CO monitor and Air Filter

If you Company need to follow OSHA requirements, then YES! OSHA needs CO to be monitored. There is a requirement for "Carbon Monoxide In Workplace Atmospheres". You may ask a Safety Engineer for additional information. CO generated by the compressor also depends on the condition of the compressor as well.

Regarding your second question. Is your air filter rated for CO filtering? ask your air filter supplier, and find out how to determine the replacement interval in different CO levels or air contamination levels. You will eventually come back to a CO monitor at the long last.

CoCoE (

Thanks CocoE.

Co is generated in Oil lubricated compressors. If you switch to Centrifugal compressors for breathing air you avoid this problem. If you are using piston or rotary screw compressors you have to monitor or scrub for Co.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

Berkshire,

Thanks for your input.

We are using diesel engine compressor.

I would like to have more detail info about Oil Lubricated compressor and centrifugal compressor.

There must be some engineering explanations why we do not need CO monitor if we are using centrifugal compressor.

Syah

It does not matter what the power plant for the compressor is as long as the exhaust is led away from the intake of the compressor.
The problem arises from the compressor burning some of its own lubricating oil, by dieseling as the air is compressed. Piston type compressors are the worst offenders at this. Rotary screw compressors not so much, however their discharge can be laden with oil mist, most, BUT NOT ALL, is taken out by the internal filters of the compressor.
Centrifugal compressors do not use oil in their systems so cannot generate Co or Co2 , they also do not generate the pressures that the other types of compressors do, so they require larger hoses for the same amount of air. Good practice dictates that any breathing air compressor intake is clear of any contaminates such as exhaust or paint overspray.
Bottom line unless you are using a centrifugal compressor, you need to filter for oil and carbon dust with a breathing quality air filter if you are using supplied air to your painters and sandblasters. You can use separate airlines for your paint spray and sand blasting lines with filters dependent on the quality of air you need. All of this information is detailed in OHSA., and European health and safety guidelines.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.