Air hygiene AHU cleaning

Air Handling Unit (AHU) cleaning

BESA TR19 cleaning and reporting for air handling units — better air quality, lower energy costs and clear compliance.

Dirty air handling units (AHUs) drag down the indoor air quality of your whole building, waste energy and raise the risk of fire. Our BESA-trained air hygiene technicians clean AHUs to the BESA TR19 standard and give you documented evidence to prove it.

Why air handling unit cleaning matters

In the UK, an employer has a legal duty to provide a safe and healthy working environment, and that includes healthy indoor air quality. Dirty air handling units have a direct effect on the air quality of a building. AHUs in commercial buildings of every kind — workplaces, accommodation and public facilities — must be cleaned regularly and kept on a suitable system of maintenance.

Beyond the legal obligation, giving occupants regularly maintained, clean, filtered fresh air brings clear benefits:

BESA TR19 compliance

BESA’s TR19 is the guidance for the internal cleanliness of ventilation systems and the standard for ductwork cleaning. All of our engineers are trained and qualified to this standard.

We take a tried-and-tested, systematic approach to cleaning air handling units, so your building’s health and safety requirements are met and the work stands up to scrutiny.

Reporting and certification

Following the clean, we provide a detailed report with before-and-after photographs as evidence of the work carried out. We also supply a certificate demonstrating your compliance with British Standards, the relevant Health & Safety legislation and the guidelines set out in BESA TR19, ready for your health and safety records.

Vacuum and microbiological testing

As an optional addition, we offer vacuum (surface deposit) testing and microbiological testing. We take dust and microbiological samples from within the air handling unit chambers both before and after cleaning. This gives you a clear picture of the condition of your air handling units and ventilation systems, and the evidence your team needs to show the systems are cleaned to a compliant standard.

The regulations behind the requirement

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations — Approved Code of Practice L24, 2nd edition (2013) — set out the legal requirement and guidance for providing clean ventilation systems. Failing to follow this Approved Code of Practice is evidence of non-compliance.

Regulation 5 requires that mechanical ventilation and air conditioning systems are maintained and adequately cleaned, kept in efficient working order and good repair, and free of faults likely to affect the health, safety or welfare of workers. They must be kept clean and free from anything that may contaminate the air.

Air ventilation hygiene services

We offer a wide range of air ventilation hygiene services and activities to keep your ventilation systems clean, efficient and safe.

Duct cleaning

Removal of dust, debris and contaminants from the ductwork to improve indoor air quality.

Ventilation system inspection

Regular examinations to identify and address issues such as leaks, blockages or failing components.

Indoor air quality assessment

Testing and analysis to evaluate indoor air quality, identify pollutants and recommend improvements.

Microbial contamination control

Measures to prevent and address microbial growth, including mould and bacteria, within the ventilation system.

Fire damper inspection and maintenance

Inspection and testing of fire dampers to ensure they operate correctly and comply with safety regulations, in line with BS 9999.

Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) maintenance

Maintenance of ERV systems to ensure efficient heat or energy exchange and contribute to energy savings.

Compliance verification

Checks that confirm your ventilation systems meet BESA TR19 and the relevant workplace regulations, backed by clear evidence for your health and safety records.

Documentation and reporting

Before-and-after photographs, test results and certificates, compiled into a report you can hand to auditors, insurers or your facilities team.

Kitchen extract cleaning

Cleaning of kitchen extract systems to BESA TR19 Grease, removing the grease deposits that drive fire risk and keeping your extract system compliant.

Book a survey

To find out the condition of your air handling units and the cleaning they need, request a survey and we will assess your systems and set out the work required.

More services one team, one standard

Book a free survey.

We walk the system, tell you what’s compliant and what isn’t, and put it in writing — a named engineer replies within 24 hours.