A clear understanding of the importance of workplace exposure limits, the COSHH regulations and the Health and Safety Executives EH40 is essential for all UK businesses and those responsible for workplace safety if they are to safeguard the health of their employees and maintain regulatory compliance in this important area of occupational hygiene.
The importance of fan coil unit maintenance together with regular ductwork cleaning cannot be stressed too highly when you consider that a failure to keep coils clean or simply replace air filters can increase operating costs by as much as 25%. That’s before you start to take in to account any reductions in heating or cooling performance, the inconvenience of increased breakdowns, higher reactive maintenance costs, and the impact on indoor air quality and the health and wellbeing of building occupants.
Managing formaldehyde’s impact on indoor air quality is important in both the workplace and at home. Research has shown that exposure to a number of volatile organic compounds including acetone, toluene and formaldehyde can affect the health and well-being of building occupants to varying degrees depending on several factors. This guide looks specifically at the use of formaldehyde within the built environment, common health concerns, and exposure levels both at work and in the home. It goes on to consider what practical steps can be taken to reduce its impact and the benefits of indoor air quality testing.
Developing a good indoor air quality plan that follows the BREEAM environmental assessment and rating system can help businesses manage their construction and refurbishment planning processes to ensure they create better, healthier workspaces for their staff and others through the careful selection and use of suitable building materials, appropriate heating and ventilation, and other equipment.
In this practical guide the indoor air quality specialists at WTS look at techniques for identifying and investigating sick building syndrome or SBS in offices and other workplace environments. The guide looks at what SBS is and what symptoms to look out for, key factors known to be associated with the syndrome, techniques for investigating SBS, and what steps can be taken to prevent it in the future.
In this expert guide the indoor air quality specialists at WTS consider the use of LEV airflow indicators and how they can be used to manage ventilation performance, maintain air quality and improve environmental safety. The guide looks at why airflow monitoring is important and how best to achieve it, Local Exhaust Ventilation testing and what to do if things go wrong.
Specialist air and ventilation hygiene solutions.
WTS is a leading UK air hygiene and environmental engineering services company offering expert ventilation ductwork cleaning, disinfection and maintenance services for all commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); air duct distribution and kitchen extract systems.
All our duct cleaning contracts are carried out by experienced air hygiene specialists, strictly in accordance with the latest industry standards including BESA TR19 dealing with the internal cleanliness of ventilation systems, and BS EN 15780 to ensure all required regulatory and insurance standards are met.
With improvements to indoor air quality, reduced levels of airborne contamination, better working environments, fewer health and safety risks, and opportunities to increase operating efficiencies, it’s clear that there are significant benefits to be gained from maintaining the cleanliness of your ventilation ducts and air handling systems.
Our specialist ventilation duct cleaning, disinfection and air hygiene solutions offer a number of important benefits including:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained technicians and air hygiene specialists, we can offer professional ventilation ductwork cleaning and disinfection solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact WTS today to learn how our HVAC, air conditioning and kitchen extract ventilation solutions can help you. To speak with one of our experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
HVAC installations, air conditioning and kitchen extract ventilation systems are now commonplace in many business premises and business owners, directors, property and facilities managers have a legal obligation to maintain them properly to minimise airborne contamination and reduce health and safety risks. Having a regular programme of air duct cleaning and maintenance won’t just fulfil your legal obligations, it will also ensure that your HVAC and ventilation systems are working at optimum efficiency.
In the UK the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 fall under the wider Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA) and provide a detailed list of requirements for employers. One of these requirements relates specifically to the ventilation of workspaces. The rules state that business owners, directors and managers need to provide fresh air to their workers, either naturally or by means of mechanical ventilation.
In factories, offices or other indoor environments where the ventilation is provided by a system of mechanical air handling units, fans and air ducts rather than just by opening a window, employers are legally required to maintain, inspect and clean their ventilation systems to ensure they are hygeinic and safe to use. Companies must also keep detailed records to show they are complying with the law.
Commercial kitchens are commonly found in many factories, hospitals, hotels, schools, restaurants and other catering operations. Mechanical fume and grease extract ventilation is used to remove cooking smells and airborne grease, carbon and water vapour from the kitchen, often operating at high temperatures. If regular ductwork cleaning is not carried out, grease and dirt can build up inside the ventilation systems to cause problems such as reduced airflow, foul odours and increased fire risk.
In addition to the general requirements for regular cleanliness, employers and managers of commercial kitchens are also required to consider fire safety issues and must include the ventilation extract systems in their fire risk assessments. This is a specific requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Additionally, the person responsible for the premises must then put in place and maintain suitable precautions to manage and reduce the potential fire risks involved (the fire management plan). If a fire associated with poorly maintained ventilation ducts, filters, screens and fans does occur and it can be proved that you haven’t been cleaning or maintaining the systems as often as required you may find yourself in trouble with the UK safety regulators… there may also be a chance that insurers may refuse to pay out on any claims if you’ve failed to comply with their requirements.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is the name given to a wide range of health issues which can affect workers in indoor environments such as offices. Employees often start to complain of fatigue, irritation or headaches as a consequence of poorly-ventilated buildings and airborne contaminants.
If you’re not maintaining your air conditioning systems or ventilation ducts to the correct standards, this can lead to reduced workplace health and well-being, employee comfort, and attendance and productivity issues. Having employees off sick can lead to increased costs to the business and decreases in efficiency. In severe cases, or in businesses where lots of people are complaining of the same symptoms, business owners may even face investigation and potential prosecution for not taking adequate precautions to protect the safety and health of their employees.
One of the other serious issues which can be caused by damp, dirty, poorly maintained ventilation ducts is the concealed growth of bacteria, moulds and fungi. Ductwork, by its very nature provides the ideal breeding ground for microbiological contaminants, many of which can cause serious health issues for building occupants. As air flows through the ducts it passes over such contaminants and unwittingly acts as a distribution network, spreading airborne pathogens into and around building workspaces.
