How Do You Know Your Ductwork Has Been Properly Cleaned?
Copyright (c) 2010 Alison Withers
Air duct systems in buildings where there are large numbers of people need to be as clean and free of potential viruses as possible, whether the people using the buildings are employees, visitors or perhaps patients, school children or frail elderly residents.
Facilities managers often employ specialist cleaning services to take care of their ventilation systems and ventilation hygiene but how do they know whether the job has been done properly?
If the ductwork is working hard to keep the air clear in a busy commercial, school or hospital kitchen then it is going to need more frequent cleaning using different techniques from the ductwork in an office, for example.
As Health and Safety standards on air quality in buildings become more strict it makes sense to ask about the training of employees of the specialist company that is going to carry out ventilation cleaning. Ductwork can be old and the technology may have changed. The activities carried out in the building can also make a difference.
Some companies take training and regular updating of employees on the latest technology and methods seriously and it is a question that perhaps should be asked of any new company being considered for a contract.
There are companies in the UK that specialise in the training, to the standards of the European School for Ductwork Cleaning Hygiene, run by NVQ approved instructors and offering a comprehensive course on every conceivable aspect of duct cleaning.
One of the issues a comprehensive course should cover is why the job needs to be done properly. Reasons can range from the need to prevent the risk and spread of infection in a residential care home, hospital or school, to the need to provide a clean, breathable atmosphere in any building as the numbers of people with breathing difficulties or allergies continue to climb.
They provide hands-on experience of how to carry out various jobs, such as how to cut and fit access panels, using CCTV to inspect systems, overcoming obstacles such as turns in the pipework and dampers and how to check fire dampers. None of these are details a facilities or building manager needs to know but they would want to be sure that the people carrying them out knew what they were doing.
Cleaning companies use any number of different pieces of equipment to carry out air duct cleaning. They include machines fitted with rotary brushes, vacuum suction equipment, traditional hand scraping and chemical spray equipment. If the work is being carried out while the building is in use it makes sense to have proper risk assessments carried out, but also to check that the equipment itself is well maintained and its users understand how to make sure that it is used in such a way that is safe for passers by - such as making sure there are no trailing electrical wires or damaged plugs.
Any chemicals being used also need to be safe for used and once used any residues should be properly disposed of. Whoever uses the services of a cleaning company that has trained its employess properly and issued them with recognised certificates of competence will have peace of mind that the company's activities are going to be thorough, safe and effective.
Questions and Answers
A workplace ducted air system controlling heat and air quality is only as good as its maintenance and regular cleaning programme.
Risk assessments to identify potentially hazardous substances that could affect workplace air quality and regular attention to ventilation cleaning are an essential part of good health and safety strategies.
It is well known that clean, fresh air in buildings is the key to safe, comfortable and efficient working conditions, and that contaminated air is a common cause of Sick Building Syndrome. Inevitably all air duct systems become fouled over a period of time. However it is possible to deal with these issues through a sensible programme of hygiene cleaning.
If you have a central air conditioning strategy, these air tubes are distributed evenly in the course of your home. They present the ventilation for your dwelling and so if left unclean could pose quite a few wellness hazards. In addition to, your pricey program could also purpose inefficiently if the air ducts are not cleaned at ordinary intervals. In your yearly house maintenance schedule, you should consist of the cleansing of your air ducts with industrial air duct cleaning gear. ...
Periodic building hygiene deep cleaning can help cut down on staff absence through illness, especially during the winter months when people are more vulnerable to colds and flu.
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