DUCTWORK & DUCTWORK CLEANING D


evelopment of a national strategy for competence across built environment professions, trades and occupations


may be long overdue but it’s imperative that any competence reform must also address the conditions in which ductwork is designed, procured, installed, commissioned and maintained, rather than focusing only on the competence of individual installers.


The issues at hand


Anyone working in ductwork will know that delivering a compliant system is not always straightforward. Contractors can find themselves trying to meet requirements within physical and commercial constraints that they did not create and can’t control. Then there are the pressures on site. Programmes


can be tight, site conditions may not be ready and preceding works may still be unfinished. Contractors can be asked to install, test or commission systems before essential elements are in place.


Delivery


With the above in mind, competence should not be judged solely on job titles, qualifications or membership of an industry scheme. It should be role specific, supported by practical experience and capable of being demonstrated and assessed. Competent ductwork delivery can depend on:


¡ Demonstrably competent individuals ¡ Organisational capability and competent supervision ¡ Early engagement of ductwork specialists ¡ Complete and coordinated design information ¡ Clear allocation of design and installation responsibilities ¡ Suitable site conditions ¡ Protected testing and commissioning periods ¡ Traceable installation and handover evidence ¡ Contracts that allocate risk to the party able to control it


ADCAS believes competence reform needs to


address the way projects are delivered as well as the competence of individuals. So, what needs to change?


Get specialists involved early


Ductwork specialists should be brought into projects before important decisions are already set in stone. Clients and principal designers should seek input before plant spaces and maintenance access arrangements are finalised. This is important for complex ventilation systems, fire-resisting and smoke control ductwork, fire dampers and smoke control dampers and projects where indoor air quality or energy performance is key.


Design information must be there


Construction should not get underway until contractors have enough coordinated information to manufacture and install the system properly. That includes duct routes, dimensions and levels, structural openings, compartment-boundary details,


14 October 2026


system performance and leakage requirements, fire and smoke classifications, product and installation requirements, inspection and maintenance access, controls and cause and effect interfaces, commissioning criteria and asset identification.


Be clear about who is responsible


Project documentation and contracts also need to make a clear distinction between technical advice, coordination, product selection, delegated design, manufacture and supply, installation, testing and commissioning. A ductwork contractor should not be held responsible for fixing a problem in the underlying design if they do not have the information, authority or control needed. And where something is unclear, an installation method is unsupported or a product is unsuitable, contractors need to be able to stop and raise the issue without facing unreasonable consequences.


In practice


ADCAS supports implementation of the Ductwork Installers Competence Group framework, whose Phase 1 framework was ratified by the Building Services Engineering Skills Partnership in February 2026. Implementation should provide clear routes for qualified workers and those with experience. It should include practical assessment and workplace evidence, task-specific pathways for specialist work, continuing professional development, appropriate CSCS card alignment and requirements around organisational competence and supervision.


Is the site actually ready?


Another relatively simple step could make a big difference - readiness checks. Before ductwork installation starts, principal contractors should confirm that the necessary conditions are actually in place. That means approved information,


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Ductwork as part of a wider national competency strategy


Malcolm Moss, ADCAS President, discusses the development of a national strategy for competence across built environment professions and outlines recommendations for the ductwork sector


suitable access, completed supporting construction, coordinated penetrations, safe working conditions and an agreed sequence with other trades. The same principle should apply to commissioning. Specialist contractors should not be left carrying


the cost or liability when they attend site only to find that these agreed conditions have not been met.


Improved evidence


Good evidence is increasingly important, particularly when work becomes concealed. Records covering design and installation schedules, photographs of concealed work, asset identification, testing results, technical approvals and responsible sign-off, as well as maintenance information, are all recommended. For compartmentation work, the evidence should demonstrate that the component and installation method are appropriate for the relevant compartment construction and required classification. Recording hidden installation details and confirming


that systems remain accessible for inspection and maintenance are also important parts of the picture.


Specialist contracting practices


Tender documentation should clearly spell out whether a contractor is being asked to provide supply only, supply and assist, installation, delegated design or commissioning. Just as importantly, risk needs to sit with the


organisation that can actually manage it. Specialist contractors should not be expected


to take responsibility for the adequacy of the base design, site conditions, programme dependencies or the work of other trades when these things are outside their control. Procurement also needs to look beyond the lowest initial price.


Recognition


Government (as well as clients, principal designers and principal contractors) must recognise that competent installers cannot compensate for incomplete design or unsuitable site conditions, inadequate commissioning time or risks outside their control. A successful national competence strategy must connect individual competence with organisational capability and continuing accountability throughout the building lifecycle. Ultimately, competent ductwork delivery will


require competent people delivering on watertight contracts that support, rather than obstruct, compliant work.


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