High-Performance Air Skid (HPA-75-ENC) — Safety Guidelines – South-Tek Systems

Applies to: High-Performance Air Skid (HPA-75-ENC)

🛑 Read Before Operating: The HPA-75-ENC must only be operated and serviced by personnel who have read and understood the operator manual and this article in full. Failure to follow these safety requirements increases the risk of serious injury or death. All applicable federal, state, and local codes and regulations take precedence and must be observed at all times.

The HPA-75-ENC operates at pressures up to 580 PSI and involves high-voltage electrical systems, rotating machinery, hot surfaces, and compressed air stored in large-volume pressure vessels. The safety guidelines in this article are not exhaustive — they are intended as a baseline reference alongside the operator manual and applicable local regulations. When in doubt, stop work and contact South-Tek Systems before proceeding.

Safety Tag Reference

The following safety tags are affixed to the HPA-75-ENC at relevant locations. Familiarize yourself with each symbol and its meaning before working on or around the equipment.

General Operating Safety

Never start the HPA-75-ENC if a known unsafe condition exists. Tag the unit and render it inoperative by disconnecting the power supply so that others cannot attempt to operate it until the unsafe condition has been corrected. Do not modify the system or operate it beyond its specified pressure, temperature, or speed limits without prior written approval from South-Tek Systems.

Keep all hands, feet, floors, controls, and walking surfaces clean and free from oil, water, and other liquids to minimize the risk of slips, falls, and electrical shock hazards. Wear snug-fitting clothing and confine long hair when working near the compressor, particularly around belts, the flywheel, and other rotating components. Ensure all personnel are clear of the unit before starting.

Make adjustments only when the compressor is stopped. If an adjustment must be verified under running conditions, make the adjustment while stopped, start the compressor to check, then stop again before making any further changes.

Pressure Safety

🛑 Pressurized System Hazard: The HPA-75-ENC stores compressed air at up to 580 PSI in ASME-rated pressure vessels. Sudden release of high-pressure air can cause serious injury or death. Never work on pressurized components. Always fully depressurize before opening any fitting, plug, connection, or pressure vessel.

Before performing any maintenance or service, switch off the main disconnect, close the outlet isolation valve, and allow all receivers and piping to fully depressurize. Confirm zero pressure on all gauges before opening any connection. Do not remove the oil fill plug or any fitting, valve, tube, or hose connection while the compressor is running or standing by in automatic mode.

Periodically verify that all safety valves are functioning correctly by running the compressor and applying foam solution to each valve body at operating pressure. Safety valves must open and discharge at their marked set pressure. If a safety valve does not operate at its set pressure, stop the compressor immediately and contact South-Tek Systems.

Safety Valve	Location	Set Pressure
LP Receiver Safety Valve	120-gallon low-pressure receiver	13.8 bar (200 PSIG)
HP Receiver Safety Valve	240-gallon high-pressure receiver	40 bar (580 PSIG)
Suction Line Safety Valve	Booster compressor inlet manifold	10 bar (145 PSIG)
Discharge Safety Valve	Booster compressor discharge line	42 bar (609 PSIG)

🛑 Safety Valve Tampering Prohibited: Never adjust, override, or break the seal on any safety valve. Safety valves are factory set and sealed. Never replace a leaking or failed safety valve with a plug — this eliminates the only protection against catastrophic overpressure and will result in serious injury or death. Return failed valves to South-Tek Systems for reconditioning.

Keep all persons away from the discharge opening of hoses, tools, and accessories during depressurization. Do not use compressed air above 7 bar (101 PSI) for blow-cleaning purposes without appropriate personal protective equipment. Drain condensate from the purifier daily, as accumulated condensate accelerates internal corrosion of pressure vessels and filter housings.

Electrical Safety

All electrical inspection, wiring, installation, maintenance, and repair must be carried out by a licensed and certified electrician only. Although this manual addresses electrical topics for informational purposes, the actual hands-on work must never be performed by unqualified personnel.

Keep the compressor, hoses, tools, and all personnel at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from overhead power lines, electrical panels, and underground cables. Maintain dry footing and stand on insulating surfaces when working near exposed electrical components. Keep all conductive objects away from live terminals.

Verify that the ground wire is connected and the grounding circuit is intact before energizing the system. An inadequate ground allows fault current to flow through the enclosure — contact with an ungrounded enclosure during an electrical fault can cause serious injury or death.

Inspect all electrical wiring regularly. Replace any wiring showing cracked, cut, abraded, or degraded insulation, and any terminals that are worn, discolored, or corroded. Keep all terminals clean and tight. Disconnect and tag the power supply before any repair or cleaning work — tag the disconnect to prevent unexpected restart by others.

⚠ Automatic Restart Hazard: When the AirMaster Q2 is in automatic mode, the compressor can start without warning at any time. Before performing any maintenance, inspection, or service — including tasks that do not appear to involve moving parts — press Stop, turn off the main disconnect, and apply a lockout/tagout device. Do not rely on the Stop button alone to prevent restart.