In healthcare environments such as hospitals and care homes where building occupants are often ill, elderly or immuno-compromised the distribution of airborne infectious diseases via dirty and contaminated ventilation systems can have very serious consequences and must be avoided.
Failing to maintain ventilation ducts which leads to illness, disease or even fire can result in disruptive investigations by the health and safety regulator, and potentially significant fines for companies who are proved to be negligent.
The manufacturers of ventilation equipment will often provide detailed guidance on cleaning methods and frequencies in their operating and maintenance manuals (O&M manuals) and it is recommended that this advice is followed. However, where guidance is not available cleaning schedules can be developed by our air hygiene experts based on a number of site-specific factors which can include:
New or replacement installations should be designed and installed to allow easy access, cleaning and maintenance of components.
During the installation process all ductwork components and equipment should be kept undamaged, clean and free of any construction related debris and other contaminants.
Once the installation is complete a thorough pre-commission inspection should be carried out to ensure the ductwork system is clean and free from misplaced construction equipment, dirt, debris, oils, and other contamination prior to handover and full commissioning of the HVAC installation.
It is important that existing ductwork installations be kept free from dust, dirt, bacteria, mould, fungi and other contaminants that can affect the cleanliness, safety and performance of the system. We recommend that air duct cleaning or replacement should be carried out if any of the following are identified:
It is important that kitchen extract systems are regularly inspected and cleaned to control fire risks caused by the build-up of grease, oils, fats and other contaminants.
TR19, the guide to good practice titled Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems, published by the UK’s Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) gives clear guidance on the requirements for extract cleaning based on cooking methods, estimated volumes of airborne grease, and daily usage of the kitchen facilities.
| Perceived level of grease production | Typical Example | Up to 6 hrs daily use | 6-12 hrs daily use | 12-16 hrs daily use | 16+ hrs daily use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | No significant production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 12 months | 12 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Medium | Moderate production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 12 months | 6 months | 4 months | 3 months |
| High | Heavy significant or continual production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 6 months | 3 months | 3 months | 2 months |
It should be noted that property insurance policies may call for higher cleaning frequencies for grease extract ductwork systems than those identified in TR19. Failure to comply these specific requirements set by the insurers may invalidate any property insurance policies that are in place.
In small mechanical ventilation systems used in private homes or small businesses, manual ductwork cleaning might be the best way of maintaining your ducts. Few businesses or private individuals will have access to the equipment needed to carry out the cleaning themselves however, and most prefer to get air hygiene experts such as WTS in to make sure the job is done professionally.
Most modern buildings have had their ventilation systems installed with on-going maintenance in mind. This means that the duct elements are installed in sections, with access panels at each end.
If other methods of cleaning are impractical, a technician may need to get inside the ventilation ducting and scrub, wash and clean the dirt, dust and grease away. This is often the best way of cleaning ducts which are heavily fouled with grease, as the deposits adhere to the internal surfaces of the ducting and are often very difficult to remove.
It’s important to remember that anyone undertaking this type of work must be properly trained for work in confined spaces, with another technician on standby outside the duct should they run into difficulties. Once cleaned, the interior of the ducting is often treated with a special coating to prevent further grease sticking as readily in the future.
In most cases, pulling on the protective PPE clothing and getting inside the ventilation ducts won’t be necessary. The experienced ventilation duct cleaning specialists at WTS can look at the specifics of your operation, and recommend the best and most cost-efficient cleaning solutions for your needs.
The two most commonly used methods for cleaning industrial ventilation ducting in the UK are the “air hose” and “rotary brush” techniques. Both of these techniques depend on having ventilation ducts in sealed sections with suitable access panels as mentioned above. If you have ventilation ducting in some other configuration, our specialists will be able to advise on the best solution.
One of the most popular ways of cleaning smaller ventilation ducting systems is using a technique which employs an air hose fitted with a diffuser. The air hose and diffuser are inserted into one end of the section of duct being cleaned, and compressed air is then forced through the hose. The noise of the hose thrashing around inside the ducting can become noisy.
The compressed air dislodges any dirt, dust or debris which has built up inside, and this is then drawn into a high-powered vacuum cleaner at the other end of the section.
It’s an effective method on small sections of ventilation ducting, but can be noisy. On larger sections, the hose may move around too much. This could mean that the cleaning isn’t as effective as it might be, and that it might take longer overall as sections have to be cleaned several times.
This duct cleaning method is perhaps the easiest to understand and is very similar to the way traditional chimney cleaning works.
Initially the ducts being cleaned are put under negative pressure to prevent dust and dirt escaping in to the workspace. A high-powered vacuum cleaner is then used at one end of the section being cleaned, but instead of an air hose, a rotary brush is used. The brush is twisted inside the section of ducting to dislodge any dust, dirt or debris, this is then sucked out using the vacuum.
The dust and dirt is fully contained within the vacuum, and although there is some noise, it is less noisy and disruptive than using the air hose method. After treatment, a special air hygiene biocide may be used to deter bacteria and other microorganisms from growing again.
Once the cleaning works are complete the workspace is typically subjected to a minimum ten air changes before people are allowed to re-enter the building.
Going-forward the build-up of dirt, debris, bacteria, moulds, fungi etc. in HVAC equipment and air duct systems can be minimised by ensuring some simple housekeeping measures are followed including:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained technicians and air hygiene specialists, we can offer professional ventilation ductwork cleaning and disinfection solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today for more information or for your FREE, no obligation quote.
