Compressed Air Quality Standards for Food Manufacturing: ISO 8573 Explained

Introduction to Compressed Air Quality Standards

Compressed air is a critical utility in food processing and manufacturing, influencing product safety, packaging, and equipment integrity. To ensure its purity, international standards such as ISO 8573, ISO 12500, and ISO 7183 are followed. These air quality standards define how compressed air is classified and tested for contaminants including water, oil, and solid particles—all of which directly impact food safety and product quality.

The most used standard is the ISO8573 Series and in particular ISO8573-1:2010. The ISO air quality standard measures three types of contaminants present in compressed air: water, oil content, and solid particles. It does not consider microorganisms and gases. 

Why Is Compressed Air Quality Important in Food Processing?

Compressed air, when untreated, contains:

• Dust and solid particles
• Water (liquid or vapor)
• Oil aerosols and vapors

In food factories, poor air quality can lead to product contamination, equipment failure, and production losses. High-purity compressed air ensures:

• Safe packaging and sealing
• Compliance with food safety standards
• Longer equipment life
• Fewer product rejections

For food processing consultants and food industry consultants, ensuring air quality compliance is a top priority.

Classification of Compressed air quality

Compressed air is the only utility created by the end user of all the key utilities used in the food manufacturing setting. This means that the end-user has a direct impact on the quality of this energy source.

 High-quality compressed air is essential for producing food that is not only cost-effective to process but also safe to consume. Therefore, choosing the appropriate compressed air equipment for food processors is in the best interests of everyone. The basis for choosing air treatment products is made much easier by the ISO 8573 air quality standards and ISO 12500 compressed air filter standards.

What is ISO 8573 & how it defines different air purity classes? 

ISO 8573 is the international standard for compressed air quality. It categorizes air purity based on:

• Solid particles (A)
• Water/humidity (B)
• Oil content (C)

The most referenced part is ISO 8573-1:2010, which defines purity classes and contamination limits. Other parts describe testing methods:

• ISO 8573-2 to 9 cover methods for oil aerosols, humidity, solids, gas, and microbial content.

This above standard also determines air quality, which is designated by the following nomenclature: Compressed Air Purity Classes A, B, C:

Where:

A= Solid particle class designation

B= Humidity and liquid water class designation

C= Oil class designation

What does Class 0 mean for air quality?

Class 0 is the highest level of compressed air purity, used in critical applications such as:

• Food and beverage production
• Pharmaceutical processing
• Packaging operations

Class 0 does not mean zero contamination, but rather minimal contamination below Class 1 limits. It requires advanced filtration and drying systems, chosen based on the type of contaminants present.

Conclusion:

Maintaining the correct compressed air quality is essential in any food processing facility. ISO 8573 provides a standardized framework to classify and measure air purity. Whether you're a food consultant, manufacturing consultant, or plant engineer, ensuring Class 0 or compliant air standards is key to product safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.

Reference

https://www.atlascopco.com/en-in/compressors/air-compressor-blog/air-quality-standards-in-compressed-air-treatment

http://www.parkerstore.jp/phj/catalog/pdf/english_ex/ISO_Air_quality_standards/ISO_Air_quality_standards.pdf