PHAM NEWS | JUNE 2026 30 Training& Education


Reaching for a better standard


With a new, fully-equipped facility and a fresh approach to training, Zehnder is determined to help raise installation standards within the HVAC sector. Training manager Adam Finley looks at some of the issues that need to be addressed and how the company aims to provide a better understanding of ventilation and thermal comfort.


building, yet it remains one of the most inconsistently delivered elements of construction. Today, we still see widespread issues caused by poor installation, inadequate commissioning and a lack of ongoing maintenance – contributing to damp, mould, poor indoor air quality and avoidable health impacts. So often, ventilation and


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thermal effi ciency are delivered inconsistently because of a lack of standardised training and education across the board. Without a fundamental knowledge and expertise for professionals to build on, it becomes extremely diffi cult to ensure consistency, accountability or quality across the industry. That is why training is so crucial. For starters, ventilation and


heating systems only perform optimally if they are designed, installed, and commissioned correctly and then regularly maintained. With mechanical ventilation specifi cally, products are now more technologically advanced so need expert installations and accurate system design from the outset. A perfectly manufactured


product can leave the factory but if then installed badly and not commissioned right, it will fall short of expectations. Not only will the end user be frustrated by the lack of return on their investment, but people’s health and wellbeing are also at risk. Yet time and time again, we are


seeing unqualifi ed tradespeople installing these systems. Without clear defi nitions around what constitutes a ‘competent’ professional in ventilation design, installation and commissioning, there is a real risk that standards fall short in practice. That said, this is not a blame


game. Continuing to point the fi nger at installers for faulty ductwork or end users for not


entilation and thermal effi ciency are critical to the health, effi ciency and longevity of a


key principles across indoor air quality, thermal comfort and overall indoor climate. In my role as training manager,


my team and I are aligned on one simple goal: to build a new gold standard for the industry through a standardised, expert- led approach to training. Where many training facilities


in the sector are, in eff ect, product showrooms, we are taking a diff erent approach with a blended curriculum of practical, hands-on training and classroom-based learning. While our products provide the learning platform and familiarity, the focus is on developing a broad, transferable understanding of ventilation and indoor climate principles. Once armed with that knowledge, it can then be applied across projects, sectors and applications. A shining example of this


Adam Finley Zehnder Academy training manager


changing their fi lters regularly enough won’t solve the skills gap or lack of education. The industry lacks a national


Part of the issue is that training has not kept up with the pace of change in the industry, which has changed dramatically over the past 20 years


 The new Zehnder Academy, based in Camberley, Surrey, provides an opportunity for industry professionals to gain a better understanding of ventilation and indoor climate principles


qualifi cation and we must seek to develop a standardised approach to training and education to ensure industry professionals are aligned on best practices to give ventilation and heating systems the best chance of performing optimally and meeting expectations every time.


More complexity Part of the issue is that training has not kept up with the pace of change in the industry, which has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. In the past, ventilation, in its simplest form, was a fan in a box. Today, those box fans have evolved to be sophisticated pieces of technology with features like digital controls, airfl ow calculations, and zoning. What


was once easy to understand and fi t has now become a specialist and complex set of challenges to get right. To add to the mix, we fi nd


a vast array of tradespeople from pipework engineers to electricians being asked to install and commission ventilation and heating systems to save time and budget on builds (new and refi t) because there are simply not enough specialist mechanical and electrical (M&E) contractors who are ventilation qualifi ed and can do the job. Without standardised training


across the industry, these issues are only exacerbated by the lack of consistency across design, installation, commissioning and maintenance. If no one is singing from the same hymn sheet, the performance gets ugly, fast. As an industry, we need to come


together to address this problem openly and honestly. It will take a collaborative approach bringing together developers, industry associations and government, and working together to achieve a common goal.


New facility To address this problem head on, we recently launched the Zehnder Academy, a training facility at our UK headquarters in Camberley, Surrey. Our mission is to train HVAC industry professionals across the four key areas I have already mentioned: design, install, commissioning and maintenance – as well as


is ‘Flat 51’, a fully functional apartment that sits at the heart of our facility. Complete with working heating, plumbing and ventilation systems, including a kitchen, shower room and living space, it provides a realistic environment to explore ventilation and thermal comfort in everyday use. Here, participants can work


through scenarios such as moisture control, airfl ow balance, commissioning challenges and fault-fi nding in occupied spaces. Training is designed to show how ventilation behaves in real buildings, how it interacts with other building services, and how decisions made during design, installation, commissioning and maintenance can aff ect long-term performance. We are playing our part in


leading the development of training standards for the industry, but we can’t do it alone. If we are going to build a truly gold standard of training excellence to upskill our industry, we need everyone to take part. To anyone who wants to join our journey, our door is always open. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/626/33


CUT TO THE CHASE


 Without clear defi nitions of competency there is a real risk that standards will fall short


 There are not enough specialist ventilation installers to meet demand


 The new Zehnder Academy offers both hands-on training and classroom-based learning


 The Academy includes a working apartment to explore how ventilation works in real environments


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