Compressed air, compliant with ISO 8573-1:2010 [2:2:2] (pressure dew point –40°C)

What is ISO ISO 8573‑1:2010, the compressed air quality standard?

ISO ISO 8573‑1 is an internationally recognized standard for compressed air quality, specifying the maximum permissible levels of three categories of contaminants: solid particles, water, and oil. The grade designation, such as[2:2:2], corresponds to the limit values for particle contamination, moisture (pressure dew point), and oil content, respectively.

The core requirements of the 2:2:2 grade

• Particle contamination: Maximum particle size ≤ 5 μm; number ≤ 200,000 particles/ m³;
• Moisture: Pressure dew point ≤ – 40°C (that is, under operating pressure, the temperature at which water vapor begins to condense does not exceed – 40°C);
• Oil content: Total oil (liquid, aerosol, and vapor) ≤ 0.1 mg/ m³.

Pressure dew point – 40°C —its significance

A pressure dew point of – 40°C indicates that, after drying, the compressed air exhibits exceptionally strong resistance to condensation under system operating pressure, effectively preventing pipeline icing, valve sticking, and corrosion of downstream equipment. This makes it suitable for demanding industrial environments and precision manufacturing applications.

The application value of clean compressed air

Compressed air meeting the [2:2:2] classification is widely used in cleanliness‑sensitive applications such as electronic assembly, pharmaceutical filling, food packaging, and pneumatic control systems, serving as a critical foundational requirement for ensuring process stability and product consistency.