Suitable ventilation has been and always will be vital for our survival, which is no surprise that the regulations surrounding this in the workplace and at home are so strict. Every building has structural features to allow the flow of purified air, including windows and doors, some with additional ventilation units installed.
In this blog, we discuss the safety regulations for keeping and maintaining a ventilation system and when to arrange an inspection.
What Regulations Are There to Ensure Safety in the Workplace?
The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 is one of the most prominent strategies for keeping workers safe. These regulations educate employers on correct ventilation rules and protect employees at risk of irresponsible air conditioning system maintenance and neglect. These regulations only apply to businesses operating an air conditioning system with an output of over 12 kilowatts.
The government regulations also state: Under regulation 6 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations, employers must ‘ensure that a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air ventilates every enclosed workplace’.
Why are Air Conditioning Inspections Required?
Air conditioning inspections serve many purposes, benefiting the system and its owner.
For example, when an inspector checks the system, they will be able to highlight areas that can be improved, such as out-of-date parts and suggest a timeframe to look at replacing these in. This generally applies to much older, less efficient or oversized systems that can cause an unnecessary financial strain on an owner.
The maintenance inspections will ultimately result in the system creating a healthy and comfortable environment for the space’s occupants, limiting the amount of harm caused by escaping refrigerant gases. This also ensures that the safety of the equipment being used is up to scratch for its duties.
When Should Inspections Take Place?
Due to their importance in keeping everybody safe, the regularity of the inspections should be at least every five years. If your system is older, it’s suggested that five-year inspections should be the absolute minimum.
Below is the recommended guidance as per the government regulations:
- For all systems first put into service on or after 1 January 2008, the first inspection must have occurred within five years of the date the system was first put into service.
- For other air conditioning systems, where the effective rated output is more than 250kW, the first inspection must have occurred by 4 January 2009.
- For other air conditioning systems, where the effective rated output is more than 12kW, the first inspection must have occurred by 4 January 2011.
Who is Responsible for Ensuring Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems are Safe?
The responsibility of ensuring that ventilation and air conditioning systems are safe is down to the owner. Whether this is the homeowner or property manager, the system owner should always ensure that the maintenance is up-to-date and there are no unresolved faults.
Detailed inspection reports should be retained so a specialist can read them at any given moment. Should there be a fault with the system, the detailed report can provide insight as to whether these issues were raised at the time of the inspection or whether or not this is a new fault that has arisen.
Air conditioning and Ventilation services from Accurate Mechanical Services.
At Accurate Mechanical Services, we are professionals at providing domestic and commercial ventilation services such as installation and maintenance. Contact us today to find out how we can take care of your ventilation system.