osha air compressor safety valve pricelist

An OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES should be placed immediately after the air control shut off valve and before the hose on a compressor, and after each discharge port that a hose is connected to.

Before starting the compressor the air control valve should be closed completely. When the compressor unloads, open the air shut off control valve very slowly. Full port ball valves tend to work better than gate or butterfly type valves.

The air shut off control valve must be fully open for the OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES to work. Some portable air compressor manufacturers recommend start-up with the air control valve slightly open. In this case you may have to close the valve and reopen it slowly to the full open position, or wait for the safety shut-off valve to reset itself.

If the OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES fails to operate despite meeting all condi-tions, check the hose line for obstructions or a hose mender restricting normal air flow.

• Turn on air supply slowly (to avoid tripping OSHA safety valve). Prior to fully reaching operation conditions, the OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES should suddenly activate and stop air flow.

• If the OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVE is not activated the unit should be disconnected and the lower flow range OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES should be used. This means you need to use a different valve with a lower scfm range.

• At temperatures below 40°F ensure that OSHA COMPRESSED AIR SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVES are not subject to icy conditions which may prevent proper functioning.

Thank you for your letter dated January 31 concerning your constituent, Mr. James Lyle McCloy II, President of Compressed Air Parts Company. Mr. McCloy is concerned about the lack of enforcement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of its rules requiring safety check valves on compressed air equipment. I apologize for the delay of this response.

As Mr. Roy Gurnham of my staff discussed with Mr. Mark Staudohar of your office in mid-February when he called to explain we could not meet with Mr. McCloy at the time, OSHA continues to recognize the need for safety check valves and is concerned that accidents have occurred because such valves were not provided as required. We will remind our compliance officers of the importance of this provision and that their inspections should include a review of such equipment as appropriate.

As you may be aware, the State of Arizona is responsible for occupational safety and health enforcement within the State under a plan approved and monitored by Federal OSHA. Under its plan, Arizona adopts standards identical to those promulgated by Federal OSHA and utilizes equivalent enforcement procedures. If your constituent wishes to discuss safety and health enforcement in Arizona, we suggest that he contact the Arizona industrial Commission at the following address:

The enclosed information is sent for your consideration. Please investigate this matter and forward to me the information for response to my constituent, Mr. James Lyle McCloy II, President of Compressed Air Parts Company.

Introducing our product in mid 1972, with several other manufacturers, sales were quite brisk and the Department of Labor was very active insuring compliance. Since early 1976 enforcement has been very `spotty". As of this time only ourselves and one other manufacturer are still providing valves to meet Federal Regulations. Fortunately we have been the primary source.

Recently we were dismissed from a One Million Dollar ($1,000,000) product liability suit in which it was determined that the air compressor in use was not equipped with a safety check valve as required. This incident took place on a Federally funded Interstate bridge repair contract. Also, there is currently a multi-million suit concerning the lack of a safety check valve (actually there was a valve on the compressor but was removed for unknown reasons). In that case a worker has a severe head injury and has been in a nursing home for two years and cannot recognize his family.

*OSHA 29 CFR 1926.302(b)(1): Pneumatic power tools shall be secured to the hose or whip by some positive means to prevent the tool from becoming accidentally disconnected.  Additionally 1926.302(b)(7) states:  All hoses exceeding ½-inch inside diameter shall have a safety device at the source of supply or branch line to reduce pressure in case of hose failure.

The check valve should be the same diameter as the hose that will be used, do not increase or decrease the hose size from the compressor or manifold after the check valve is installed.  Do not use a check valve of a different size to reach a desired SCFM cut off range.

Per Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) use Lead free parts in all consumable water applications.  Lead free refers to the wetted surface of pipes, fittings and fixtures in potable water systems that have a weighted average lead content = 0.25%. Source: California Health & Safety Code (116875). Vermont Act 193*171NLF

OSHA valve is a safety device that shuts off air flow to hose in case of excess pressure. Provides safety to the operator and surroundings. Made of heavy-duty steel. Use with 3/4’’ diameter hoses and 185-210 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air pressure.

OSHA Standard 1910.242(b) discusses the use of compressed air for cleaning and blowoff. It states that the use of compressed air for cleaning purposes is prohibited if the dead-ended pressure exceeds 30 psig. This phrase means the downstream pressure of the air nozzle or gun, used for cleaning purposes, will remain at a pressure level below 30 psig for all static conditions. In the event that dead ending occurs, the static pressure at the main orifice shall not exceed 30 psi. If it does exceed this pressure, there is a very high potential for it to create an air embolism. An air embolism, left untreated, can quickly impede the flow of blood throughout the body. This can lead to stroke, heart attack, and sometimes death. Take a look at the animation below to see how an air embolism can affect the body.

