ADVICE & OPINION
COMMENT
CLEARING THE AIR
Britain is in the midst of one of its hottest
years. The warmest February day on record
occurred this year and the hottest temperature
ever in the UK was achieved in July, with the
Met O ice citing 38.7C at Cambridge University
Botanical Gardens.
As the temperatures reached record levels many
o ice workers were likely praising the invention of
air conditioning. But, aside from keeping us cool in
summer and warm in winter, the majority of workers
probably don’t think twice about how the quality of
air in their workspace is maintained. Yet it’s a legal
requirement for managers and building owners to
ensure that any enclosed workplaces are ventilated
with fresh, purified air.
THE HIDDEN CONCERN OF AIR
HANDLING SYSTEMS
Providing clean air to the workplace is generally
achieved using an air conditioning or purification
system – a device that process and distribute large
volumes of air each day. As it does this, it also
collects a significant amount of dust and other
particles which can build-up if not cleaned regularly.
What many people don’t know is that the
accumulation of dirt in ducts and ventilation could
potentially allow harmful bacteria to spread through
the air management system, and potentially lead
to ‘sick building syndrome’. This illness refers to
symptoms you only get while in a particular building,
such as an o ice. While it’s not exactly clear what
causes sick building syndrome, the NHS claims
that poor ventilation and poorly maintained air
14 SEPTEMBER 2019
conditioning systems likely play a part.
In order to keep your air handling systems in top
condition and avoid air contamination, it’s important
they are monitored and cleaned in line with the
guidance set out by regulators.
Depending on the size, location and age of these
systems, this can be easier said than done. In this
piece, we outline what o ice managers need to know
in order to keep their air handling systems clean,
safe, and legally compliant.
RESPONDING AND REACTING TO REGULATION
The guidance that governs air handling system
cleaning in order to comply with workplace
regulations is called TR19. Defined by the Building
Engineering Services Association (BESA) 20 years
ago, TR19 was created as a way to standardise extract
cleaning systems. This has become the standard to
which most insurers and the building engineering
service sector use when performing ductwork
cleaning operations.
The regulation states that ventilation systems
must be frequently cleaned to meet standards set
out by the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare)
Regulation 1992, Section 6. It also requires building
and FMs to keep good records showing evidence that
the ductwork continues to meet the regulations.
COMPLYING WITH TR19
Diligence is key to compliance with TR19. Ducts and
ventilation systems should be monitored, or cleaned
in accordance with the guidelines, preferably by a
professional company, to make the recordkeeping
process even easier.
How o en your ventilation systems need cleaning
depends on its level of usage and the type of
business it operates in. Under TR19 guidelines, heavy
usage operations should be cleaned every three
months. These are typically o ice buildings in a large
city that use their systems between 12 and 16 hours
a day, and as a result, are more likely to get blocked
from the polluted air. Moderate usage operations
are active between 6 and 12 hours a day, and should
be cleaned every six months. For those only using
ventilation systems for 2-6 hours a day, a clean is
advised every 12 months.
The role of specialist technicians is imperative.
They will carry out air handling system monitoring,
most likely by using a piece of equipment called an
Elcometer 456 to measure the levels of dust in the
system. The Elcometer 456 is a thickness gauge with
a scan probe, providing accurate readings of dry
deposit thickness in air handling systems. Once these
readings have been obtained, they are collated into a
detailed, TR19 compliant report.
Images, schematic drawings and recommendations
are also included within this report, which can then
be used as evidence of monitoring and adherence
with recognised standards.
What’s more, specialist technicians will carry out
ventilation and extraction system cleaning services at
times convenient to you, causing minimal disruption
to your business. Where access is limited, they can
also install access panels to ensure that every part of
a vent or duct is reached.
THE BENEFITS
In addition to being legally compliant, an air handling
system cleaned to TR19 standard is more likely to
ventilate fresh air, helping to improve the quality
of air in the o ice which brings significant benefits.
According to a study by Harvard and Syracuse
Universities, higher air quality in o ices has been
shown to improve the productivity of workers in the
buildings by up to 60 per cent, as well as thinking (27
per cent) and health (30 per cent).
Regular cleaning of ventilation systems will also
improve the e iciency of the machinery, helping
to reduce costs associated with its usage and
maintenance. Regularly checking your systems
means you are more likely to identify any issues
before they become di icult to fix.
FINAL WORDS
Even though most of the summer heat may have
passed, businesses still rely on air conditioning
to keep their employees cool and alert during
the working week. Thanks to the regulations
laid out by TR19, the cleaning and maintenance
of air purification and conditioning systems not
only helps to prevent the risk of o ice workers
becoming ill, it also drives productivity. It’s vital
that this responsibility isn’t forgotten about as we
enter Autumn, and that every ventilation system
throughout a premise is TR19-verified.
Jamie Woodhall, Technical & Innovations Manager at Rentokil Specialist Hygiene
with advice on keeping ventilation compliant over the summer and beyond