Features and frequency of checking the effectiveness of ventilation systems

Any buildings, both residential and industrial, must undergo periodic ventilation checks. This is necessary to maintain an optimal indoor climate. Let's see why it is important to follow the rules and the frequency of checking the effectiveness of ventilation systems regularly and on time.

Indeed, you must admit that following certain documentary requirements means not only issuing permits and passing the commission, but also preserving the health of people in the room. How does it work, what are the timing of verification - we will talk about this and much more later.

Purpose of the ventilation system

First you need to know what ventilation system, and how to verify its effectiveness.

The ventilation system is a complex of equipment that circulates and updates the air in the room, while maintaining a certain microclimate. Sometimes this process is accompanied by filtering, moisturizing, heating the air.

The process of air movement through the ventilation system is shown on the example of a house. The room is provided with clean air with proper ventilation.

Such a process of constant air exchange provides a person with the necessary conditions for a healthy life, well-being. A certain temperature, the right humidity, and air purity are maintained.

If the premises do not comply with the necessary requirements, then this can seriously affect human health and can lead to the following consequences:

• due to poor air exchange, carbon dioxide will begin to accumulate in the room. This phenomenon can cause a person to quickly fatigue, mild suffocation, weakness, headaches and other unpleasant consequences. Therefore, air must constantly circulate and be replaced by a new one;
• malfunctioning ventilation can lead to the formation of high humidity. This phenomenon provokes the formation of mold and the reproduction of insects. For example, mold spores adversely affect the human body;
• contamination can accumulate in the airspace. These include dust, animal hair, any harmful substances of chemical origin, etc. All this gets into the lungs and can be harmful to human health. Therefore, it is very important to conduct regular system cleaning;
• excessive noise may occur during improper operation of the ventilation system, which may interfere with work in the office or medical facilities. This occurs when the fan or engine does not work properly, as well as in the absence of sound insulation of the ventilation system;
• problems in the operation of the ventilation system can significantly affect the heat loss in the operating room. Heated air can escape through the ventilation system and significantly increase heating costs;
• due to contamination of the ventilation, an unpleasant odor may appear from the inside. This phenomenon is also possible with increased humidity in the room, due to the spread of fungus and mold on the internal surfaces of the system.

Checking the effectiveness of the ventilation system is an analysis of air exchange matching accepted standards in the project or hygiene standards.

Entrust the verification of the ventilation system performance only to professionals who carefully approach this process from all sides

This is an important process that should be carried out regularly. Not only in order to obtain certain permits, but also to preserve the health of people.

The need for such a check is to provide a person with clean, high-quality air. This applies to all enterprises. If a poor-quality ventilation system is at an industrial organization, then there is the possibility of accumulation of toxic or explosive substances in the air.

This can lead to serious destructive processes. Therefore, it is worth taking the ventilation system with all seriousness and involving only professionals for this work.

The purpose of checking ventilation systems

The fundamental purpose of checking the ventilation system is to identify violations in its operation, possible breakdowns, defects. Analysis of ventilation performance shows how much it copes with a given load and whether the building is well provided with the removal of internal and external air. In addition to malfunctions, it identifies possible errors in the calculations at the design stage.

To do such a job yourself is almost impossible. A quality check requires special equipment, knowledge and experience. For example, industrial ventilation systems are complex structures in a plexus with high-tech electronics and mechanics, consisting of many parts.

This is what a ventilation system looks like in industrial production - it consists of many air ducts and other structural elements. Do not risk checking such complex structures yourself

Without a highly qualified specialist in the analysis of such a system would be difficult. It will require the intervention of a licensed organization.

The process of checking ventilation equipment is quite laborious, but necessary for any building equipped with ventilation - industrial facilities, medical organizations, residential apartments, shops, office premises.

Types of checks and their purpose

Performance analysis can be done in several ways. The main are considered instrumental methods for checking the effectiveness of ventilation systems, since they are the most highly accurate.

Such measurements can be carried out in any of the following ways or, if necessary, in a complex:

1. An instrumental method for measuring carbon dioxide level parameters and other air conditions. It is carried out in the operated room and outside. It consists in checking the quantity and quality of gas elements in the air.
2. Instrumental method for measuring components contained in air. For example, aerosol research of air space in the used room, which determines the level of pollution of space by small particles.
3. Aerodynamic tests - a method that also relates to instrumental.

Aerodynamic tests include checking the following basic characteristics: air pressure and ambient air pressure in the room; air flow temperature in the room; the duration of movement of the anemometer in the area of ​​the measured area.

The specialist carries out instrumental testing of ventilation efficiency using high-tech equipment. This method is much more effective than conducting an independent test without special devices.

Measurements of air quality should be made strictly in certain openings. If the location was not determined correctly, then an error appears in the measurements and calculations. Trust this work to trusted professionals.