More information about our indoor air quality services … here →
A clear understanding of the importance of workplace exposure limits, the COSHH regulations and the Health and Safety Executives EH40 is essential for all UK businesses and those responsible for workplace safety if they are to safeguard the health of their employees and maintain regulatory compliance in this important area of occupational hygiene.
The importance of fan coil unit maintenance together with regular ductwork cleaning cannot be stressed too highly when you consider that a failure to keep coils clean or simply replace air filters can increase operating costs by as much as 25%. That’s before you start to take in to account any reductions in heating or cooling performance, the inconvenience of increased breakdowns, higher reactive maintenance costs, and the impact on indoor air quality and the health and wellbeing of building occupants.
Managing formaldehyde’s impact on indoor air quality is important in both the workplace and at home. Research has shown that exposure to a number of volatile organic compounds including acetone, toluene and formaldehyde can affect the health and well-being of building occupants to varying degrees depending on several factors. This guide looks specifically at the use of formaldehyde within the built environment, common health concerns, and exposure levels both at work and in the home. It goes on to consider what practical steps can be taken to reduce its impact and the benefits of indoor air quality testing.
Developing a good indoor air quality plan that follows the BREEAM environmental assessment and rating system can help businesses manage their construction and refurbishment planning processes to ensure they create better, healthier workspaces for their staff and others through the careful selection and use of suitable building materials, appropriate heating and ventilation, and other equipment.
In this practical guide the indoor air quality specialists at WTS look at techniques for identifying and investigating sick building syndrome or SBS in offices and other workplace environments. The guide looks at what SBS is and what symptoms to look out for, key factors known to be associated with the syndrome, techniques for investigating SBS, and what steps can be taken to prevent it in the future.
In this expert guide the indoor air quality specialists at WTS consider the use of LEV airflow indicators and how they can be used to manage ventilation performance, maintain air quality and improve environmental safety. The guide looks at why airflow monitoring is important and how best to achieve it, Local Exhaust Ventilation testing and what to do if things go wrong.
Specialist air and ventilation hygiene solutions.
WTS is a leading UK air hygiene and environmental engineering services company offering expert ventilation ductwork cleaning, disinfection and maintenance services for all commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); air duct distribution and kitchen extract systems.
All our duct cleaning contracts are carried out by experienced air hygiene specialists, strictly in accordance with the latest industry standards including BESA TR19 dealing with the internal cleanliness of ventilation systems, and BS EN 15780 to ensure all required regulatory and insurance standards are met.
With improvements to indoor air quality, reduced levels of airborne contamination, better working environments, fewer health and safety risks, and opportunities to increase operating efficiencies, it’s clear that there are significant benefits to be gained from maintaining the cleanliness of your ventilation ducts and air handling systems.
Our specialist ventilation duct cleaning, disinfection and air hygiene solutions offer a number of important benefits including:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained technicians and air hygiene specialists, we can offer professional ventilation ductwork cleaning and disinfection solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact WTS today to learn how our HVAC, air conditioning and kitchen extract ventilation solutions can help you. To speak with one of our experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
HVAC installations, air conditioning and kitchen extract ventilation systems are now commonplace in many business premises and business owners, directors, property and facilities managers have a legal obligation to maintain them properly to minimise airborne contamination and reduce health and safety risks. Having a regular programme of air duct cleaning and maintenance won’t just fulfil your legal obligations, it will also ensure that your HVAC and ventilation systems are working at optimum efficiency.
In the UK the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 fall under the wider Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA) and provide a detailed list of requirements for employers. One of these requirements relates specifically to the ventilation of workspaces. The rules state that business owners, directors and managers need to provide fresh air to their workers, either naturally or by means of mechanical ventilation.
In factories, offices or other indoor environments where the ventilation is provided by a system of mechanical air handling units, fans and air ducts rather than just by opening a window, employers are legally required to maintain, inspect and clean their ventilation systems to ensure they are hygeinic and safe to use. Companies must also keep detailed records to show they are complying with the law.
Commercial kitchens are commonly found in many factories, hospitals, hotels, schools, restaurants and other catering operations. Mechanical fume and grease extract ventilation is used to remove cooking smells and airborne grease, carbon and water vapour from the kitchen, often operating at high temperatures. If regular ductwork cleaning is not carried out, grease and dirt can build up inside the ventilation systems to cause problems such as reduced airflow, foul odours and increased fire risk.
In addition to the general requirements for regular cleanliness, employers and managers of commercial kitchens are also required to consider fire safety issues and must include the ventilation extract systems in their fire risk assessments. This is a specific requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Additionally, the person responsible for the premises must then put in place and maintain suitable precautions to manage and reduce the potential fire risks involved (the fire management plan). If a fire associated with poorly maintained ventilation ducts, filters, screens and fans does occur and it can be proved that you haven’t been cleaning or maintaining the systems as often as required you may find yourself in trouble with the UK safety regulators… there may also be a chance that insurers may refuse to pay out on any claims if you’ve failed to comply with their requirements.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is the name given to a wide range of health issues which can affect workers in indoor environments such as offices. Employees often start to complain of fatigue, irritation or headaches as a consequence of poorly-ventilated buildings and airborne contaminants.
If you’re not maintaining your air conditioning systems or ventilation ducts to the correct standards, this can lead to reduced workplace health and well-being, employee comfort, and attendance and productivity issues. Having employees off sick can lead to increased costs to the business and decreases in efficiency. In severe cases, or in businesses where lots of people are complaining of the same symptoms, business owners may even face investigation and potential prosecution for not taking adequate precautions to protect the safety and health of their employees.
One of the other serious issues which can be caused by damp, dirty, poorly maintained ventilation ducts is the concealed growth of bacteria, moulds and fungi. Ductwork, by its very nature provides the ideal breeding ground for microbiological contaminants, many of which can cause serious health issues for building occupants. As air flows through the ducts it passes over such contaminants and unwittingly acts as a distribution network, spreading airborne pathogens into and around building workspaces.
