Latest Findings

Latest Findings   Despite more than two decades of research, there is still not enough evidence to draw solid conclusions about duct cleaning’s benefits on indoor air quality, occupants’ health, HVAC system performance, or energy savings, according to a 2010 review of scientific studies on duct cleaning.1 The review did find clear evidence that ductwork can be contaminated with dust and can act as a reservoir for microbial growth under normal operating conditions. Yet, even when duct cleaning was extremely efficient at removing contaminants within ducts, the effectiveness of reducing indoor air pollutants was highly variable, and in many cases, post‐cleaning levels of contami

Operatives to commence

Operatives to commence cleaning of the ceiling. Cleaning to be carried out systematically ensuring that each area of ceiling is cleaned and any excess solution wiped off immediately from surrounding surfaces.
11  Operatives to pay extra care and attention where water or solution drips on to floors or may leak to basement areas below.
12  Operatives to rinse off cleaned section using clean water before progressing to next section.
13  On completing cleaning operations, operatives to descend from access equipment and carefully remove cleaning equipment back to floor level, observing safe manual handling techniques.
14  Operatives to carry out a visual check of the ceiling from ground level to ensure all areas have been cleaned as per the specification.
15  Operatives to dispose of all waste chemicals and materials on site and remove all cleaning equipment, chemicals and signage to company vehicle.
16  Operatives are not to leave the site until authorised by Supervisor.

Blind Cleaning – Metal

Blind Cleaning – Metal
1 Operatives to check all PPE, cleaning equipment and chemicals required for the task. Refer to COSHH assessments supplied for chemicals being used. Operatives to set out all ‘Caution/Warning’ signage required and cordon off cleaning area prior to work commencing.
2  Operatives to ensure that all furniture and trip hazards have been moved away from windows to provide a free access as possible. Team leader to perform walk through to ensure safe working and to identify any potential hazards. Please see site specific risk assessment on working with heights. Removal of blind
3  Operatives to erect access equipment e.g.. stepladder or ladder in the correct and safe manner. Ladders to be erected at the correct angle of 1:4 (75º). If working between 2-6 metres height ladders must be footed or an approved ladder stopper or stabiliser used.
4  Remove blind by loosening support screws. Team leader to ensure that two operatives are involved in removal. Cleaning
5  Remove as required and clean utilising a mystol dilute cleaning solution (diluted 1:10).  Back pack vacuum cleaner and brush systems may also be utilised

A serious concern

A serious concern in Florida is that the dirt that gets into air conditioning ducts often becomes caked and will be difficult to remove by cleaning methods currently available. When an air conditioner is operating, the air in the ducts is cool and saturated with moisture. Dirt particles exposed to this humid air take up moisture and can stick together and to surfaces in the ducts. Fiberglass lining in ducts make cleaning virtually impossible. The following comments were made at the Symposium, 1990 Indoor Air Quality in Homes: Synthesizing the Issues and Educating Consumers." In answering the question Can you minimize problems from furnace ducts by cleaning them?, Dr. Thad Godish2 replied: "A lot of fiberglass ducts are used, and in high humidity environments, they are going to trap organic dust which can result in mold and bacteria growing on them. In response to that, a number of companies are selling service which really is not going to do much good simply because the ducts get recontaminated so quickly. It is not possible for the cleaning to be as effective as it needs to be. One of the problems with fiberglass ducts is that they have a very rough surface which makes an excellent trap for dust. A lot of dust is organic dust, and if you have organic dust you are going to get the growth of mold and bacteria."

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Studies indicate that 10%-30% of the heated or cooled air is lost—along with the money spent to heat or cool that air—through leaky ducts. Properly sized, installed, and sealed ductwork will make your heating and cooling systems significantly more efficient. Energy loss is not the only concern. Duct systems can also involve the comfort of your family, employees, tenants, or customers, as well as your indoor air quality. Testing the ducts will locate leaks or damage and focus repair work in the right areas. A properly operating heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system will help reduce overall energy use—especially during hot summer days when air conditioners are working harder and putting a strain on the electric system—and will deliver greater comfort and cleaner air to every room

major role

major role by using renewable energy as well as power generated by renewable energy sources such as wind and hydro.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company has been one of the forerunners in the use of heat pumps in several sectors of society. They led the way and played a key role in the success of heat pump and air conditioner use in Japan. In his keynote presentation, Mr Katsuhiko Narita discussed how heat pump technology has contributed to Japan’s modernisation. Being a Japanese champion in promoting heat pump technology, he described the entire history of heat pump technology, starting in the 17th century. During the last decade, global warming has become a major concern. Protecting resources and the environment is more relevant than ever, while at the same time, a growing number of people need to improve their living conditions, and the need for more comfort continues to grow. Humanity must reflect on how it uses its energy resources and on its commitment to sustainable development.
Mr Narita told the audience that against the background of future constraints on resources and the environment, heat pump technology will play a major role in the 21st century. He considers further improvement in heat pump technology and an expansion of its range of applications to the very realistic possibilities. Recent technical progress shows that air-source heat pumps can achieve a Coefficient Of Performance (COP) of nearly 6. This is the result of the so-called Top Runner initiative, aimed at improved equipment performance. More can and should be done to popularise heat pump technology in mature markets. It creates a pleasant urban living environment. Wider use of heat pump technology should be promoted as a matter of policy. A social system that effectively takes advantage of the diversity in time and temperature of its energy resources for heating and cooling buildings will be able to create a more pleasant urban living environment for its members.

Ground-source

Ground-source heat pumps Ground-source heat pumps have become a success story in several countries and climates, especially in colder regions. Market growth estimates range from 10 to 30% annually. Development of this technology has made significant progress during the past decade. However, further improvements in designing and reducing costs can be made. Reduction of initial cost has mainly been achieved through improved performance, which allows smaller, less costly heat exchangers, and more accurate design analyses. The conference devoted an entire session to this topic.
Ground-source heat pumps have not only seen significant market growth and broadened application; they are becoming recognised as a cost-effective standard for energy conservation. Key factors behind this success are soundness of the technology, improved design and installation infrastructure and the response of the heat pump industry. Current developments focus on five areas: • reducing initial costs of ground heat exchangers; • determining soil thermal properties; • modelling ground-source heat pump systems; •development of hybrid systems (ground heat exchanger combined with above ground heat rejecter/ absorber); • further development of design methodologies; •faster, lower cost pipe-joining methods; •new pumping configurations (variable speed, multiple and zoned on-off pumps).
In the US, there are three ARI certification standards, which rate so-called water-source heat pumps (water source, groundwater source and ground-source closed loop). The worldwide installed capacity and energy produced with ground-source heat pump systems is estimated at 6,675 MW and 23,270 TJ annually