What Diseases Can Legionella Bacteria Cause in Humans?

Legionella bacteria may cause a number of different diseases, all of which come under the umbrella term Legionellosis. There are two main types of disease that the bacteria frequently causes in the UK, one of which is non-pneumonic and one of which is pneumonic:

• Pontiac Disease – This is the main non-pneumonic form in the UK: a flu-like virus that normally lasts for 2-5 days and is not known to be fatal.
• Legionnaires’ Disease – This is the main pneumonic form in the UK, the one that makes all the headlines whenever there is an outbreak. It can cause a range of symptoms, from nothing more than a mild cough, to severe pneumonia symptoms and death.

There are other diseases it may potentially cause but they are not commonly encountered in this country.

Why Do You Have to Perform Legionella Risk Assessments?

Low levels of Legionella bacteria can be found in virtually all bodies of water around the world, including lakes, rivers and streams. Due to the open nature of these environments, the bacteria does not normally pose a serious health risk. However, in a closed environment such as a commercial air conditioning system, the bacteria can quickly multiply until it reached dangerous levels of concentration.

How Often Should a Legionella Risk Assessment Be Carried Out?

The Approved Code of Practice published by the HSE in the UK recommends regular reviews of risk assessment procedures for all public buildings and commercial premises. It goes on to specify 2-year intervals in between assessments for buildings with a low risk factor. However, if any substantial changes are made to a building, this should precipitate an immediate reassessment.

If you would like to discuss your Legionella risk assessment procedures with one of our experienced specialists, please do not hesitate to call or message us now.

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5 Top Health Benefits of Clean Air

There are many health benefits associated with breathing cleaner air. Below, we have listed what we believe to be 5 of the most important.

A Healthier Stomach

The quality of the air we breathe is very important to the muscles in our digestive systems. These muscles need a good supply of clean, fresh oxygen to keep working as intended, moving food along the large and small intestines and breaking it up in the process.

Healthier Lungs

Our lungs act as a filter for the air that we breathe on a daily basis. The cleaner the air, the less likely it is that our lungs will become clogged with impurities that may cause serious issues in the future.

Fewer Allergy Symptoms

Many people are allergic to dust mites and their symptoms are exacerbated by unfiltered air in homes and offices. By increasing the quality of the air in our homes and workplaces we can reduce the frequency and severity of the symptoms they experience.

Elevated Moods

One of the less obvious but nonetheless important health benefits of clean air is an improvement in our moods. If there is not enough oxygen in the air or it is not clean enough, this can negatively impact our bodies’ serotonin production and potentially cause depressed moods.

Longer Lives

Perhaps the most important health benefit that we can look forward to as a consequence of breathing cleaner air is a longer life. Many of the respiratory conditions that cause premature deaths are linked to poor air quality.

If you would like to enjoy the health benefits of clean air in your home or commercial premises, please feel free to call and speak to us now about the services we offer. These services include air duct cleaning, air quality testing and much more besides. We serve customers in all industries and areas across London, Kent, Essex, Sussex and Surrey.

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Whilst they aren’t talked about as much as other fire safety devices – such as sprinklers and smoke alarms – fire dampers are hugely important fire protection features that can save lives and property in the event of a blaze.

Dampers are described as ‘passive’ products because they only kick in when needed. They are used in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through ductwork.

When dampers within the ducting systems sense a rise in temperature, or get triggered by a fire alarm system, they close. This prevents fire jumping from one part of a building to another, bypassing fire-resistant walls and doors.

It’s vital that fire dampers are tested regularly, to ensure they will work if ever called upon.

Fire Damper Testing – The Law

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates fire dampers, through the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2022. These regulations state that dampers must be tested every four years and that accurate records must be kept.

The law also advises that fire dampers should be included in building fire risk assessments and that they should be inspected regularly, on top of those four-yearly tests, to ensure they are in good working order.

Finally, any company that is contracted to inspect or clean dampers must also abide by the law. Firms should be licensed by an accredited body and must be fully insured.

Fire Damper Testing – How It Works

It’s paramount that fire dampers are tested regularly. This ensures that, should they ever be needed, they can work effectively and efficiently.

The first step in the testing process is to locate all the dampers and ensure they are in the right place, within fire containment zones. The immediate next step is then to ensure they can be fully accessed. It’s important each damper is accessible and regulations state they should be near to an access point.

Each damper is then individually inspected to ensure there is no corrosion, damage or blockages. They are then cleaned and lubricated, as needed.

The next, and perhaps most important, step, is to ‘drop-test’ the damper. This is where each damper is manually released, to ensure it closes properly.

Finally, any adjustments and repairs are made before the dampers are reset and ready for use.

How We Can Help

We have much experience conducting fire risk assessments and carrying out damper testing, and stand ready to help you with both of these things, and more. Give us a call on 0800 292 2400, fill out our online form or drop us an email at info@cleanairuk.com – we’re happy to help!

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Lower Building Maintenance Costs

All professional air quality test results include accurate relative humidity figures, with unusually high readings indicating the presence of excess moisture. By identifying the presence of excess moisture at an early stage, it is possible to deal with problems such as mould before they get out of hand.

Increased Productivity in the Workplace

Poor air quality can lead to a number of potentially serious health issues, which inevitably have a negative impact on productivity in the workplace. With a professional air quality test, you can find out exactly how clean the air in your office, factory or warehouse is and take remedial action if required.

Avoidance of Dangerous VOC Concentrations

The air in newly built or newly renovated properties may contain a dangerous level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds are found in many types of paint, varnish and commercial cleaning products and when present in large quantities in the air, may cause a wide variety of health issues. With this in mind, it is a good idea to arrange for professional air quality testing to be performed before moving into any new property.