In healthcare environments such as hospitals and care homes where building occupants are often ill, elderly or immuno-compromised the distribution of airborne infectious diseases via dirty and contaminated ventilation systems can have very serious consequences and must be avoided.
Failing to maintain ventilation ducts which leads to illness, disease or even fire can result in disruptive investigations by the health and safety regulator, and potentially significant fines for companies who are proved to be negligent.
The manufacturers of ventilation equipment will often provide detailed guidance on cleaning methods and frequencies in their operating and maintenance manuals (O&M manuals) and it is recommended that this advice is followed. However, where guidance is not available cleaning schedules can be developed by our air hygiene experts based on a number of site-specific factors which can include:
New or replacement installations should be designed and installed to allow easy access, cleaning and maintenance of components.
During the installation process all ductwork components and equipment should be kept undamaged, clean and free of any construction related debris and other contaminants.
Once the installation is complete a thorough pre-commission inspection should be carried out to ensure the ductwork system is clean and free from misplaced construction equipment, dirt, debris, oils, and other contamination prior to handover and full commissioning of the HVAC installation.
It is important that existing ductwork installations be kept free from dust, dirt, bacteria, mould, fungi and other contaminants that can affect the cleanliness, safety and performance of the system. We recommend that air duct cleaning or replacement should be carried out if any of the following are identified:
It is important that kitchen extract systems are regularly inspected and cleaned to control fire risks caused by the build-up of grease, oils, fats and other contaminants.
TR19, the guide to good practice titled Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems, published by the UK’s Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) gives clear guidance on the requirements for extract cleaning based on cooking methods, estimated volumes of airborne grease, and daily usage of the kitchen facilities.
| Perceived level of grease production | Typical Example | Up to 6 hrs daily use | 6-12 hrs daily use | 12-16 hrs daily use | 16+ hrs daily use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | No significant production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 12 months | 12 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Medium | Moderate production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 12 months | 6 months | 4 months | 3 months |
| High | Heavy significant or continual production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 6 months | 3 months | 3 months | 2 months |
It should be noted that property insurance policies may call for higher cleaning frequencies for grease extract ductwork systems than those identified in TR19. Failure to comply these specific requirements set by the insurers may invalidate any property insurance policies that are in place.
In small mechanical ventilation systems used in private homes or small businesses, manual ductwork cleaning might be the best way of maintaining your ducts. Few businesses or private individuals will have access to the equipment needed to carry out the cleaning themselves however, and most prefer to get air hygiene experts such as WTS in to make sure the job is done professionally.
Most modern buildings have had their ventilation systems installed with on-going maintenance in mind. This means that the duct elements are installed in sections, with access panels at each end.
If other methods of cleaning are impractical, a technician may need to get inside the ventilation ducting and scrub, wash and clean the dirt, dust and grease away. This is often the best way of cleaning ducts which are heavily fouled with grease, as the deposits adhere to the internal surfaces of the ducting and are often very difficult to remove.
It’s important to remember that anyone undertaking this type of work must be properly trained for work in confined spaces, with another technician on standby outside the duct should they run into difficulties. Once cleaned, the interior of the ducting is often treated with a special coating to prevent further grease sticking as readily in the future.
In most cases, pulling on the protective PPE clothing and getting inside the ventilation ducts won’t be necessary. The experienced ventilation duct cleaning specialists at WTS can look at the specifics of your operation, and recommend the best and most cost-efficient cleaning solutions for your needs.
The two most commonly used methods for cleaning industrial ventilation ducting in the UK are the “air hose” and “rotary brush” techniques. Both of these techniques depend on having ventilation ducts in sealed sections with suitable access panels as mentioned above. If you have ventilation ducting in some other configuration, our specialists will be able to advise on the best solution.
One of the most popular ways of cleaning smaller ventilation ducting systems is using a technique which employs an air hose fitted with a diffuser. The air hose and diffuser are inserted into one end of the section of duct being cleaned, and compressed air is then forced through the hose. The noise of the hose thrashing around inside the ducting can become noisy.
The compressed air dislodges any dirt, dust or debris which has built up inside, and this is then drawn into a high-powered vacuum cleaner at the other end of the section.
It’s an effective method on small sections of ventilation ducting, but can be noisy. On larger sections, the hose may move around too much. This could mean that the cleaning isn’t as effective as it might be, and that it might take longer overall as sections have to be cleaned several times.
This duct cleaning method is perhaps the easiest to understand and is very similar to the way traditional chimney cleaning works.
Initially the ducts being cleaned are put under negative pressure to prevent dust and dirt escaping in to the workspace. A high-powered vacuum cleaner is then used at one end of the section being cleaned, but instead of an air hose, a rotary brush is used. The brush is twisted inside the section of ducting to dislodge any dust, dirt or debris, this is then sucked out using the vacuum.
The dust and dirt is fully contained within the vacuum, and although there is some noise, it is less noisy and disruptive than using the air hose method. After treatment, a special air hygiene biocide may be used to deter bacteria and other microorganisms from growing again.
Once the cleaning works are complete the workspace is typically subjected to a minimum ten air changes before people are allowed to re-enter the building.
Going-forward the build-up of dirt, debris, bacteria, moulds, fungi etc. in HVAC equipment and air duct systems can be minimised by ensuring some simple housekeeping measures are followed including:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained technicians and air hygiene specialists, we can offer professional ventilation ductwork cleaning and disinfection solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today for more information or for your FREE, no obligation quote.
More information about our indoor air quality services … here →
In this expert guide the air quality specialists at WTS examine the effects of microbiological contamination on indoor air quality and look at the main culprits and what can be done to manage the risks to ensure clean, safe indoor environments can be maintained.
