Mobile breathing air for confined space work in Australia

What does a Zone 1 unit let a confined space crew do?

A Zone 1 certified unit can sit inside a defined hazardous area where an explosive atmosphere is likely in normal operation. That means the air supply goes where the work is, rather than being held back at a safe distance and run through long lines.

For confined space entry, tank work, and shutdown operations, that placement matters. The unit can be set at the entry point, close to the crew it serves, under the site's confined space procedure to AS 2865. Shorter supply runs are easier to manage and easier to keep clean.

Why does automatic switchover to emergency air matter?

Automatic switchover means that when the atmosphere around the unit deteriorates, the supply moves to a stored emergency air source on its own, without a person having to notice the change and react to it. The crew inside the space keeps breathing clean air while the situation is dealt with.

In a confined space the margin for a developing problem is small. A supply that fails safe, rather than one that leaves a crew waiting on someone to intervene, is the difference an entry supervisor is looking for.

Is IECEx certification accepted on Australian sites?

In most cases, yes. IECEx certification is directly accepted for hazardous area equipment in Australia, and the AS/NZS 60079 series are adoptions of the IEC 60079 standards the IECEx scheme certifies to. So an IECEx Zone 1 unit is operational as it stands on most sites, subject to the site's own hazardous area verification.

ATEX certification on its own is treated differently. European ATEX marking is assessed case by case for Australian use through a conformity assessment, so a unit that carries IECEx as well is the cleaner path onto a Western Australian site. The Air2Work E-Compressor carries both.

What standards govern the breathing air itself?

The air a worker breathes is covered by AS/NZS 1715 for the selection, use, and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment, and AS/NZS 1716 for the devices themselves. These sit alongside the confined space procedure under AS 2865, not in place of it.

Read together, they set what clean breathing air is, how the supply is maintained, and how the equipment is used. A compliant unit is the start of that, and the site procedure carries the rest.

How does a mobile unit fit a shutdown schedule?

A shutdown moves through a sequence of entries and work fronts over days or weeks. A mobile unit can be positioned per work front and moved as the shutdown progresses, so breathing air availability follows the sequence rather than being fixed to one location.

For a planner, that means fewer fixed points to design around and a supply that travels with the crews. For the crews, it means the air source stays close to the space they are in.

The operational read

For an operator planning a confined space programme, two questions decide whether a breathing air unit belongs on site. Is it certified for the area it will sit in, and does it fail safe when the atmosphere turns. The Air2Work E-Compressor answers both, with IECEx Zone 1 certification and automatic switchover to emergency air.

The Hub is open to operational and technical leaders in the energy and resources sector. Visit pulsetechnologyhub.com.au or email connect@pulsetechnologyhub.com.au to arrange a visit.

Common Questions

What is a Zone 1 breathing air compressor?
It is a breathing air unit certified to operate inside a Zone 1 hazardous area, where an explosive atmosphere is likely in normal operation. That certification lets the unit sit at the work front rather than being kept outside the area. The Air2Work E-Compressor is IECEx and ATEX Zone 1 certified.

Is IECEx certification accepted in Western Australia?
In most cases, yes. IECEx certified equipment is directly accepted for hazardous areas in Australia, subject to the site's own hazardous area verification. The AS/NZS 60079 series are adoptions of the IEC 60079 standards the IECEx scheme certifies against.

What is the difference between ATEX and IECEx for Australian sites?
IECEx is directly accepted in most cases. ATEX marking on its own is assessed case by case through a conformity assessment before Australian use, so a unit that also carries IECEx is the simpler path onto site.

What standard applies to breathing air in confined space work in Australia?
AS/NZS 1715 covers the selection, use, and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment, and AS/NZS 1716 covers the devices. Confined space entry itself is governed by AS 2865.

What does automatic switchover to emergency air do?
It moves the supply to a stored emergency air source when the atmosphere around the unit deteriorates, without the crew having to notice and react. The people in the space keep breathing clean air while the problem is handled.

Can a mobile breathing air unit be used for tank and shutdown work?
Yes. A mobile unit can be positioned at each work front and moved as a shutdown progresses, which suits tank entry and shutdown sequences where the work location changes.

Who represents Air2Work in Australia?
Pulse represents Air2Work in Australia. An operator with a confined space programme can reach Pulse to see a unit or arrange a visit to the Hub.