The best BESA short courses for Air Hygiene

Duct cleaning generally involves the cleaning and maintenance of various systems and their components. It takes a skilled individual to be able to identify the various components of a forced-air system and know how to handle and clean them with care. There are several duct cleaning courses available for individuals wanting to become qualified in ductwork and HVAC system cleaning.

Are you interested in becoming an HVAC expert or do you want to specialise your education training further towards ductwork cleaning and ventilation systems? Read on to learn more about what companies require ductwork cleaning services, how to become an HVAC expert and some of the best BESA short courses for ductwork cleaning.

What buildings and companies require ductwork cleaning?

Numerous corporate and commercial buildings use ductwork systems and all business owners are required to get them professionally cleaned to ensure a good supply of air into the building. Some examples of buildings that require duct cleaning services include:

• Airports
• Hospitals
• Hotels
• Prisons
• Municipal facilities
• Retail stores

These companies and buildings continually use their ducted systems throughout the year to maintain adequate work conditions and offer good customer service. However, this continual use leads to the build-up of impurities and contaminants in the duct system which compromises the air quality. A professional duct cleaning service can use powerful vacuums to remove this unwanted dirt and debris and prevent airborne bacteria from spreading throughout the property.

Some buildings require ductwork cleaning more than others. For instance, launderettes usually generate a large amount of lint that can affect the efficacy of a ducted system. Without proper maintenance and cleaning, lint build-up could lead to the risk of fire and other irreparable damage.

With all these companies and buildings requiring ducted system cleaning, aspiring HVAC engineers don’t need to worry about there being a lack of work in the field. Premise owners have a common duty of care to protect anyone visiting the property – meaning that the cleaning of ducted systems is always a necessity.

The best BESA courses in ductwork cleaning

The Building Engineering Association (BESA) is the leading trade organisation for building engineer contractors in the United Kingdom. It represents service contractors responsible for the maintenance, management, control and installation of engineering systems in buildings. The organisation offers two courses in ductwork cleaning to help you improve on your academic qualifications. These ductwork cleaning courses hold an advantage over others in that they take less time to complete and allow you to learn through both theory and practical-based activities.

To gain entry onto these courses, you need to hold a relevant health and safety qualification. The two best BESA short courses for ductwork cleaning are:

The Air Hygiene Operative (AHO) BESA Short Course

The Air Hygiene Operative BESA training course is suitable for individuals who are currently working or about to start work within the building engineering ventilation hygiene industry. The course trains and assesses your abilities in various topics related to the field, some of which include:

• Preparing the work location
• The principles of general ventilation ductwork
• Cleaning of general ventilation ductwork systems
• Safe working practices
• Behaviour and communication within the workplace

The practical component of the course requires you to prepare the work location for services to be carried out and install suitable access panels. To assess your ability to clean general ventilation ductwork, part of the course also includes cleaning various components of air handling units using the correct techniques while adhering to industry standards.

This course takes three days to complete and the final assessment involves the outline practical assessment, multiple-choice paper, and a professional discussion.

Air Hygiene Technician (AHT) BESA Short Course

To be eligible for the Air Hygiene Technician course, you need to have experience working in a managerial or supervisory role within the building engineering services ventilation hygiene industry. The AHT BESA course teaches the same content as the AHO course, only that it also covers pre- and post-cleaning testing and reporting requirements as a topic.

This course is designed to ensure that professionals feel comfortable in their ability to problems within the scope of responsibility and that of others under their control and appreciate the importance of teamwork and correct supervision.

This course takes five days to complete and also involves a multiple-choice assessment paper, practical assessment, and professional discussion. The practical assessment typically involves performing minor on-site modifications, providing adequate supervision, and carrying out pre and post-testing and reporting.

Are you interested in taking a BESA short course in ductwork cleaning? Contact Hasman today to book or request more information on ductwork cleaning courses.