Indoor air quality is increasingly in the public eye thanks to greater recognition of the impact of poorer air quality on health and wellbeing. While this is generally an important issue, in many industries, as well as some educational and scientific research applications, the activities within facilities can create greater potential indoor air pollution challenges.
The regular cleaning and maintenance of a local exhaust ventilation system is an important measure for safeguarding workers and occupants in these settings.
What is a Local Exhaust Ventilation System?
A local exhaust system, or LEV, is targeted to extract and expel airborne pollutants which arise from a specific activity. LEV systems are used to extract and remove exhaust streams which arise from applications such as a wide range of manufacturing processes, food production, chemical and pharmaceutical production, and scientific activities.
These exhaust streams may contain particles of dust, fumes, spray particles and also VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which, if breathed in, may cause health problems. Some of these may be overtly toxic, while others are irritants which can have a negative impact on health over a prolonged period of exposure.
LEV systems are found in a wide variety of settings such as factories, workshops, laboratories and even schools, colleges and universities.
The LEV system captures the exhaust flow, removing it from the general indoor atmosphere and keeps it contained within the ductwork of the system. Once inside the system, the exhaust stream can be filtered and the particles and impurities removed. The system also allows sufficient air flow for regular air changes to be made, keeping the indoor air quality fresher and healthier.
Is LEV Cleaning a legal requirement?
Every employer is required under Health & Safety legislation to provide a safe working environment for employees. Employers are required to assess the risk to employees of working in an atmosphere containing dust, fumes and vapours and to take any steps necessary to protect their health from the effects of breathing these. They must minimise exposure and do their best to control this risk.
Under the HSE’s Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations, the LEV itself is a legal requirement. The regulation states that where certain chemicals and other substances are used in industrial and commercial processes, they should either be contained or safely dispersed, and this requires an LEV system. Maintenance of the LEV system also falls under these regulations.
A further requirement of these COSHH is that the LEV should be regularly tested to ensure that it’s operating efficiently, at intervals of not more than 14 months.
Because the exhaust stream will usually contain particles which it would not be desirable to breathe in, it will usually contain particles which can accumulate into deposits on the inside surfaces of the ductwork. These can detrimentally affect the efficiency of the LEV system, especially if they collect in fans or motors. Regular cleaning is therefore required for practical reasons, for the efficiency and to minimise the energy consumption of the system.
What you should do now…
LEV testing and cleaning is a specialist task, so you should appoint an expert with a long track record of specialist cleaning. You should choose a provider who will also supply you with robust evidence of each clean to demonstrate your compliance.
Swiftclean has been providing LEV testing and cleaning for many years, helping clients to comply to an exactingly high standard of cleanliness.
Legionella Control
A safe water supply has long been recognised as a vital aspect of public health and is one of the key areas of responsibility for landlords and property managers. Any negligence in these areas can result in legal proceedings and potentially serious fines and penalties. It’s important to comply with all the relevant legal requirements and to choose a specialist provider who’ll help you to fulfil your legal responsibilities in your water plan formulation and management.
Legionella bacteria can cause the serious and potentially life-threatening illness known as Legionnaire’s Disease. This ‘flu-like illness is debilitating to most people, but particularly serious for those with underlying health problems, the elderly and the very young. Sadly, around 12% of those who contract this illness die as a result, so your insurer is naturally very keen for you to comply with all your Legionella control responsibilities.
Keeping your water system safe
Very hot or very cold water is usually safe to use. However, warm or tepid water, especially if it’s not free flowing, can provide a breeding ground in which Legionella bacteria can proliferate.
Key danger points for legionella include taps, shower heads, water storage tanks and hot water cylinders. Particularly high-risk areas include cooling towers, spas, hot tubs, pools, water fountains and water features.
There’s a code of practice which you should follow to ensure your compliance. This is called L8.
What is L8 and how do I comply?