Including there is a method of checking the effectiveness of ventilation without the use of special devices. The quality of the ventilation system can be checked with a paper sheet. The paper should be attracted by air and keep its position on the ventilation grill.

Remember that methods for checking ventilation systems without the use of high-precision devices are not effective, and often show erroneous results

If it does not fall for a long time, then the ventilation can be considered satisfactory. But such a method is not effective in comparison with any instrumental one.

In addition, in large industries it and other alternative methods of checking ventilation are not used.

Frequency of ventilation check

Finally, we got to the most interesting and important - the frequency of checking the ventilation system. These terms vary depending on the purpose of the premises.

Regular and timely calls to check the operation of ventilation systems are the key to the success of any enterprise and the health of its employees

There are fundamental acts that determine the frequency, nature and essence of evaluating the effectiveness of ventilation systems:

• Federal Law No. 52 - a document that regulates the issues of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of citizens;
• GOST – 12.4.021-75, 12.3.018-79, 12.1.005-88. They determined the methodology of inspections, parameters of ventilation systems and other issues.
• SNiP and a joint venture in which the main properties and air quality for various enterprises are registered - 3.05.01-85, SP 1.1.1058-01;
• recommendations RNOSTROY 2.15.3-2011 about tests and adjustment of ventilation;
• fundamental european standards EN - 15251 and 13779in which air exchange rates and categories are indicatedaeromass;
• intersectoral PB, MU for the control of production ventilation systems.

Legal acts, norms andGOST, which are presented above indicate that the verification of the quality of ventilation systems should be carried out with a certain frequency.

Now we turn to the specific dates for whom and which are set:

• industrial facilities with the release of various toxic, explosive, radioactive components should be inspected once a month. This applies to buildings working with hazardous substances of classes 1 and 2. In some cases, separate deadlines are set for such hazardous enterprises;
• the following facilities should be checked annually: if the company uses equipment that consumes natural gas; enterprises of classes A, B, C that use ventilation equipment; if the walls of the ducts of the ventilation equipment are thin and they come in contact with hazardous atmospheres; is used supply and exhaust ventilation system.
• every 3 years it is necessary to check if the building uses a natural and artificial ventilation system.

The importance of observing the rules of regular review has been mentioned in the text more than once. For long-term operation of the building and high-quality work of employees, this is a necessity.

But such terms are set for structures, provided that the commissioning and installation work was carried out in compliance with all requirements and technologies.

Frequency of appeals of various organizations can be seen in this figure. The main thing is that requests for checking ventilation efficiency occur regularly

If the complex of these construction measures was not carried out properly, then during the first year of operation, an inspection should be carried out earlier than the due date.

During operation, leakage could be impaired, as a result of poor installation, damage and defects could occur. To avoid an emergency, in the first year it is necessary to analyze the operation of ventilation in advance and monitor the effectiveness of ventilation in order to verify the quality of its work.

Who performs a ventilation test?

To whom to turn for help in checking the effectiveness of the ventilation system is written in regulatory documents. Let's take a closer look at what these or other records mean.

If the regulatory documents indicate that the audit is carried out by a licensed organization, then admission of this organization will be required - this is confirmation of permission to carry out the necessary work in compliance with standards.

If the documents indicate the need for accreditation, an accredited laboratory is required to carry out inspections of ventilation equipment

If there are no specific indications, then often for many objects an individual entrepreneur will do the work.

How to extend the life of the ventilation?

There are some tips on how to extend the life of the ventilation system and increase the efficiency of using this design.

Here are some rules to help you with this:

• if you apply the electronic setting of the fan speed, this allows you to save 20-30% of electricity;
• the ventilation system must not always be fully operational. To avoid a quick failure, consult a specialist on this issue;
• The use of an EC motor in the ventilation system reduces energy consumption by 50%. Such engines are specially designed for ventilation systems;
• using recuperator. This is a device that heats the air, the so-called heat exchanger. Due to it, you can warm the room in the cold period, saving money on heating;
• provide your ventilation system with a supply air filter. This will significantly reduce its pollution. If we neglect the additional cleaning, the clogged surfaces of the heaters will reduce the level of heat transfer by 10-20%.

Just imagine, using these recommendations you can achieve tremendous savings that will positively affect your company.

If you apply these tricks at the very beginning, it will not only extend the life of the ventilation equipment, but also save your money

Some of these tips will provide your employees with a good working environment.

And what could be more important for industrial production, office buildings, than high labor productivity?

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

This video will help you get acquainted with the principle of the ventilation system:

The need for regular checking of ventilation systems will be discussed in the following video:

Purified and fresh air in the building - it is possible! Follow all of the listed rules and recommendations for the proper operation of the ventilation system.

This will positively affect your enterprise in the form of satisfied, healthy and efficient employees, compliance with all safety rules and order with documentation.

If you have questions about the topic of the article or you can supplement the material with valuable information, please leave your comments, share your experience, ask questions in the block below.