Case Study: AvantiGas strengthens air quality compliance with Atlas Copco BAP+ purifier

AvantiGas has enhanced employee safety and breathing air compliance at its LPG vessels refurbishment site near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk after installing an Atlas Copco BAP+ breathing air purifier, supplied and commissioned by Maziak, a branch of Atlas Copco Compressors. Maziak is a compressed air and industrial gas specialist that provides equipment, servicing and system support to manufacturing and processing sites across the region. The upgrade ensures that air supplied to operators working inside the site’s shot blast booth consistently meets the requirements of BS EN 12021 for breathing air quality.

The facility refurbishes LPG vessels for re-use, a process involving shot blasting and repainting. Operators typically wear air-fed blast helmets for extended periods, making reliable breathing air quality essential. AvantiGas had been carrying out quarterly breathing air tests and had historically achieved results comfortably within specification. However, recent test data indicated increasing variability, prompting a review of the filtration system.

Richard Ford, who oversees operations at the site, explained: “Over time we saw carbon dioxide levels edging closer to the upper threshold, even after changing filter cartridges and making adjustments. We needed a solution that would provide a consistent result at every test, not just for a short period after maintenance. Our priority was ensuring that the operator in the blast bay could put the helmet on each day knowing the air they were breathing met the correct standard.”

Following a site assessment, Maziak recommended the installation of an Atlas Copco BAP+ breathing air purifier, a system designed specifically to remove oil vapour, moisture, particulates, fumes and gases from compressed air used for breathing. The multi-stage process includes coalescing filtration, desiccant drying and catalytic conversion to reliably meet breathing air standards.

Installation and commissioning was coordinated by Maziak, with the purifier integrated into the site’s existing compressed air supply. Ford described the implementation as smooth and well supported: “The installation was well handled. Communication was clear, everything was explained, and the engineers worked neatly and professionally. We had complete confidence in the handover process.”

The improvement in air quality was immediate. The first post-installation breathing air test recorded a reading of 0 ppm CO₂, with subsequent tests continuing to return results significantly below the maximum allowable limit. “The outcome was beyond what we anticipated,” Ford said. “The consistency since then has given us a level of assurance that we simply did not have before.”

Unlike basic inline filtration packs, the BAP+ is engineered to deliver a stable level of air purity regardless of fluctuations in ambient air quality or workload. Because the purification takes place in controlled stages and is monitored through onboard indicators, the system reduces the variability that can occur between quarterly test intervals. This gives the site a dependable and repeatable outcome, rather than one that relies on frequent filter changes or operator intervention.

Paul Stanton, Area Sales Manager at Maziak, said the decision to upgrade was driven not only by compliance requirements but by the need for consistency in an environment where an operator may spend several hours a day wearing an air-fed helmet. Ensuring a reliable and repeatable level of air purity reduces risk and avoids disruption. Stanton said: “Breathing air compliance is critical in shot blasting environments. When we reviewed the test data and looked at the operating conditions on site, it was clear that a more robust purification system was the right long-term solution. The BAP+ provides repeatable performance and gives AvantiGas confidence that the air feeding the operator’s helmet meets the required standard every time.”

AvantiGas continues to carry out quarterly breathing air tests as part of its compliance regime and monitors system indicators on the purifier to verify performance. The BAP+ unit provides clear visual alerts for service intervals and any deviation in operating conditions, allowing the team to address issues before they affect air quality. Daily checks are incorporated into routine equipment inspections in the blast bay, ensuring that breathing air performance remains consistent between formal test cycles.

Ford also noted the value of the ongoing relationship with Maziak: “We have worked with Maziak for many years and they have always been responsive, thorough and easy to deal with. The ongoing support gives us confidence that our breathing air set-up will remain compliant and well maintained.”

The project forms part of the site’s ongoing commitment to safe working practices wherever compressed air is used for respiratory protection. As refurbishment volumes have increased in recent years, the company has continued to invest in equipment, monitoring and testing routines to ensure that safety standards keep pace with operational demand. The introduction of the BAP+ adds an additional layer of assurance, providing a stable, certified breathing air supply that does not depend on frequent cartridge changes or variable environmental conditions.