Are Your Ductwork Systems Regularly Maintained And Ready For Inspection?

Are Your Ductwork Systems Regularly Maintained And Ready For Inspection?

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New rules introduced in the UK in 2009 made it law for inspections to be carried out for all air conditioning systems with a rated output greater than 12kW. The deadline for first inspection of those systems greater than 12 kW but less than 250kW to have their first inspections was 4th January 2011.

By law they must then be inspected every five years, while for new systems installed on or after 1 January 2008, the first inspection must be carried out within 5 years of the installation date and in all cases a copy kept of the inspection report.

All inspections must be done by an accredited energy assessor and the person responsible for ensuring they are carried out on time is whoever controls a building with an air conditioning system affected by the regulations.

The aim of the new law was to improve the efficiency and reduce electricity consumption, operating costs and carbon emissions and from the viewpoint of the building\'s owner the inspections make sense because they are likely to reduce energy costs if the inspection identifies defects that can be corrected. Even if the system is regularly maintained and working properly that does not necessarily mean they are as energy efficient as they could be.

The country's Trading Standards offices are responsible for ensuring that the inspections have been carried out on time and they can impose fines on any organisations that do not comply. They must also enforce the associated Display Energy Certificates and Energy Performance Certificates. They can ask to see the inspection report and if it is not produced within seven days they will be liable to a penalty currently set at £300 and can act on complaints or undertake investigations.

A person issued with a penalty notice can ask for a review and if they disagree with the outcome they can appeal via the County Court within 28 days.

Regular maintenance and cleaning of air duct systems is a good idea for many reasons in addition to ensuring that energy costs are kept as low as possible at a time when prices are rising and businesses are struggling to contain the costs of materials, supplies, petrol and energy.

Building owners and faciities managers also have a duty of care to make sure that the users of the building are working in or using it in the best air quality possible, not only to ensure people are working at maximum efficiency but also to minimise risks of dirty ductwork contributing to either sick building syndrome or the spread of infections.

Air duct cleaning at regular intervals will therefore protect from all types of unnecessary costs as long as it is carried out properly. Using a professional air duct cleaning company will ensure this is all carried out properly, from first inspection to scheduling the work to be done at the least intrusive time for the operations being carried out in the building.

A professional company may also identify any problems with the system, from filters in need of replacement to insufficient access points to do a proper job.

Air duct cleaning methods generally clean in the direction of the airflow, so that a supply system is cleaned right through from the fresh air intakes to the supply diffusers and the return extract is cleaned from the extract grills through to the mixing chamber or discharge. A professional company will use a range of specialised, purpose-designed extraction devices, air jets and brushes to allow the removal of contamination and disinfect where necessary during the cleaning process.

Regular maintenance and cleaning will ensure that the system is in the best possible shape when inspection time comes around.


Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers

About the Author:
To keep systems in good condition when compulsory inspection times come round requires regular air duct cleaning and maintenance. By Ali Withers.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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