Compressor air quality

[Rollie]

Hi Again

Yet another question but this one is about air quality. I was back tracking reading some of the past threads and many of you have discussed the quality of air offered in certain facilities throughout Ontario and the Z180 thing. Has there ever been an air quality issue in Ontario were air has killed a diver I don't ever think there has been, so why is it such a big issue for some. Processed air today is no better than the air processed back in the 7o's, and isn't it the gases we mix with air thats more important and those who mix it..

Rollie

 

[Doppler]

Hi Again

Yet another question but this one is about air quality. I was back tracking reading some of the past threads and many of you have discussed the quality of air offered in certain facilities throughout Ontario and the Z180 thing. Has there ever been an air quality issue in Ontario were air has killed a diver I don't ever think there has been, so why is it such a big issue for some. Processed air today is no better than the air processed back in the 7o's, and isn't it the gases we mix with air thats more important and those who mix it..

Rollie

Rollie: I simply want to point something out to you that may not be immediately evident. The deeper one dives, the greater the partial pressure exerted by all component gases, and while the level of impurities in a gas may be acceptable at 1 ata or even at 2 or 3 ata, things may be less benevolant at 4, 5, 7 and so on...

I would therefore suggest that all divers -- but especially ones diving deep and / or staying longer -- need to be cautious when "buying" air, helium, and oxygen.

 

[Groundhog246]

On what basis do you say it's no better today than the 70's? We have more accurate air testing available, synthetic compressor oils and products like ceramic pistons for compressors. Things have indeed changed and for the better. Of course, none of it helps if the operator doesn't take care and doesn't test air.
One point, the Z180 standard allows for 1ppm for hydrocarbons and the modified Grade E standard for diving air is 0.5ppm (the regular Grade E standard is 5ppm).

 

[Rollie]

On what basis do you say it's no better today than the 70's? We have more accurate air testing available, synthetic compressor oils and products like ceramic pistons for compressors. Things have indeed changed and for the better. Of course, none of it helps if the operator doesn't take care and doesn't test air.
One point, the Z180 standard allows for 1ppm for hydrocarbons and the modified Grade E standard for diving air is 0.5ppm (the regular Grade E standard is 5ppm).

I don't and don't have to base it on anything, I simply asked since there has never been a death caused by bad air in Ontario, why do all you divers mostly shop owners and shop cronies on this board bash back and forth on this topic. I will give you one thing synthetic oils are less toxic.1ppm or 0.55ppm neither has killed and never will.
Pollutants in diving air is generally due to poor technical and and low consciousness maintenance by the shop owner. In any doubt, you can refuse to fill you air tank. Some forms of contanimation can be detected by a powerfull instrument: your nose.



Rollie

 

[jonnythan]

...and never will.

Dangerous words.. always beware of them.

 

[Rollie]

Att: Groundhog246

I'm not sure what kind of compressor your thinking about , but they don't use ceramic pistns in any high pressure compressor.

Rollie

 

[SeanQ]

I don't and don't have to base it on anything,

So why do shop owners and "cronies" have to provide a basis for debating air quality?

1ppm or 0.55ppm neither has killed and never will.

Perhaps that is true. Complacency, however, does kill. If history has taught us anything that would be it.

Some forms of contanimation can be detected by a powerfull instrument: your nose.

This is a highly unreliable way of testing for contaminates. Would you buy air (or anything) from a shop that won't guarantee the air they sell is clean because their quality control employee has a cold? I doubt it.

 

[derwoodwithasherwood]

In the interests of accuracy, Z180 applies to things like mining and asbestos removal. It expressly (in the standard and in the regulations) does not apply to diving air. There is no requirement or standard (in Ontario) for recreational diving air. There is a standard for commercial diving air, Z275.2. It's requirements for air quality are:

Contaminant Concentration

Carbon monoxide 5 ml/m3*

Carbon dioxide 500 ml/m3

Methane 25 ml/m3

Non-methane hydrocarbons 1 ml/m3

Nitrogen dioxide 0.3 ml/m3

Nitrous oxide 2.5 ml/m3

Trichlorotrifluoroethane
Dichlorodifluoromethane 5 ml/m3
combined

Chlorodifluoromethane 5 ml/m3

Oil, particulates, and condensates 1 mg/m3

Water (a) The dewpoint at line
pressure must be at
least 5°C (9°F) below the
minimum temperature to
which any part of the
breathing-air system is
exposed at any season
of the year.
(b) Under no circumstances
can the dewpoint exceed
53°C for systems at or
above 12.4 MPa (1800 psi).

Odour Free of any detectable odour.



I leave you to debate the merits of breathing untested air. Personally, I prefer a quality control program that includes periodic testing. Some things cannot be detected by odour (eg: Carbon Monoxide) and others cannot be detected by odour until it's already too late (eg: Chlorodifluoromethane). But I don't care what lab conducts the actual testing -- that should be the choice of the operator.