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Topics Issue 4 |
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Topics Issue 4 |
The maintenance of a healthy and comfortable indoor environment is essential to any business, for the sake of the staff, the productivity of the operation and to comply with Health and Safety at Work legislation. Clause 33 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires all mechanical ventilation, including air conditioning, to be regularly inspected, cleaned and maintained to ensure that no contaminants are introduced into the air supply.
The Approved Code of Practice relating to this Regulation came into effect for new and modified buildings on 1st January 1993 and for existing installations on 1st January 1996.
Towerite's Ductwork Assessment service is designed to provide peace of mind to building operators by ensuring all necessary steps are taken to meet the requirements of this code.
Even when incoming and recycled air is filtered, there is a gradual build-up of particles in any ductwork system, forming a surface coat made up of several constituents. The majority of these contaminants are inorganic particles but they also include organic components ie bacteria and fungi. It is this fungal component that represents the greatest threat to health.
The normal operatimg temperatures and humidities in ventilation ductwork come close to providing ideal conditions for fungal growth. Several of the species commonly found in neglected ductwork have been identified as potential health hazards.
There is strong evidence to suggest that conventional particulate filters, if they are not regularly maintained, can become a reservoir of absorbed odours which may then be re-introduced into the airstream.
Codes of Practice are not legal requirements but failure to comply with them can be used in criminal proceedings as proof of contravention of a regulation to which they apply. The Regulations that relate to ductwork contamination are:
Towerite believe that the most important first step towards complying with the new codes of practice is to carry out a full and detailed Risk Assessment of ductwork and indoor air quality. The Risk Assessment service includes visual inspection, reports and photographic evidence. The need for cleaning and the results to be achieved are based on surface and airborne measurements using contact plates. Airborne fungi tests are also carried out in supply ducts and offices. The high quality of initial inspection and testing will ensure that the customer is not only complying with legislation, but may well avoid the unnecessary expense of a full ductwork cleaning programme if results show it is not absolutely necessary.