L8 is how we commonly refer to the L8 Approved Code of Practice, which is issued by the HSE (Health & Safety Executive). This code explains the importance of ensuring that water can flow freely around the entire water system, with no ‘dead-legs’ or static spots where water does not move for long periods. It also outlines what to do if a water system is not used for a long period and how to minimise the risk of a Legionella outbreak.
To comply with L8 you must minimise the risk of Legionella in your water system. You’re required to:
Identify any potential risks and assess how they can be managed or rectified
Put in place preventative measures such as shielding water against solar heat gain
Maintain accurate records of any preventative measures or work carried out on the system
Keep records of water testing
Update your risk assessment whenever anything changes
Most property managers find that they need a specialist provider to help them to compile the risk assessment and to carry out regular maintenance and testing to ensure that they stay Legionella-free. Your expert provider may also be able to train your own staff to carry out routine testing.
What are my legal duties with regard to Legionella?
If you’re a UK landlord or a business owner, you’ve a legal duty to have an up-to-date Legionella risk assessment in place in order to assess and control the risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria.
This risk assessment applies individually to each property, so if you manage several buildings, each one must have its own, up-to-date risk assessment.
If your risk assessment identifies any areas in which your water system is not compliant, it’s imperative that these are rectified as a matter of urgency. Non-compliant areas might include a ‘dead-leg’.
This is a stretch of pipework which does not lead to an outlet; this sometimes occurs when there has been an alteration such as the removal of a tap or shower, but not of the pipework.
If you change the water system in any way, to add or remove a tap, drinking fountain, radiator or any other feature of your water system, you should complete a new risk assessment as your current one will be out of date.
Following the recent Coronavirus pandemic, many water systems were altered to provide additional hand washing facilities, so it’s vital to check that your Legionella risk assessment has been updated to reflect this.
Your risk assessment should also identify the Responsible Person for your Legionella control measures, so if that person leaves and is replaced by a new Responsible person, the risk assessment must be updated accordingly.
What happens if I fail to comply with L8?
The HSE’s L8 Approved Code of Practice carries serious legal duties. There are serious legal implication for anyone found to be negligent in complying with L8. If there’s a Legionella outbreak, particularly if people have become ill, and especially if there have been any fatalities, the legal penalties can be very severe.
Prosecutions for negligence aren’t uncommon and both the organisation and named individuals can be held legally responsible. The penalties for being found negligent in a court of law are severe. For the organisation, limitless fines can be imposed, while for a convicted individual, a custodial sentence is a real possibility.
Your insurer will be very clear that you’re expected to comply with L8 and your legal responsibilities. Should the worst happen and a Legionella outbreak occur, your compliance with L8 will be a critical legal defence.
You will need to be able to demonstrate your compliance very clearly by means of robust records which demonstrate that you have a current, detailed risk assessment, with records of any remedial work, maintenance, water testing, water tank cleaning and all other preventative measures.
How do I choose a Legionella control specialist to help me?
When selecting a Legionella control service provider, you must choose an organisation with a long track record of reputable and successful Legionella control. Swiftclean has been providing expert legionella control services for more than two decades.
You should also choose a member of the Legionella Control Association or LCA, preferably one that has been a firmly established member for many years. The LCA awards member certificates annually, so you can be reassured that, like Swiftclean, their credentials and expertise have been checked every year.
What you should do now...
Your first step should be to ensure that each property you manage has an up-to-date Legionella risk assessment, and that any problem areas are being addressed. If you’re not sure about any aspect of this process, you should seek expert advice.
Fire damper testing
What Is a Fire Damper?
A fire damper is a passive fire protection product, comprising a set of steel louvres which can be opened and closed as required. Fire dampers are integrated into the ductwork of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems to help delay the spread of smoke and fire in the event of a building fire. For most of the time, the louvre blades are held in the open position, allowing air to flow freely through them to facilitate good ventilation, but, in the event of fire, they are designed to close to form a barrier. This delays the spread of fire, securing valuable added time for people to be evacuated to safety.