A clear understanding of the importance of workplace exposure limits, the COSHH regulations and the Health and Safety Executives EH40 is essential for all UK businesses and those responsible for workplace safety if they are to safeguard the health of their employees and maintain regulatory compliance in this important area of occupational hygiene.
The importance of fan coil unit maintenance together with regular ductwork cleaning cannot be stressed too highly when you consider that a failure to keep coils clean or simply replace air filters can increase operating costs by as much as 25%. That’s before you start to take in to account any reductions in heating or cooling performance, the inconvenience of increased breakdowns, higher reactive maintenance costs, and the impact on indoor air quality and the health and wellbeing of building occupants.
Managing formaldehyde’s impact on indoor air quality is important in both the workplace and at home. Research has shown that exposure to a number of volatile organic compounds including acetone, toluene and formaldehyde can affect the health and well-being of building occupants to varying degrees depending on several factors. This guide looks specifically at the use of formaldehyde within the built environment, common health concerns, and exposure levels both at work and in the home. It goes on to consider what practical steps can be taken to reduce its impact and the benefits of indoor air quality testing.
Developing a good indoor air quality plan that follows the BREEAM environmental assessment and rating system can help businesses manage their construction and refurbishment planning processes to ensure they create better, healthier workspaces for their staff and others through the careful selection and use of suitable building materials, appropriate heating and ventilation, and other equipment.
In this practical guide the indoor air quality specialists at WTS look at techniques for identifying and investigating sick building syndrome or SBS in offices and other workplace environments. The guide looks at what SBS is and what symptoms to look out for, key factors known to be associated with the syndrome, techniques for investigating SBS, and what steps can be taken to prevent it in the future.
In this expert guide the indoor air quality specialists at WTS consider the use of LEV airflow indicators and how they can be used to manage ventilation performance, maintain air quality and improve environmental safety. The guide looks at why airflow monitoring is important and how best to achieve it, Local Exhaust Ventilation testing and what to do if things go wrong.
Specialist air and ventilation hygiene solutions.
WTS is a leading UK air hygiene and environmental engineering services company offering expert ventilation ductwork cleaning, disinfection and maintenance services for all commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); air duct distribution and kitchen extract systems.
All our duct cleaning contracts are carried out by experienced air hygiene specialists, strictly in accordance with the latest industry standards including BESA TR19 dealing with the internal cleanliness of ventilation systems, and BS EN 15780 to ensure all required regulatory and insurance standards are met.
With improvements to indoor air quality, reduced levels of airborne contamination, better working environments, fewer health and safety risks, and opportunities to increase operating efficiencies, it’s clear that there are significant benefits to be gained from maintaining the cleanliness of your ventilation ducts and air handling systems.
Our specialist ventilation duct cleaning, disinfection and air hygiene solutions offer a number of important benefits including:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained technicians and air hygiene specialists, we can offer professional ventilation ductwork cleaning and disinfection solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact WTS today to learn how our HVAC, air conditioning and kitchen extract ventilation solutions can help you. To speak with one of our experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
HVAC installations, air conditioning and kitchen extract ventilation systems are now commonplace in many business premises and business owners, directors, property and facilities managers have a legal obligation to maintain them properly to minimise airborne contamination and reduce health and safety risks. Having a regular programme of air duct cleaning and maintenance won’t just fulfil your legal obligations, it will also ensure that your HVAC and ventilation systems are working at optimum efficiency.
In the UK the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 fall under the wider Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA) and provide a detailed list of requirements for employers. One of these requirements relates specifically to the ventilation of workspaces. The rules state that business owners, directors and managers need to provide fresh air to their workers, either naturally or by means of mechanical ventilation.
In factories, offices or other indoor environments where the ventilation is provided by a system of mechanical air handling units, fans and air ducts rather than just by opening a window, employers are legally required to maintain, inspect and clean their ventilation systems to ensure they are hygeinic and safe to use. Companies must also keep detailed records to show they are complying with the law.
Commercial kitchens are commonly found in many factories, hospitals, hotels, schools, restaurants and other catering operations. Mechanical fume and grease extract ventilation is used to remove cooking smells and airborne grease, carbon and water vapour from the kitchen, often operating at high temperatures. If regular ductwork cleaning is not carried out, grease and dirt can build up inside the ventilation systems to cause problems such as reduced airflow, foul odours and increased fire risk.
In addition to the general requirements for regular cleanliness, employers and managers of commercial kitchens are also required to consider fire safety issues and must include the ventilation extract systems in their fire risk assessments. This is a specific requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Additionally, the person responsible for the premises must then put in place and maintain suitable precautions to manage and reduce the potential fire risks involved (the fire management plan). If a fire associated with poorly maintained ventilation ducts, filters, screens and fans does occur and it can be proved that you haven’t been cleaning or maintaining the systems as often as required you may find yourself in trouble with the UK safety regulators… there may also be a chance that insurers may refuse to pay out on any claims if you’ve failed to comply with their requirements.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is the name given to a wide range of health issues which can affect workers in indoor environments such as offices. Employees often start to complain of fatigue, irritation or headaches as a consequence of poorly-ventilated buildings and airborne contaminants.
If you’re not maintaining your air conditioning systems or ventilation ducts to the correct standards, this can lead to reduced workplace health and well-being, employee comfort, and attendance and productivity issues. Having employees off sick can lead to increased costs to the business and decreases in efficiency. In severe cases, or in businesses where lots of people are complaining of the same symptoms, business owners may even face investigation and potential prosecution for not taking adequate precautions to protect the safety and health of their employees.
One of the other serious issues which can be caused by damp, dirty, poorly maintained ventilation ducts is the concealed growth of bacteria, moulds and fungi. Ductwork, by its very nature provides the ideal breeding ground for microbiological contaminants, many of which can cause serious health issues for building occupants. As air flows through the ducts it passes over such contaminants and unwittingly acts as a distribution network, spreading airborne pathogens into and around building workspaces.
