Timing and procedure for cleaning ventilation chambers and air ducts: an overview of rules and regulations

The ventilation system has a huge impact on human health, since people spend most of their lives in buildings: live in apartment buildings, work in offices or businesses, visit cinemas, museums, large retail complexes. That is why the cleanliness of ventilation must be closely monitored, and the regulated cleaning times for ventilation chambers and air ducts must be strictly observed.

In this article, we will consider in detail the regulatory requirements and rules that relate to the procedure for cleaning ventilation systems, the timing and frequency of these works.

Ventilation cleaning laws

Due to the importance of solving the issue of cleanliness of ventilation, a number of laws, GOSTs and regulations that most clearly regulate the timing, frequency and procedure for cleaning ventilation systems.

It is considered fundamental Federal Law No. 52 of March 30, 1999 "On the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population."

Articles of the Federal Law No. 52 concerning ventilation systems regulate the following:

• All citizens (both individuals and individual entrepreneurs and legal entities) are entitled to Obtaining information on compliance with the statutory rules and regulations that apply to ventilation systems. Also, the law obliges them to assist and take part in carrying out work in order to implement these norms.
• Legislatively defined a range of requirements, the fulfillment of which is mandatory in order to maintain sanitary and epidemiological standards in buildings of all types, where there is a congestion of people.
• Measures and measures to be taken to maintain a healthy indoor environment have been identified.
• The procedure for regulating and monitoring the observance of the cleanliness of ventilation systems by the state is outlined.
• Provides for the onset of civil liability for violation of sanitary and epidemiological legislation and causing harm as a result.

The second most important document is considered Government Decree No. 390, issued on April 25, 2012 "On the fire regime".

In the rules of this document, the articles on ventilation systems prescribe the following to the heads of organizations, owners and tenants of premises:

• use ventilation systems only for their intended purpose, forbidding them to be dismantled or used for storage inside any products, thereby disrupting their normal functioning;
• clean the ventilation using flammable or flammable liquids;
• Ensure proper ventilation and cleaning in accordance with established standards.

A separate article (article 48) defines a number of prohibitions that affect the operation of air ventilation and air conditioning systems.

In particular, it is prohibited to obstruct the ducts, openings or grilles of the hood in any way; make an unauthorized connection to the air ducts of gas heaters; clean the air ducts from dust, fat deposits and debris using the burning method.

The decree defines the period for cleaning ventilation systems and the procedure for its implementation:

• cleaning of ventilation systems must be carried out in a fire and explosion safe way;
• the head of the organization determines the procedure and terms for cleaning filters, ventilation systems, filters and air ducts, but it should not be more than one year;
• the results of the work done must be formalized by an act.

These two documents address the general provisions and requirements for maintaining cleanliness and timely cleaning of ventilation systems. A more in-depth and specific set of rules and regulations is presented in the Order of the Federal State Institution Center for State Sanitary Epidemiological Surveillance №107 dated August 12, 2004. They will be discussed in the next part of the article.

Rules and steps for cleaning the ventilation system

It should be noted that on the basis of Order No. 107, the Resolution of the main state a sanitary doctor, in which requirements are put forward for compliance with air exchange standards to maintain a healthy lifestyle person.

Regulatory requirements require ventilation chambers and air ducts to be cleaned in stages.

The cleaning process is structurally divided into four stages:

1. Inspection of the ventilation system in order to determine the compliance of sanitary norms with established standards.
2. Development of a work plan, determination of the cleaning method and the choice of tactics for cleaning. Additionally, preparatory work should be carried out.
3. Direct cleaning ventilation systems.
4. Analysis of the work performed and assessment of their effectiveness.

Each of these stages contains its own subparagraphs, on the strict implementation of which the result of the work performed depends entirely. At the same time, the period for cleaning ventilation systems should not exceed 30 days from the date of the scheduled examination.

Stage # 1 - Conducting a thorough survey

It should be noted that at this stage, attentiveness and pedantry are important when performing activities, because when mistakes are made in the examination and determination of specific inconsistencies with sanitary and epidemiological standards, the result of the conducted works. In case of errors during the examination, the selected cleaning method may not lead to a positive result.

Inspection of ventilation systems should include:

• verification of all technical documentation of this ventilation system;
• control of the actual compliance of the system design with the design data;
• analysis of the condition of all components of the ventilation for mechanical damage;
• study of the microclimate inside the system and measurement of standardized parameters.

An important document, which should reflect all actions performed with ventilation during the entire period of its use, is the "Journal of repair and operation".

