Air Duct Cleaning conditioning - When performing?
The use of air-conditioned air is widely used in the business environment, especially coming through air ducts. Its use brings specific conditions of comfort to employees, but the lack of cleanliness can compromise the health of the occupants.
According to WHO (World Health Organization) in 2016 respiratory diseases were among the 10 leading causes of death overall. This type of disease is directly linked to poor air quality.
Like all other HVAC systems, air ducts must be in adequate conditions of cleaning, maintenance, operation and control according to law.
Next, you will understand a little more about the laws governing the cleanliness of the air and used standards.
Air ducts and the current legislation
A DECREE No. 3523 OF 28 AUGUST 1998 determines the basic measures related to assessment procedures and HVAC systems cleaning as well as the requirement of preparing the Maintenance Plan, Operation and Control (PMOC) for climate-controlled environments with thermal capacity above 5 TR (15,000 kcal / h = 60,000 BTU / H).
Therefore, as the air ducts are part of HVAC systems, they should be cleaned periodically to maintain good quality of the air-conditioned air.
The frequency of cleaning is defined by the technician in charge. However, in some Brazilian cities like Rio de Janeiro, Santos Christmas and there are municipal laws determining the annual cleaning of the ducts.
The requirement is also determined by the new Law No. 13,589, OF 4 JANUARY 2018, which reinforces the implementation of PMOC in buildings of public and collective use, as well as the adoption of ABNT to ensure good indoor air quality.
Cleaning air ducts and the ABNT
NBR 14679 and 15848 of ABNT are the rules that establish the guidelines for the implementation of hygiene and assessment of cleaning services.
According to NBR 15848, the need for cleaning should always occur it finds one or more cases cited below:
ducts within the mold;
musty or moist fibrous material;
evidence of contamination by vermin (rodents or insects remains as cheap and termites, which are destructive and damaging to health);
spreading of particulate material from the air ducts to the interior environment in a visible manner and without the aid of equipment;
when the ducts are in evidence concentration greater than or equal to 7.5 g / m2 of particulate material (service performed by LBN test).
If there is a need for cleaning of air ducts, this should be performed according to ABNT NBR 14679.
Avoid Unnecessary Expenses
The cleaning ducts is a service that requires a planning of the company's activities and has high costs for its execution.
If your city does not have laws that require cleaning the air ducts at set periods, you can perform the cleaning of the ducts if some of the conditions set up by the NBR 15848 is found.
To avoid unnecessary spending on cleaning air ducts you can hire the LBN analysis to conduct the evaluation of the particulate matter in the air ducts, and if this concentration exceeds 7.5 g / m2 is recommended cleaning.
As you saw, maintenance and cleaning are intended not only to conservation and appliance efficiency, but also ensure the hygienic standards. In the business environment can reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses, absences for reasons of illness and even risks of labor claims.