In healthcare environments such as hospitals and care homes where building occupants are often ill, elderly or immuno-compromised the distribution of airborne infectious diseases via dirty and contaminated ventilation systems can have very serious consequences and must be avoided.
Failing to maintain ventilation ducts which leads to illness, disease or even fire can result in disruptive investigations by the health and safety regulator, and potentially significant fines for companies who are proved to be negligent.
The manufacturers of ventilation equipment will often provide detailed guidance on cleaning methods and frequencies in their operating and maintenance manuals (O&M manuals) and it is recommended that this advice is followed. However, where guidance is not available cleaning schedules can be developed by our air hygiene experts based on a number of site-specific factors which can include:
New or replacement installations should be designed and installed to allow easy access, cleaning and maintenance of components.
During the installation process all ductwork components and equipment should be kept undamaged, clean and free of any construction related debris and other contaminants.
Once the installation is complete a thorough pre-commission inspection should be carried out to ensure the ductwork system is clean and free from misplaced construction equipment, dirt, debris, oils, and other contamination prior to handover and full commissioning of the HVAC installation.
It is important that existing ductwork installations be kept free from dust, dirt, bacteria, mould, fungi and other contaminants that can affect the cleanliness, safety and performance of the system. We recommend that air duct cleaning or replacement should be carried out if any of the following are identified:
It is important that kitchen extract systems are regularly inspected and cleaned to control fire risks caused by the build-up of grease, oils, fats and other contaminants.
TR19, the guide to good practice titled Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems, published by the UK’s Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) gives clear guidance on the requirements for extract cleaning based on cooking methods, estimated volumes of airborne grease, and daily usage of the kitchen facilities.
| Perceived level of grease production | Typical Example | Up to 6 hrs daily use | 6-12 hrs daily use | 12-16 hrs daily use | 16+ hrs daily use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | No significant production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 12 months | 12 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Medium | Moderate production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 12 months | 6 months | 4 months | 3 months |
| High | Heavy significant or continual production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 6 months | 3 months | 3 months | 2 months |
It should be noted that property insurance policies may call for higher cleaning frequencies for grease extract ductwork systems than those identified in TR19. Failure to comply these specific requirements set by the insurers may invalidate any property insurance policies that are in place.
In small mechanical ventilation systems used in private homes or small businesses, manual ductwork cleaning might be the best way of maintaining your ducts. Few businesses or private individuals will have access to the equipment needed to carry out the cleaning themselves however, and most prefer to get air hygiene experts such as WTS in to make sure the job is done professionally.
Most modern buildings have had their ventilation systems installed with on-going maintenance in mind. This means that the duct elements are installed in sections, with access panels at each end.
If other methods of cleaning are impractical, a technician may need to get inside the ventilation ducting and scrub, wash and clean the dirt, dust and grease away. This is often the best way of cleaning ducts which are heavily fouled with grease, as the deposits adhere to the internal surfaces of the ducting and are often very difficult to remove.
It’s important to remember that anyone undertaking this type of work must be properly trained for work in confined spaces, with another technician on standby outside the duct should they run into difficulties. Once cleaned, the interior of the ducting is often treated with a special coating to prevent further grease sticking as readily in the future.
In most cases, pulling on the protective PPE clothing and getting inside the ventilation ducts won’t be necessary. The experienced ventilation duct cleaning specialists at WTS can look at the specifics of your operation, and recommend the best and most cost-efficient cleaning solutions for your needs.
The two most commonly used methods for cleaning industrial ventilation ducting in the UK are the “air hose” and “rotary brush” techniques. Both of these techniques depend on having ventilation ducts in sealed sections with suitable access panels as mentioned above. If you have ventilation ducting in some other configuration, our specialists will be able to advise on the best solution.
One of the most popular ways of cleaning smaller ventilation ducting systems is using a technique which employs an air hose fitted with a diffuser. The air hose and diffuser are inserted into one end of the section of duct being cleaned, and compressed air is then forced through the hose. The noise of the hose thrashing around inside the ducting can become noisy.
The compressed air dislodges any dirt, dust or debris which has built up inside, and this is then drawn into a high-powered vacuum cleaner at the other end of the section.
It’s an effective method on small sections of ventilation ducting, but can be noisy. On larger sections, the hose may move around too much. This could mean that the cleaning isn’t as effective as it might be, and that it might take longer overall as sections have to be cleaned several times.
This duct cleaning method is perhaps the easiest to understand and is very similar to the way traditional chimney cleaning works.
Initially the ducts being cleaned are put under negative pressure to prevent dust and dirt escaping in to the workspace. A high-powered vacuum cleaner is then used at one end of the section being cleaned, but instead of an air hose, a rotary brush is used. The brush is twisted inside the section of ducting to dislodge any dust, dirt or debris, this is then sucked out using the vacuum.
The dust and dirt is fully contained within the vacuum, and although there is some noise, it is less noisy and disruptive than using the air hose method. After treatment, a special air hygiene biocide may be used to deter bacteria and other microorganisms from growing again.
Once the cleaning works are complete the workspace is typically subjected to a minimum ten air changes before people are allowed to re-enter the building.
Going-forward the build-up of dirt, debris, bacteria, moulds, fungi etc. in HVAC equipment and air duct systems can be minimised by ensuring some simple housekeeping measures are followed including:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained technicians and air hygiene specialists, we can offer professional ventilation ductwork cleaning and disinfection solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today for more information or for your FREE, no obligation quote.
More information about our indoor air quality services … here →
A clear understanding of the importance of workplace exposure limits, the COSHH regulations and the Health and Safety Executives EH40 is essential for all UK businesses and those responsible for workplace safety if they are to safeguard the health of their employees and maintain regulatory compliance in this important area of occupational hygiene.
