The Need for Duct Cleaning?
Cleaning air conditioning and ventilation systems is essential to remove the build up of dust, grease and bacteria that collect over time. Failure to remove this build up will result in dirty and unhealthy air being carried into a building which can affect occupant’s health and productivity.
How regularly should ductwork be cleaned?
Duct cleaning needs to be carried out when there is a build up of particulates in the ventilation system.
Methods of measuring and monitoring dust build up in ductwork can be used as an indicator to determine how regularly duct work should be cleaned.
The frequency of duct cleaning will vary depending on many factors including system design, location, and building use.
Guidance on Duct Cleaning
The Building and Engineering Services Association Guide too Good Practice – Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems is recognised as the standard of when and how to clean ventilation systems in buildings.
Kitchen Grease Extract Systems Cleaning Intervals Daily usage
| Perceived level of grease production | Up to 6 hours | 6-12 hours | 12-16 hours | 16+ hours |
| Low | 12 months | 12 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Medium | 12 months | 6 months | 4 months | 3 months |
| High | 6 months | 3 months | 3 months | 2 months |
The above table is adapted from the Building Engineering Services Association’s
Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems TR 19