It contains information about the persons who perform maintenance of ventilation systems, specifies the features of maintenance, technical parameters of air productivity and planned timeframes of work, which determine efficiency the functioning of the system.

The conclusion of the study of ventilation chambers and air ducts is made in the form of an act of sanitary-epidemiological examination.

Stage # 2 - development of a work plan

On the basis of the act, the second stage of ventilation cleaning works is carried out. As a rule, a standard algorithm for developing a plan of further actions should be used.

A typical plan consists of the following points:

1. Determination of the method and method of cleaning the system.
2. The choice of means for disinfection.
3. Calculation of the required amount of the selected funds.
4. Selection and preparation for operation of the necessary equipment (including the bactericidal equipment installed in the ventilation system, operating on the basis of modern ultraviolet technologies).
5. Notification of the building administration (homeowners) about the date of the work.
6. Dismantling the system.
7. Cleaning.
8. Disinfection.
9. Installation of the selected equipment into the system.
10. Mounting.
11. Record of work and preparation of reporting documentation.
12. Subsequent assessment of the effectiveness of the work performed.

Depending on the type of building, its purpose, design features and the degree of contamination of the system ventilation, other elements related to the partial replacement of component parts can be added to this plan systems.

The work plan after its development must be signed by the person responsible for cleaning the ventilation systems, and approved by the head of the local administration in accordance with the established procedure.

Stage # 3 - work on cleaning the system

Depending on the specific features and design, the whole range of proposed works is performed.

Regardless of the choice of the cleaning method, the work should be carried out in the following sequence:

1. Preparation of cleaning agents and disinfectant solutions in specially designated areas.
2. Calculations in the use of funds at each section of the ventilation system. Calculations must be made by a specialist.
3. Preparation of ventilation, removal of covers, grilles, ceilings, dismantling of air intake elements. Providing free access to the system.
4. Air duct cleaning.
5. Cleaning of control devices - it is not recommended to dismantle them, to carry out cleaning at the installation site.
6. Cleaning and disinfection filters.
7. Cleaning the fans - if necessary, it is possible to dismantle the soft inserts.
8. Cleaning of heat exchangers. It is carried out taking into account their design and only when dismantled from the ventilation system.
9. Cleaning the drainage system. In this case, it is worth dismantling the drainage trays.
10. Carrying out cleaning of the inside of the housings of the mixing chambers, air conditioners. When disassembling and cleaning household air conditioners, proceed directly according to the instructions supplied with these models.
11. Drying and assembly of ventilation system elements.

Thus, when performing work in accordance with this developed sequence, it will allow a complete cleaning of the system. Deviating from these points is undesirable.

It is worth noting that after the work has been carried out, it is mandatory to draw up a report in which all the actions performed must be indicated.

Step # 4 - Evaluation of Ventilation Cleaning Completed

The final stage of cleaning ventilation systems is to analyze the effectiveness of the work done with a final conclusion on the safe use of ventilation.

In accordance with the established rules, control of the result of work is mandatory at each facility. The effectiveness of cleaning should be carried out not only by visual assessment of the absence of contamination, but also by special laboratory studies. Only a comparison of such a parameter as the "total microbial number", which is necessarily measured before starting work, will make it possible to calculate the degree of residual contamination in the system.

The analysis (intake of the required amount of air) should be carried out at the point of inflow of air masses into the room.

Also, in accordance with the norms, the following surfaces of the system should be examined for the presence of pathogenic elements:

• filters;
• humidifiers;
• cooling towers;
• heat exchangers;
• drainage trays.

After studying the results and comparing the indicators, the effectiveness of the cleaning and disinfection work carried out is assessed. The results must necessarily comply with the established requirements and standards of the sanitary and epidemiological state.

It should be noted that these standards for each category of indoor spaces (industrial, residential, public) are different.

The concept of "clean ventilation system" corresponds to such ventilation, where there are no pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms, and visually in the entire system there are no visible contaminants.

In the event that laboratory tests do not reveal changes or improvements will be minor and not reaching the established standards, then a decision will be made to re-carry out cleaning ventilation systems.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

General concepts about ventilation systems and the need to keep them clean are shown in this video:

The state pays special attention to the ventilation system of all types of buildings, avoiding pollution that can affect the deterioration of human health. The established terms of examinations and the procedure for carrying out cleaning allows timely identification and elimination of contamination formed during operation. And only strict adherence to these rules will make it possible to carry out high-quality work and bring the ventilation system in line with sanitary standards.

Do you want to supplement the above information with useful information or clarify a number of nuances? In a special form located below this publication, you can ask questions of interest to our experts or share your opinion on the rules and regulations for cleaning ventilation systems.