With this in mind, there are only two options for staying within compliance of this standard. Either install an engineered solution that will reduce the air pressure to less than 30 psig if dead-ended, or regulate the pressure below 30 psig. For the vast majority of operations, regulating the input pressure below 30 psig is useless. The force and flow from the nozzle at this pressure is greatly reduced and likely not enough to be effective in most applications. All of EXAIR’s Safety Air Guns are designed so that the flow cannot be dead-ended. The fins on the Super Air Nozzles are not only useful in amplifying the force by drawing in ambient air, but they also prevent an operator from completely obstructing the airflow.

In addition to being concerned about dead-end pressure, OSHA 1910.242(b) also states that compressed air used for cleaning should include effective chip guarding. By this, they mean that some method or equipment must be installed that will prevent chips and particles from coming back into the eyes or skin of the operator. In addition to offering OSHA compliant nozzles and guns, EXAIR also has Chip Shields that can be installed onto any of our Safety Air Guns. The polycarbonate shields protect the operator from any flying debris while performing a drying or blowoff operation. Simply add a “-CS” to the end of any Safety Air Gun Model number to have a Chip Shield installed on the gun.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 does not contain any provisions that allow for the approval or endorsement of equipment. Alteration or the misapplication of what was once a safe piece of equipment would create a dangerous scenario that is out of the control of the original manufacturer. Any nozzles or guns marketed as “OSHA approved” should immediately throw up a red flag. Identifying and implementing a safe, OSHA compliant solution rests in the hands of the manufacturer themselves. If you’ve got questions about compressed air safety or have an existing blowoff in place that does not adhere to this OSHA directive, give us a call. We’ll be sure to recommend a solution that will keep your operators and wallets safe!

OSHA Standard 1910.242(b) discusses the use of compressed air for cleaning and blowoff. It states that the use of compressed air for cleaning purposes is prohibited if the dead-ended pressure exceeds 30 psig. This phrase means the downstream pressure of the air nozzle or gun, used for cleaning purposes, will remain at a pressure level below 30 psig for all static conditions. In the event that dead ending occurs, the static pressure at the main orifice shall not exceed 30 psi. If it does exceed this pressure, there is a very high potential for it to create an air embolism. An air embolism, left untreated, can quickly impede the flow of blood throughout the body. This can lead to stroke, heart attack, and sometimes death. Take a look at the animation below to see how an air embolism can affect the body.

With this in mind, there are only two options for staying within compliance of this standard. Either install an engineered solution that will reduce the air pressure to less than 30 psig if dead-ended, or regulate the pressure below 30 psig. For the vast majority of operations, regulating the input pressure below 30 psig is useless. The force and flow from the nozzle at this pressure is greatly reduced and likely not enough to be effective in most applications. All of EXAIR’s Safety Air Guns are designed so that the flow cannot be dead-ended. The fins on the Super Air Nozzles are not only useful in amplifying the force by drawing in ambient air, but they also prevent an operator from completely obstructing the airflow.

In addition to being concerned about dead-end pressure, OSHA 1910.242(b) also states that compressed air used for cleaning should include effective chip guarding. By this, they mean that some method or equipment must be installed that will prevent chips and particles from coming back into the eyes or skin of the operator. In addition to offering OSHA compliant nozzles and guns, EXAIR also has Chip Shields that can be installed onto any of our Safety Air Guns. The polycarbonate shields protect the operator from any flying debris while performing a drying or blowoff operation. Simply add a “-CS” to the end of any Safety Air Gun Model number to have a Chip Shield installed on the gun.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 does not contain any provisions that allow for the approval or endorsement of equipment. Alteration or the misapplication of what was once a safe piece of equipment would create a dangerous scenario that is out of the control of the original manufacturer. Any nozzles or guns marketed as “OSHA approved” should immediately throw up a red flag. Identifying and implementing a safe, OSHA compliant solution rests in the hands of the manufacturer themselves. If you’ve got questions about compressed air safety or have an existing blowoff in place that does not adhere to this OSHA directive, give us a call. We’ll be sure to recommend a solution that will keep your operators and wallets safe!

It depends. Cal/OSHA requires a permit if the air compressor tank is 1.5 cubic feet in volume or larger, OR when the safety valve is set greater than 150 pounds per square inch (psi).

