Adequate and effective ventilation is critical to the health, safety and wellbeing of building occupants. Poorly maintained ventilation systems can also pose a significant fire safety risk.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides detailed guidance on how to comply with its Approved Code Of Practice ACOP L24 Workplace (Health, Safety And Welfare). It states that mechanical ventilation systems (including air conditioning systems) should be regularly and properly cleaned, tested and maintained to ensure that they are kept clean and free from any risk of contamination.

The starting point for planning necessary maintenance work required for your ventilation system is a survey and risk assessment. For most facilities surveys are required every 2 years (reference BS EN 15780:2011 Ventilation for buildings — Ductwork — Cleanliness of ventilation systems) although some facilities, including Healthcare, require them every 12 months.

Airmec has a team of experienced ventilation system surveyors who can undertake your surveys and risks assessments, provide a condition report and recommendations on appropriate maintenance regimes. The survey may include measuring dust levels within systems as well as sampling for both bacteria and fungi, or other pollutants, as required.

Airmec surveyors are also experienced in undertaking Healthcare facility ventilation system inspections and verifications in accordance with the requirements of Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises.

Reviewing poor building ventilation
In some instances, it might be necessary to test and monitor the indoor environment served by these systems by undertaking an Indoor Air Quality survey. The key tests generally associated with this are;
• Temperature
• Relative humidity
• Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide
• Airborne sampling for bacteria and fungi
• Sampling for dust and particle counting

Employers have a duty of care to control exposure to hazardous substances. It is particularly important to regularly review the air quality in industrial, commercial, and public premises where employees may be exposed to micro-organisms, gas vapours, dust or smoke. Equally important is the supply of fresh air and to ensure this rate does not fall below 5 to 8 litres per second, per occupant.

Using the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE Guide B & KS17), BSRIA, Building bulletin 101 (Education) we can review any results obtained in line with these guidelines in order to make recommendations.

If you would like us to assess your ventilation please call us on 01454 275050 or Email: enquiries@airmec.co.uk