Most commercial and public premises are protected by fire-resistant doors and walls. However, where ductwork passes through a fire-resistant wall, it creates an opening through which a fire could spread. Without a fully functioning fire damper, fire can pass quickly through the ductwork and reach other parts of the premises, including vital escape routes. Fire dampers are installed at the point at which the ductwork passes through the fire-resistant wall. Once closed, it effectively reseals the compartment or barrier provided by the fire-resistant wall.
Fire dampers can be linked to the building control system so that they close automatically in the event of fire. It is crucial, therefore, to test them regularly to ensure that they will perform as designed to provide this vital fire safety function.
Why Do I Need Fire Damper Testing?
If a fire damper becomes dirty, greasy or damaged in any way, it may not close when it is required to. Fire dampers must be properly maintained to ensure that they are working properly at all times. The failure of a fire damper to close can make the difference between the life and death of a building’s occupants.
Tragically, we have seen the result of fires spreading unchecked, in several high-profile buildings; the subsequent Hackitt Report did much to highlight the importance of planned preventative maintenance in helping to prevent a fire from spreading. Regularly testing of fire dampers is an important aspect of this work.
How Often Should Fire Dampers Be Checked?
Regardless of their type or construction, it is a legal requirement to test every fire damper, the British Standard requires testing every twelve months. This annual testing should not be overlooked or compromised and is just as important as the regular testing of fire alarms and inspection of fire extinguishers. It is not acceptable to test a sample of them, or to test every couple of years; every individual fire damper must be tested annually.
What Does Fire Damper Testing Entail?
When carrying out fire damper maintenance and testing appointments, you should expect the following protocols to be carried out:
Your Responsible Person should have a full inventory of all fire dampers within the building, showing where they are located. If this does not already exist, Swiftclean will create this for you. It should be kept for future reference as part of your fire safety documentation.
Each individual fire damper will be inspected for signs of corrosion, cleanliness, damage and obstructions.
Each fire damper will be given a ‘drop test’. This checks that the louvre blades will drop into place to create an effective seal.
All the channels and runners of the fire dampers will be cleaned.
Any damaged dampers which need to be repaired or replaced will be identified.
Each fire damper will be reset ready for service in a fire emergency situation.
If the fire damper is found to be inaccessible for testing then this will be reported as a failed test until such point the damper is made to be accessible for successful testing
A comprehensive post-test report will be provided for you. This will identify each individual asset, its location, the maintenance carried out and any required repairs and replacements. It will provide detailed exception reports on any failures and outline any recommendations.
A follow up service should be available to implement the service recommendations
What Can Cause Fire Dampers to Fail?
There are several reasons why a fire damper might fail the testing process. The most common causes which prevent a tight seal are obstructions or blockages, corrosion, broken springs and dirt and debris. It may also fail because it has been poorly or incorrectly installed, including being installed in the wrong location. If this is the case, we can reinstall it correctly and retest it.
Just one damper failure can allow fire to spread throughout a property, so it is essential that testing is comprehensive and detailed. The damage done by fire and smoke to a property can be disastrous, often causing business failure, as well as posing a huge threat to life.
Fire Damper Services
These crucial safety devices must be checked, tested, and maintained regularly and thoroughly in order to help ensure the safety of both people and properties.
It is not unusual for building managers to be unsure or unaware that their properties have fire dampers. They may have no idea when they were last tested. In the past, fire damper testing was often overlooked, so records are often incomplete. With current legislation however, this is not acceptable.
Swiftclean will be able to locate your fire dampers, create a complete record of every asset, and help you to put a regular testing programme in place, so that you comply with your legal duties. We will help you ensure that all your fire dampers are in top working order, and provide the robust evidence that will provide peace of mind, as well as safeguarding your building and its occupants.
We are happy to give advice and guidance about this important fire safety measure. To find out more about our fire damper services, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