Moving Parts Safety

The HPA-75-ENC drive assembly includes a flywheel, V-belts, and motor pulley that present a serious entanglement hazard. Keep hands, arms, loose clothing, and long hair away from all rotating components at all times. Never attempt to operate the compressor with the canopy cover or belt guard removed at the flywheel side.

Before performing any belt inspection, tension check, or belt replacement, stop the compressor completely, disconnect and lockout/tagout the main power supply, and confirm the flywheel has come to a complete stop. Do not reach into the belt and flywheel area while the unit is energized under any circumstances.

Hot Surfaces

Cylinder heads, discharge pipes, intercooler and aftercooler surfaces, and compressed air hoses reach high temperatures during operation and remain hot for a significant period after shutdown. Avoid contact with any of these surfaces during and after operation. Wear heat-resistant gloves and a protective hat when working on or around the compressor. Keep a first aid kit accessible — do not ignore minor burns or cuts as they can lead to infection.

Fire and Explosion Prevention

Clean up oil spills immediately. Shut off the compressor and allow it to cool before adding or draining oil. Keep all sources of ignition — sparks, open flame, and smoking materials — away from the unit during oil-related work. Do not allow oil film, anti-icer compound, or any other combustible substance to accumulate on internal or external surfaces of the compressor. Clean with an aqueous industrial cleaner or steam as required. Never use flammable solvents for cleaning.

Do not spray volatile materials into the compressor air intake — this can cause serious internal damage and may result in fire, explosion, injury, or death. Keep oil rags, trash, leaves, and other combustibles away from the unit at all times. Keep a BC or ABC rated fire extinguisher accessible while operating or servicing the compressor.

🛑 No Volatile Intake Contamination: Never allow solvent vapors, aerosols, flammable gases, or volatile substances to enter the compressor air intake. The HPA-75-ENC is not rated for use in potentially explosive atmospheres unless specifically certified for that purpose. Verify the installation environment is free from flammable vapor sources before operating.

Toxic and Irritating Substances

Do not use compressed air from the HPA-75-ENC for breathing air applications. This system is not designed or equipped as a breathing air supply. The lubricants used in this compressor are synthetic oil — avoid skin contact and accidental ingestion. Wash with soap and water after skin contact. If oil is ingested, seek prompt medical attention. Operate the compressor only in well-ventilated areas.

Lifting and Transport

The HPA-75-ENC weighs 5,000 lbs. All lifting equipment, rigging, slings, chains, and supporting structures must be rated for at least this capacity and inspected prior to each use. Position forklift forks fully under the skid base with adequate fork spacing. Keep the unit no more than 4 inches (10 cm) above the ground during transport. Do not allow the unit to swing or shift while suspended — use guide ropes to control movement. Keep all personnel clear from under and around the suspended load. Never leave the unit suspended unattended.

Set the unit down only on flat, level surfaces capable of bearing the full 5,000 lb load. Do not run the compressor while it remains on its shipping pallet.

Warranty and Compliance

The HPA-75-ENC is warranted for two years from the date of delivery. The warranty is valid only when the system is properly installed, wired, operated, and maintained in accordance with the operator manual. The following conditions will void the warranty.

Condition
Non-compliance with operator manual installation and operating instructions
Installation on an unstable, uneven, or inadequate surface
Installation or operation in conditions not compliant with applicable occupational safety regulations
Use of parts not manufactured or approved by South-Tek Systems
Modification of operating parameters by unauthorized third parties
Failure to perform scheduled maintenance at required intervals
Repairs or interference by parties other than authorized South-Tek service personnel or distributors
Removal of compressor identification nameplates
Force majeure events

In the event of a warranty claim, provide the compressor serial number and a copy of the original invoice in all communications with South-Tek Systems. Transport costs associated with returning the compressor to the factory for warranty service are the responsibility of the customer.

Contact South-Tek Systems

Phone: (910) 415-1880

Email / Ticket: support@southteksystems911.zendesk.com

Symbol	Meaning	Required Action
Read Instruction Manual	Operator manual must be read and understood before use	Do not operate until the manual has been read in full
Use Headphones	Continuous noise levels may exceed permissible limits	Wear hearing protection when working near operating equipment
Hot Surface — Do Not Touch	Cylinder heads, discharge pipes, and intercooler surfaces reach dangerous temperatures during operation	Wear heat-resistant gloves. Allow equipment to cool before contact.
Earthing	Grounding connection required for safe operation	Verify ground wire is connected and secure before energizing
Electric Hazard	High voltage present — risk of electric shock or electrocution	Only licensed electricians may work on electrical components
Can Start Automatically	System may start without warning when in automatic mode	Disconnect and lockout/tagout power before any maintenance
Moving Parts	Belts, flywheel, and pulleys present entanglement hazard	Never operate with canopy panels removed at flywheel side