Every year, millions of people in offices, schools, hospitals and homes across the UK rely on ventilation and air conditioning systems to provide them with a supply of clean fresh air.
Where mechanical ventilation is provided, the system needs to be maintained in efficient working order, this includes cleaning as appropriate.
When undertaking cleaning work, it is important to ensure that the tools and processes used are appropriate for the ventilation system to be cleaned. To support all the professionals involved, including maintenance managers and cleaning contractors, we recently asked the National Association of Air Duct Specialists UK (NAAD UK) to carry out an independent assessment of how best to clean and maintain ductwork fabricated from the pre-insulated Kingspan KoolDuct System. In this article, we’ll take a look at their recommendations and how to determine when a ventilation system needs cleaning.
What risk does a poorly maintained Ventilation System pose?
Ventilation and air conditioning systems feature a wide range of components such as air handling units (AHU), filters, dampers, ductwork, grilles and diffusers. All these need regular checks as dust and debris within the system can affect the quality of the indoor environment served by the system.
For example, dust can collect in all components, inside return air/intake ductwork, and even in supply air ductwork if filters are not maintained correctly. With neglect these deposits may eventually contaminate the air supply with odours and provide a breeding ground for mould, mildew and microorganisms, particularly if the air within is humid. All these factors can contribute to so called ‘sick building syndrome’ and cause health problems. Deposits in the ventilation system can also represent a fire risk, so it is important to keep them in check.
It is generally recommended that, rather than setting a cleaning schedule for ductwork and ventilation equipment, facilities managers instead create an inspection schedule so they can determine when cleaning is necessary.