The importance of fan coil unit maintenance together with regular ductwork cleaning cannot be stressed too highly when you consider that a failure to keep coils clean or simply replace air filters can increase operating costs by as much as 25%. That’s before you start to take in to account any reductions in heating or cooling performance, the inconvenience of increased breakdowns, higher reactive maintenance costs, and the impact on indoor air quality and the health and wellbeing of building occupants.
Managing formaldehyde’s impact on indoor air quality is important in both the workplace and at home. Research has shown that exposure to a number of volatile organic compounds including acetone, toluene and formaldehyde can affect the health and well-being of building occupants to varying degrees depending on several factors. This guide looks specifically at the use of formaldehyde within the built environment, common health concerns, and exposure levels both at work and in the home. It goes on to consider what practical steps can be taken to reduce its impact and the benefits of indoor air quality testing.
Developing a good indoor air quality plan that follows the BREEAM environmental assessment and rating system can help businesses manage their construction and refurbishment planning processes to ensure they create better, healthier workspaces for their staff and others through the careful selection and use of suitable building materials, appropriate heating and ventilation, and other equipment.
In this practical guide the indoor air quality specialists at WTS look at techniques for identifying and investigating sick building syndrome or SBS in offices and other workplace environments. The guide looks at what SBS is and what symptoms to look out for, key factors known to be associated with the syndrome, techniques for investigating SBS, and what steps can be taken to prevent it in the future.
In this expert guide the indoor air quality specialists at WTS consider the use of LEV airflow indicators and how they can be used to manage ventilation performance, maintain air quality and improve environmental safety. The guide looks at why airflow monitoring is important and how best to achieve it, Local Exhaust Ventilation testing and what to do if things go wrong.
Specialist air and ventilation hygiene solutions.
WTS is a leading UK air hygiene and environmental engineering services company offering expert ventilation ductwork cleaning, disinfection and maintenance services for all commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); air duct distribution and kitchen extract systems.
All our duct cleaning contracts are carried out by experienced air hygiene specialists, strictly in accordance with the latest industry standards including BESA TR19 dealing with the internal cleanliness of ventilation systems, and BS EN 15780 to ensure all required regulatory and insurance standards are met.
With improvements to indoor air quality, reduced levels of airborne contamination, better working environments, fewer health and safety risks, and opportunities to increase operating efficiencies, it’s clear that there are significant benefits to be gained from maintaining the cleanliness of your ventilation ducts and air handling systems.
Our specialist ventilation duct cleaning, disinfection and air hygiene solutions offer a number of important benefits including:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained technicians and air hygiene specialists, we can offer professional ventilation ductwork cleaning and disinfection solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact WTS today to learn how our HVAC, air conditioning and kitchen extract ventilation solutions can help you. To speak with one of our experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
HVAC installations, air conditioning and kitchen extract ventilation systems are now commonplace in many business premises and business owners, directors, property and facilities managers have a legal obligation to maintain them properly to minimise airborne contamination and reduce health and safety risks. Having a regular programme of air duct cleaning and maintenance won’t just fulfil your legal obligations, it will also ensure that your HVAC and ventilation systems are working at optimum efficiency.
In the UK the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 fall under the wider Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA) and provide a detailed list of requirements for employers. One of these requirements relates specifically to the ventilation of workspaces. The rules state that business owners, directors and managers need to provide fresh air to their workers, either naturally or by means of mechanical ventilation.
In factories, offices or other indoor environments where the ventilation is provided by a system of mechanical air handling units, fans and air ducts rather than just by opening a window, employers are legally required to maintain, inspect and clean their ventilation systems to ensure they are hygeinic and safe to use. Companies must also keep detailed records to show they are complying with the law.
Commercial kitchens are commonly found in many factories, hospitals, hotels, schools, restaurants and other catering operations. Mechanical fume and grease extract ventilation is used to remove cooking smells and airborne grease, carbon and water vapour from the kitchen, often operating at high temperatures. If regular ductwork cleaning is not carried out, grease and dirt can build up inside the ventilation systems to cause problems such as reduced airflow, foul odours and increased fire risk.
In addition to the general requirements for regular cleanliness, employers and managers of commercial kitchens are also required to consider fire safety issues and must include the ventilation extract systems in their fire risk assessments. This is a specific requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Additionally, the person responsible for the premises must then put in place and maintain suitable precautions to manage and reduce the potential fire risks involved (the fire management plan). If a fire associated with poorly maintained ventilation ducts, filters, screens and fans does occur and it can be proved that you haven’t been cleaning or maintaining the systems as often as required you may find yourself in trouble with the UK safety regulators… there may also be a chance that insurers may refuse to pay out on any claims if you’ve failed to comply with their requirements.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is the name given to a wide range of health issues which can affect workers in indoor environments such as offices. Employees often start to complain of fatigue, irritation or headaches as a consequence of poorly-ventilated buildings and airborne contaminants.
If you’re not maintaining your air conditioning systems or ventilation ducts to the correct standards, this can lead to reduced workplace health and well-being, employee comfort, and attendance and productivity issues. Having employees off sick can lead to increased costs to the business and decreases in efficiency. In severe cases, or in businesses where lots of people are complaining of the same symptoms, business owners may even face investigation and potential prosecution for not taking adequate precautions to protect the safety and health of their employees.
One of the other serious issues which can be caused by damp, dirty, poorly maintained ventilation ducts is the concealed growth of bacteria, moulds and fungi. Ductwork, by its very nature provides the ideal breeding ground for microbiological contaminants, many of which can cause serious health issues for building occupants. As air flows through the ducts it passes over such contaminants and unwittingly acts as a distribution network, spreading airborne pathogens into and around building workspaces.
