined | ≤ 90,000 | ≤ 1,000 | ≤ -20 (-4.0) | ≤ 1 |
| 4 | undetermined | undetermined | ≤ 10,000 | ≤ +3 (+37.4) | ≤ 5 |
| 5 | undetermined | undetermined | ≤ 100,000 | ≤ +7 (+45.6) | > 5 |
| 6 | x | x | x | ≤ +10 (+50.0) | x |
SUTO iTEC provides complete testing kits to help companies measure their compressed air and gas quality. These instruments ensure systems follow the required purity levels based on ISO 8573-1.
Learn more about the Standard in our extensive ISO 8573-1 Artikel.
Real-Time Test: Faster, Smarter, More Reliable
Traditional compressed air testing has always been sampling and external analysis. It was slow, expensive, and provided only a single snapshot. Changes in the compressed air quality or filter failures often went unnoticed and increased risks.
With SUTO iTEC’s S600 and other real-time monitors, compressed air quality testing becomes faster, more accurate, and more reliable. These advanced sensors continuously measure oil, particles, and moisture right at the source. Instead of waiting for lab reports, operators get instant insights, allowing them to catch problems early, prevent downtime, and maintain high safety standards.
Live compressed air quality monitoring makes costly lab tests unnecessary, while improving efficiency and system reliability.
When to Use Each Compressed Air Quality Testing Instrument
SUTO iTEC provides high-precision compressed air testing equipment to detect contamination early and help maintain compressed air purity.
Which products does SUTO iTEC offer for real-time compressed air quality monitoring and when to use which product:
- S120 Oil Vapor Monitor: Use for continuous oil vapor detection or during ISO 8573-1 audits to ensure compliance and prevent oil-related contamination. Suitable for both portable and stationary use.
- S130 / S132 Particle Counters: Choose these instruments when you need to measure particle concentration in compressed air, especially for quality validation with a built-in pressure diffuser for accurate results.
- S600 Portable Compressed Air Analyzer: Ideal for comprehensive air quality audits or spot checks at various points in the system. Combines measurements for oil, water and particles in one portable device.
- S601 Stationary Compressed Air Monitor: Recommended for permanent 24/7 monitoring of particulates, humidity (dew point) and residual oil at critical control points.
- S520 Mobile Dew Point Meter: Use for quick, portable humidity checks throughout the compressed air network, ensuring dryers perform correctly.
- S211 / S215 / S220 Dew Point Sensors: Best for continuous, stationary dew point monitoring with integrated pressure measurement to ensure long-term system reliability.
Where Should You Install Your Monitoring Equipment?
The ideal placement of measurement devices depends on the application. Industries like food, beverage, pharma have different requirements for their compressed air quality.
Typical installation locations or point-of-uses include:
- After the dryer or filter: To ensure proper air treatment and verify dry, clean air.
- At critical usage points: Directly at machines or processes with high purity requirements.
- In contact with products: Wherever compressed air comes into contact with products, contamination can lead to quality defects.
Strategic placement ensures maximum efficiency and prevents costly damage from contaminated compressed air. Our experts at SUTO iTEC are happy to assist you in finding the best test solution for your application. Our local partners around the world are there to provide direct audit services.
Measuring Principles of the Oil Vapor, Particle and Dew Point Sensors at SUTO iTEC
Oil Vapor Sensors
The oil vapor sensors (like S120, S600, S601) use photoionization detector (PID) technology. UV light ionizes hydrocarbons in the compressed air, allowing real-time measurement of oil vapor. This enables reliable detection of oil contamination, a critical parameter that can only be removed using activated carbon.
Particle Counters
The particle counters (e.g., S130, S132, S600, S601) apply laser optical measurement. A focused laser beam detects particles through light scattering, measuring their quantity and size according to ISO 8573-1 and ISO 8573-4.
Dew Point Meters
Dew Point Meters (e.g., S520, S220, S601) use advanced humidity sensors based on Polymer and QCM (Quartz Crystal Microbalance) technology. Polymer sensors offer fast response and stability for standard applications, while QCM sensors ensure high accuracy at very low dew points. Together, they provide precise determination of moisture levels and verify dryer performance to ensure compliance with ISO 8573-1 humidity classes.
Find the Right Compressed Air Testing Instrument
SUTO iTEC – Your expert for compressed air quality testing
- Real-time monitoring: Detects contamination instantly.
- Accurate sensors: Provides reliable air quality data.
- Simple operation: User-friendly software for easy integration
- Seamless integration: Compatible with existing systems
- ISO 8573-1: Measuring instruments for the determination of particle, moisture and residual oil content as defined in the standard.
With SUTO iTEC’s compressed air test equipment, businesses can maintain compressed air and gas purity, reduce downtime, and improve efficiency.
Looking for the most suitable compressed air testing instruments to test your system? Contact our team, we’ll help you choose the right solution.
