Clean Ducts provides ductwork, ventilation and fire-safety services for the UK education sector, covering schools, colleges, universities, private schools and student residential accommodation. The aim is straightforward: safe, compliant and productive learning environments for students and staff.
Poor classroom air quality reduces concentration and increases illness, while uncleaned kitchen ducts in canteens present a serious fire risk. Clean Ducts addresses both, working across the United Kingdom with a focus on high-density areas such as London and the surrounding Home Counties.
Our commitment to the education sector
Educational establishments need work completed efficiently, often during holiday periods to avoid disruption. Every service is delivered to recognised standards for air hygiene and fire safety.
- BESA TR19 compliance: all commercial kitchen-extract and air-duct cleaning is carried out to BESA TR19, the industry standard for ventilation hygiene. Documented compliance supports your insurance position and fire-safety records.
- Building Bulletin 101 (BB101) principles: work applies the principles of BB101, which sets out guidance on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools, so conditions stay suitable for learning.
- Specialist access and scheduling: work is coordinated with facilities managers for out-of-hours or holiday completion, minimising the impact on the academic timetable.
Core services for a healthy and safe learning environment
Education estates cover diverse environments, from science labs and sports halls to lecture theatres and commercial-grade canteens. Services span all of them.
1. Kitchen-extract system cleaning (canteens and refectories)
Commercial kitchens in canteens and student halls carry the highest fire risk because grease accumulates in extraction systems.
- Commercial kitchen duct cleaning: every component is cleaned, including canopies, filters, fans and ductwork, to remove flammable grease deposits.
- Canopy and fan cleaning: regular maintenance of canopy hoods and extract fans keeps them working effectively, reducing heat and smoke in the kitchen.
- Fire-risk management: cleaning to TR19 Grease, the standard for kitchen-extract fire-risk management, gives you documented evidence that grease-related fire risk is being controlled.
2. Ventilation and HVAC services (classrooms and halls)
Effective ventilation supports student performance and comfort. High carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels from poor ventilation directly impair learning.
- Commercial air-duct cleaning: removing dust, debris and biological contaminants from air ducts improves air purity and reduces the spread of airborne contaminants.
- Air handling unit (AHU) cleaning and installation: main intake and delivery systems are kept clean so occupied areas receive fresh, filtered air.
- Ventilation surveys and inspections: detailed inspections identify poorly ventilated areas and check whether existing systems meet recommended air-change rates for classrooms.
- Commissioning and balancing: mechanical ventilation is fine-tuned so the correct volume of fresh air reaches every teaching space and communal area.
3. Fire safety and compliance
Ductwork can act as a route for fire spread if safety devices are not maintained.
- Fire-damper testing and inspection: regular testing and inspection of fire dampers is a legal requirement. Dampers are checked, cleaned, confirmed functional and documented in line with BS 9999, so fire cannot travel through ductwork between compartments.
- Ductwork camera inspections and smoke testing: these non-invasive methods identify structural issues, integrity breaches and blockages, helping you verify the safety and performance of concealed duct runs.
Specific focus: education facilities
The education sector needs a careful balance between budget control, maintenance and student wellbeing. The usual challenge is managing older buildings with dated ventilation systems alongside newer blocks.
The growth in student accommodation, particularly in university towns across the Home Counties and cities such as London and Birmingham, adds a requirement for residential-level air quality and fire-safety checks. Clean Ducts provides a consistent approach across every site, from the specialised needs of science and technology-block ventilation to the high-usage demands of a university refectory.
Legal obligations and compliance
Educational institutions hold a duty of care to all occupants. Failing to maintain a safe, healthy environment can lead to legal liability and disruption to teaching.
- The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999: this requires all occupied areas in a school to have controllable ventilation at a minimum rate. For general teaching spaces, that is specified as 8 litres of fresh air per second for each person.
- Building Bulletin 101 (BB101): this Department for Education (DfE) guidance sets out standards for ventilation and CO₂ limits in classrooms. Maintaining them is critical to a productive learning environment.
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: this places responsibility on the “Responsible Person” (for example, the head teacher, principal or facilities manager) to ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out and acted upon. Regular kitchen-extract cleaning to TR19 Grease and documented fire-damper testing are central to meeting that duty.
Why education estates choose Clean Ducts
- Experience across schools, colleges, universities, private schools and student accommodation
- Holiday and out-of-hours scheduling to protect the academic timetable
- Full documentation for insurers, FM providers and governance records
- BESCA Vent Hygiene Associate membership, so ventilation-hygiene work is assessed against recognised standards
- Coverage across London and the Home Counties
Book a ventilation survey
A documented survey shows exactly where your ductwork, kitchen-extract systems and fire dampers stand against current standards. Request an education ventilation and fire-safety survey to get a clear, evidence-backed baseline for your buildings.