BSEE-MAR22-PG26.qxp_Layout 1 22/02/2022 10:20 Page 26
BSEE
FOCUS: HEATING & VENTILATION Future compliance – coming in the air
We now have a recognised specification for kitchen extract cleaning
compliance in the form of TR19 Grease. Gary
Nicholls, managing director of Swiftclean, looks at how this came about and what might be in the air for future ductwork compliance
n 1998, the combined expertise of a number of ductwork cleaning experts, including Swiftclean, together with the HVCA, (now the BESA) led to the publication of TR17. This was the first time that industrywide guidance on ductwork hygiene had been issued, heralding the beginning of a best practice approach to regular ventilation ductwork cleaning, and introducing the concept of compliance.
I
TR17 was followed, in 2005, by the first version of TR/19, which was itself revised and re-issued as a second edition, in 2013. Both versions of TR/19 stressed the importance of regular ductwork cleaning. The second edition introduced classification of ductwork systems as high, medium and low, according to the specific purpose that they served and provided convenient tables laying out the frequencies with which systems should be cleaned, according to classification and usage.
In 2019, a further revision was announced. For the first time, the cleaning and compliance of kitchen extract systems was enshrined in a new document, TR19 Grease, which introduced a new, mandatory specification for regular cleaning and removal of the flammable grease deposits which arise from normal cooking activities. TR19 Grease was formed by lifting out section 7 of the previous TR/19 document and giving it standalone status. This was essential, as there has been a lingering perception that for a kitchen extract system to represent a fire hazard, it must be heavily laden with fat, oil and grease deposits. The reality is that a thin film of grease forms a very real fire hazard; which is why TR19 Grease requires that the grease layer must be controlled within an average of 200 microns – about half the depth of a standard business card. The arrival of TR19 Grease has also been welcomed by insurance companies, who now almost
26 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MARCH 2022 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
universally expect it to be complied with. Failure to comply with TR19 Grease is often cited as the reason for not paying out on a policy following a fire in a non-compliant system. TR19 was also reissued without section seven, and is itself now under a further review process. With a specification now established for kitchen extract compliance, attention is now turning to indoor air quality, which has been thrown into even sharper focus following the recent Coronavirus pandemic. We expect that a new specification, probably known as TR19 Air, will be issued in the near future, most likely towards the end of 2022.
Indoor air quality is now prominent as an issue, not just for the building services industry. A review of ventilation system hygiene, on which indoor air quality in a great number of commercial properties and social housing will depend, is therefore very timely.
If we are to solve the conundrum, we must certainly ensure that ventilation systems are delivering clean air through effective ductwork cleaning and good hygiene. Often the forgotten poor relation in terms of ongoing maintenance in a vast array of buildings, ventilation hygiene must move higher on the agenda for buildings and facilities managers. The creation of TR19 Air, based not only on the vast experience of the BESA, but also on the combined expertise of ventilation hygiene specialists should be a great first step towards ensuring better indoor air quality in the future. We fully expect that TR19 Air, like TR19 Grease, will also recommend using competent technicians trained to BESA recognised levels, and provided by a member of the BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite (VHE) scheme.
The recent pandemic has highlighted once again the tension between providing sufficient fresher air circulation for indoor air quality and the need to reduce domestic fuel bills and lower carbon footprints. Opening windows frequently in the depths of winter will not serve as a long-term solution for providing better quality indoor air.
What is essential, is that ventilation systems are designed and installed with the need for compliance with TR19 on an ongoing basis. If we get these principles right, we can all look forward to a healthier future.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
