B&ES updates clean ductwork guide
3rd July 2014
UK: The Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) has published an update to its Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems good practice guide.
The newly updated edition of TR/19 incorporates reference to the new British and European Standard BS EN 15780 Ventilation for Buildings – Ductwork – Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems introduced in 2011, and for the first time, highlights the current best practice for ensuring that kitchen extract systems are maintained to minimise the risk of fire associated with grease accumulation, (a subject not covered by BS EN 15780).
Commenting on the new document, B&ES President Bruce Bisset said: “The internal cleanliness of ventilation systems is vital for human comfort and health, energy consumption, system service life and for cleanliness of operation or processes carried out in the ventilated area. As such, the guiding principle of this document is that a defined, measurable level of cleanliness should be achieved.
“The guide places a clear responsibility on the designers to ensure proper maintenance of building systems – crucial for the safe operation of occupied spaces – and to conform to workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations, in particular when compliance failure from inadequately cleaned systems can heighten the risk and spread of fire.”
Since its inception in 1998, this guide has been widely accepted within the building services sector and by the UK insurance industry as the standard to which ventilation systems should be cleaned.
The guide can be used for new builds, upgrades and maintenance of ventilation systems and will directly benefit users of the indoor environment as well as specifiers and consultants.