However, ALL air compressor tanks (whether over or under the 1.5 cubic feet volume and 150 psi) have to be inspected before they are put into service, to ensure they comply with Cal/OSHA regulations on proper tank material, design, and construction.

ALL air compressor tanks should have a nameplate with the ASME code symbol (a clover leaf with a “U” or “UM”) on the tank to indicate it is in compliance with ASME Code and meets all safety and construction regulations.

Cal/OSHA’s Pressure Vessel Unit is responsible for all air compressor tank inspections and permits.  For more information or to schedule an inspection, they can be contacted either online at capvinsp@dir.ca.gov, or by phone at (510) 622-3066 for the Oakland Office or (714) 567-7208 for the Santa Ana Office.

Yesterday, in response to my Coilhose Redi-Burst pocket air blow gun post, HangFire said: a missed opportunity to describe just what “OSHA Compliant” means in an air gun.

Compressed air used for cleaning. Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.

That’s more or less what I heard before, that the outlets of compressed air blow guns must be reduced below a certain pressure (30 PSI) for safety purposes.

OSHA provides 2 acceptable methods (PDF) in which tools can be compliant with their regulation. The first involves an air pressure reducer that is placed before an air blower nozzle, usually in the air line between compressor and air blower, and the second involves a nozzle with built-in pressure reducer or relief device that reduces the air pressure in case the nozzle is dead ended (blocked).

The intent of the regulation is to allow for proper cleaning operations and to prevent chips and other waste materials from being blown into eyes or skin of the workers which may cause injuries. The design of the orifice and the velocity of the air passing out of the orifice or nozzle shall be such that it will not cause the waste material being cleaned away to be blown into the eyes or skin. Any relief vents or ports shall not be a hazard to the operator.

In another comment to the Coilhose Redi-Burst post, Brett explained OSHA compliance in a way I’ve heard it discussed before, that the reduced pressure is to prevent skin and blood vessel infiltration should an air blow gun be aimed at someone’s body.

Note: You should NEVER EVER use an air blow gun to blow yourself off. Don’t use it on your skin, clothing, or anything of the sort. You could inadvertently lodge particles in your skin, clothing, eyes if you’re not wearing goggles, etc. etc. Do you have an open cut in your hand? Compressed air could force particles into it, causing infection or worse.

Looking at product description of the OTC blow gun that’s shown above, it says it’s designed for an operation pressure of 50 to 235 PSI and that when inlet pressure is 90 PSI, the venting design prevents pressure exceeding 30 PSI if tip becomes blocked. This wasn’t crystal clear to me until I looked at Exair’s explanation.

I should point out that OTC and Exair are not related companies, but the OTC had a related product description and Exair has an informative OSHA discussion page.

Going by the Exair explanation, an air blower or nozzle with relief or reduction valve ensures that, if it’s held against your skin, the full velocity and force of the compressed air won’t be forced into your body. The outlet pressure should not exceed 30 PSI if the air blow gun or nozzle is properly designed to be OSHA compliant.

Okay, so it’s starting to get clearer for me. Some air blow guns, such as this Coilhose model, require that Line pressure must be regulated to 30 PSI or less for rubber tip to be OSHA compliant. Those satisfy OSHA’s first acceptable compliance method. Others have built-in or attachable safety tips that satisfy OSHA’s second acceptable compliance method.

If your air gun doesn’t have a built-in pressure relief, you can buy a safety tip, such as this Guardair attachment via Grainger. I don’t recall seeing any safety nozzle tips that are female threaded to accept additional nozzle attachments.

There is also a great discussion at manufacturing.net, where they interviewed Guardair’s director of engineering. Towards the bottom of the article, there’s an explanation of how these types of safety nozzle tips, with side holes that redirect air in case the front of the tip is dead-ended or blocked, can actually improve air gun performance. They say that the Venturi nozzle design can increase the volume of air exiting the nozzle to boost available thrust by up to 250%.

Oops, this completely slipped my attention, but it makes perfect sense. Thanks to Bernoulli’s principle and the Venturi effect, there will be a pressure drop in the nozzle due to the movement of the high velocity air, causing more air to be drawn into their airflow from the holes on the side. Thus, you will have a greater volume of air passing through the front of the safety air blower nozzle tip, compared to volume or air that enters the inlet of the nozzle tip from your compressor.

Anyway, I think I’ve got a good understanding of OSHA’s air gun safety regulations now. There are also standards that regulate how loud an air gun can be, but maybe that’ll be a discussion for another time.