Now that the school term is well underway, more and more people in the UK are going back to work outside their own homes. As workplaces are made Covid-ready, there are obvious areas of focus. These, of course, include socially distancing desks, avoiding pinch points in busy communal spaces, and strict surface cleaning regimes. But no less important is the issue of air hygiene. And for FM companies with a wide range of facilities, this can be difficult to deliver. In this blog, we look at how our air hygiene cleaning, testing and compliance services can help.
Maintaining the highest standards in air hygiene
In modern buildings, air hygiene is a crucial concern for FM professionals. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations create a legal obligation that all enclosed workplaces are ventilated with fresh, purified air. Where mechanical ventilation is provided, it must be inspected, cleaned and maintained at regular intervals. There are a host of relevant regulations, whether that’s the TR19 standard or the BS9999:2017 kitemark.
For FM companies, especially those with a range of different facilities, it makes sense to outsource this work to the specialists. React’s dedicated air hygiene team is highly experienced and skilled in the cleaning of all ductwork systems, Fire Damper testing and indoor air quality surveying. With coverage across England and Wales, we work with FM companies of all descriptions and in all types of building. We complete all work in accordance with the legal requirements, to ensure our clients are fully compliant.
FM companies with kitchen facilities need to focus on air hygiene
One particularly important area of air hygiene is kitchen extract and ducting systems. Poorly maintained kitchen grease extractors can severely undermine air hygiene standards. Moreover, failure to inspect and clean extract systems regularly can result in them becoming a fire risk. It’s not uncommon for systems laden with grease to ignite. An organisation’s buildings insurance may be invalidated if it has failed to carry out regular inspection and cleaning of grease extract systems.
Many FM companies will have kitchen facilities on-site, whether that’s full-service kitchens or cook-chill facilities. Our team successfully inspect and clean all grease extractor systems, helping clients remain compliant with BESA TR19, Fire Officers and Insurers. We will happily work with any FM company which uses kitchen extract and ducting systems to agree regular inspection and cleaning programmes, reducing Health and Safety risk.
Compliance counts when it comes to Fire Damper testing
Another key area of focus for our air hygiene team is Fire Dampers. These play a crucial role in the prevention of fires within ductwork systems – and again, FM companies can outsource the testing to us. We will inspect and test Fire Dampers in accordance with BS 9999:2017. It is a stipulation of the industry standard that all Fire Dampers should be drop tested, cleaned and maintained every twelve months as a minimum. Once again, we work with FM companies of all sizes to institute regular inspection and cleaning schedules and meet all regulatory requirements.
Even at the best of times, air hygiene is an issue which FM companies need to look after. At a time when we’re all more aware than ever about the air that we breathe, it’s doubly important. With React’s specialist air hygiene team on board, everyone can get reassurance. And FM companies can make air hygiene part of the measures they take to keep workplaces Covid-safe.
To find out more about our air hygiene cleaning, testing and compliance services for FM companies, contact one of the team today.
Telephone: 01283 550 503
Email: info@reactplc.co.uk
Website: www.reactsc.co.uk
Post by Shaun D. Doak
Shaun is the CEO of React Group plc., a business dedicated to specialist cleaning, hygiene and decontamination. He is deeply committed to making sure that every one of our company’s clients receives the highest possible level of service. An expert in HVAC and commercial and industrial cleaning methodologies, Shaun has extensive experience in the facilities management and renewable services sector.