Overview
ISO 23875:2021 - Mining - Air quality control systems for operator enclosures - Performance requirements and test methods - defines universal performance, design, testing, operation and maintenance requirements for air quality control systems fitted to operator enclosures in mining and similar industries. The standard focuses on controlling respirable particulate matter, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and enclosure pressurization to protect operators inside cabins. It provides test methods, monitoring device requirements and recommendations for integrating systems into machine operations. (Gases and vapours that are hazardous outside the enclosure are excluded.)
Key topics and technical requirements
- Performance targets
- Maximum sustained CO2: ambient CO2 + 400 ppm (see Annex A).
- Respirable particulate concentration at start and end of decay test: ≤ 25 µg/m³.
- Respirable particulate decay time: ≤ 120 seconds.
- Minimum sustained pressurization (system powered): ≥ 20 Pa.
- Maximum sustained pressurization: ≤ 200 Pa.
- Engineering design
- Enclosure sealing and structural integrity (ROPS/FOPS interfaces, welds, penetrations) to maintain pressurization.
- Filtration and recirculation system design-filters and housings per referenced filter standards.
- Considerations for operator ingress/egress, field of view, material selection and maintainability.
- Monitoring and alarms
- Requirements for CO2 operator notification systems (both retrofit and OEM provisions).
- Additional monitoring capability recommendations for sustained air-quality assurance.
- Testing and reporting
- Defined test setups, equipment and test methods to verify decay times, particle levels and pressurization.
- Test report content requirements and lifecycle-oriented operation & maintenance instructions.
- Scope limits
- Does not address external toxic gases and vapours - only particulates and CO2 within enclosures.
Practical applications and users
ISO 23875 is directly applicable to:
- OEMs and machine manufacturers designing new operator enclosures.
- Mining operators and fleet managers specifying, procuring or retrofitting cabins to meet occupational air-quality targets.
- Safety, occupational health and environmental professionals implementing exposure controls and compliance programs.
- Testing laboratories and certification bodies performing performance validation and generating test reports.
- Maintenance teams establishing planned maintenance intervals and filter/monitoring replacement schedules.
Typical use cases: retrofitting mobile equipment, specifying cabin air systems in procurement, validating filtration performance, integrating CO2 alarms and creating maintenance/operational procedures.
Related standards
Referenced standards include:
By aligning enclosure design, testing and maintenance with ISO 23875, stakeholders can ensure consistent, measurable protection of operators from respirable particulates and elevated CO2 in mining environments.