In healthcare environments such as hospitals and care homes where building occupants are often ill, elderly or immuno-compromised the distribution of airborne infectious diseases via dirty and contaminated ventilation systems can have very serious consequences and must be avoided.
Failing to maintain ventilation ducts which leads to illness, disease or even fire can result in disruptive investigations by the health and safety regulator, and potentially significant fines for companies who are proved to be negligent.
The manufacturers of ventilation equipment will often provide detailed guidance on cleaning methods and frequencies in their operating and maintenance manuals (O&M manuals) and it is recommended that this advice is followed. However, where guidance is not available cleaning schedules can be developed by our air hygiene experts based on a number of site-specific factors which can include:
New or replacement installations should be designed and installed to allow easy access, cleaning and maintenance of components.
During the installation process all ductwork components and equipment should be kept undamaged, clean and free of any construction related debris and other contaminants.
Once the installation is complete a thorough pre-commission inspection should be carried out to ensure the ductwork system is clean and free from misplaced construction equipment, dirt, debris, oils, and other contamination prior to handover and full commissioning of the HVAC installation.
It is important that existing ductwork installations be kept free from dust, dirt, bacteria, mould, fungi and other contaminants that can affect the cleanliness, safety and performance of the system. We recommend that air duct cleaning or replacement should be carried out if any of the following are identified:
It is important that kitchen extract systems are regularly inspected and cleaned to control fire risks caused by the build-up of grease, oils, fats and other contaminants.
TR19, the guide to good practice titled Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems, published by the UK’s Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) gives clear guidance on the requirements for extract cleaning based on cooking methods, estimated volumes of airborne grease, and daily usage of the kitchen facilities.
| Perceived level of grease production | Typical Example | Up to 6 hrs daily use | 6-12 hrs daily use | 12-16 hrs daily use | 16+ hrs daily use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | No significant production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 12 months | 12 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Medium | Moderate production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 12 months | 6 months | 4 months | 3 months |
| High | Heavy significant or continual production of grease laden aerosols during normal daily food production operations | 6 months | 3 months | 3 months | 2 months |
It should be noted that property insurance policies may call for higher cleaning frequencies for grease extract ductwork systems than those identified in TR19. Failure to comply these specific requirements set by the insurers may invalidate any property insurance policies that are in place.
In small mechanical ventilation systems used in private homes or small businesses, manual ductwork cleaning might be the best way of maintaining your ducts. Few businesses or private individuals will have access to the equipment needed to carry out the cleaning themselves however, and most prefer to get air hygiene experts such as WTS in to make sure the job is done professionally.
Most modern buildings have had their ventilation systems installed with on-going maintenance in mind. This means that the duct elements are installed in sections, with access panels at each end.
If other methods of cleaning are impractical, a technician may need to get inside the ventilation ducting and scrub, wash and clean the dirt, dust and grease away. This is often the best way of cleaning ducts which are heavily fouled with grease, as the deposits adhere to the internal surfaces of the ducting and are often very difficult to remove.
It’s important to remember that anyone undertaking this type of work must be properly trained for work in confined spaces, with another technician on standby outside the duct should they run into difficulties. Once cleaned, the interior of the ducting is often treated with a special coating to prevent further grease sticking as readily in the future.
In most cases, pulling on the protective PPE clothing and getting inside the ventilation ducts won’t be necessary. The experienced ventilation duct cleaning specialists at WTS can look at the specifics of your operation, and recommend the best and most cost-efficient cleaning solutions for your needs.
The two most commonly used methods for cleaning industrial ventilation ducting in the UK are the “air hose” and “rotary brush” techniques. Both of these techniques depend on having ventilation ducts in sealed sections with suitable access panels as mentioned above. If you have ventilation ducting in some other configuration, our specialists will be able to advise on the best solution.
One of the most popular ways of cleaning smaller ventilation ducting systems is using a technique which employs an air hose fitted with a diffuser. The air hose and diffuser are inserted into one end of the section of duct being cleaned, and compressed air is then forced through the hose. The noise of the hose thrashing around inside the ducting can become noisy.
The compressed air dislodges any dirt, dust or debris which has built up inside, and this is then drawn into a high-powered vacuum cleaner at the other end of the section.
It’s an effective method on small sections of ventilation ducting, but can be noisy. On larger sections, the hose may move around too much. This could mean that the cleaning isn’t as effective as it might be, and that it might take longer overall as sections have to be cleaned several times.
This duct cleaning method is perhaps the easiest to understand and is very similar to the way traditional chimney cleaning works.
Initially the ducts being cleaned are put under negative pressure to prevent dust and dirt escaping in to the workspace. A high-powered vacuum cleaner is then used at one end of the section being cleaned, but instead of an air hose, a rotary brush is used. The brush is twisted inside the section of ducting to dislodge any dust, dirt or debris, this is then sucked out using the vacuum.
The dust and dirt is fully contained within the vacuum, and although there is some noise, it is less noisy and disruptive than using the air hose method. After treatment, a special air hygiene biocide may be used to deter bacteria and other microorganisms from growing again.
Once the cleaning works are complete the workspace is typically subjected to a minimum ten air changes before people are allowed to re-enter the building.
Going-forward the build-up of dirt, debris, bacteria, moulds, fungi etc. in HVAC equipment and air duct systems can be minimised by ensuring some simple housekeeping measures are followed including:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained technicians and air hygiene specialists, we can offer professional ventilation ductwork cleaning and disinfection solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today for more information or for your FREE, no obligation quote.
More information about our indoor air quality services … here →
In this expert guide the air quality specialists at WTS examine the effects of microbiological contamination on indoor air quality and look at the main culprits and what can be done to manage the risks to ensure clean, safe indoor environments can be maintained.