Identifying Malfunctioning Appliances

Poorly maintained or malfunctioning appliances can cause a potentially fatal build-up of carbon monoxide in enclosed spaces. Professional air quality test results include an analysis of carbon monoxide levels, which means they can act as an early warning system when such appliances are present in the home or workplace. An air quality test is not, however, a substitute for regular maintenance of oil and gas-fired appliances.

Professional air quality testing results may also reveal the presence of pest infestations and poorly functioning ventilation systems. For more details of the many benefits that air testing has to offer, please feel free to contact us now. As air, water and environmental hygiene specialists, we perform comprehensive air quality tests for domestic and commercial customers in the United Kingdom.

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Air quality tests provide insight into the invisible particles surrounding us. Read on to learn what an air quality test detects.

Biological Pollutants

Biological pollutants are particles created directly from a living thing inside your home. For example, in the scope of natural pollutants, you can count dander, mould, dust mites, and pollen. It’s common for these natural pollutants to be detected in most homes. What’s critical is the extent to which they pollute your indoor air.

Blind testing for these biological pollutants, or allergens as they are known, is usually not recommended if you want your air quality test to be effective. It is best to narrow the possible pollutants to as few as possible. You can request an air quality test if you are still unable to determine the specific allergen.

The test will require a sample of the dust or the air to determine whether you have a biological pollutant inside your home.

Chemical Pollutants

Chemical pollutants, also known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds), are non-living organic compounds that can turn into gases. The most common VOCs are lead, formaldehyde, and radon.

You can usually find VOCs in paints, cleaners, fuels, and even dry-cleaned clothing. You can also detect them in construction materials and even office equipment. That’s why you should rely on air quality tests to ascertain their presence in your home.

Combustion Pollutants

Combustion pollutants are produced by ignitable materials or anything that can catch on fire and burn. The two most common combustion pollutants are second-hand smoke and carbon monoxide. Second-hand smoke is a pollutant from another person smoking in your vicinity.

On the other hand, carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas found in space heaters, gas stoves, and fireplaces. It is a major threat in high concentrations.

Effective Air Quality Test for Your Home

The air quality within your walls is just as important as having a roof over your head. However, most of the air pollutants that are a threat to your health are, in fact, invisible. That’s why opting for the proper air quality test is so important.

Put your health and safety in the hands of proven professionals like Clean Air UK, and never worry about indoor air quality again.

Contact us now to learn more about our services or to book an appointment.

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Why Clean Your Air Ducts?

Over time air ducts pull in large amounts of dirt, dust, pet dander, hair, pollen, soot and airborne chemicals from outside. Some of these pollutants accumulate in the ducts. The rest of it is continually circulated throughout the house causing or aggravating allergies and causing other types of respiratory distress including asthma and bronchitis.

Most homeowners are ready to attribute their wheezing, irritated eyes and sniffles to other sources when in fact they are being caused, or at the very least aggravated by, pollutants being circulated by the air ducts. But it doesn’t have to be so.

How Often Should Ductwork be Cleaned?

As a general rule, it’s recommended you have your air ducts cleaned every 3 – 4 years. However, if you have more than one pet, if there is someone in the house with asthma or severe allergies, or if you live in the centre of London or another large city you should have the air ducts cleaned every 1 – 2 years at most.

Other Circumstances That Call for Air Duct Cleaning

There are certain circumstances that call for air duct cleaning outside of any normal maintenance schedule, those include:

When you move to a new home: You cannot be sure what state the air ducts are in when you move to a new home. In fact, because most homeowners still neglect this important aspect of home maintenance it is fair to assume the ducts need cleaning. Therefore, before you move in arrange for CleanAir UK to clean the ducts.

Immediately following renovation or remodelling work: Renovations send huge amounts of dust, dirt and other pollutants into the air with a lot of it coming to rest in the ductwork. If you do nothing you will be breathing in those pollutants for years to come. Therefore, the last stage of any renovation project should be to have the ducts cleaned.

If you had pests removed from the ductwork: It is not uncommon for birds, mice and squirrels to set up house inside your nice warm ducts. The longer they live there the more hair, faecal waste, dead skin cells and other unwanted by-products of biology they will deposit in the ducts. If you recently had pests removed from the ductwork, give CleanAir UK a call.

Contact CleanAir UK

If it has been more than 2 years since you had your air ducts cleaned, get in touch with the pros at CleanAir UK by calling 01303 249667, or write to us at, info@cleanairuk.com. You’ll breathe easier knowing your air ducts are clean and hygienic.

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Benefits of Air Quality Monitoring by CleanAir UK

Monitoring air quality to ensure a safe environment for workers or guests will pay numerous dividends in both the short and the long-run, including:

Increased productivity

People working in an environment where the air quality is poor often underperform and tend to call in sick more often than the average worker. If you want to improve productivity for your company, have the air in your business monitored and properly scrubbed of pollutants.

Relief from allergies

Contrary to popular belief most allergies originate indoors where people are exposed to all types of contaminants circulating through the HVAC system and hiding in carpets, drapes, upholstery and other materials. Air quality monitoring can pinpoint the source of these allergens and reduce their impact.

Reduced churn

If people feel that it’s not safe for them to show up to work they’re going to look for a job somewhere else. And who can blame them? By monitoring and cleaning the air in your business you will have a better chance of holding on to valuable employees.

A healthier HVAC system

A healthy HVAC system quietly goes about its business out of sight. But that doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. If the air in a building is loaded with contaminants they can accumulate inside the system, force it to work harder than it was designed to and shorten its life. Clean air can prevent that.

Lower energy costs

Another side benefit of feeding clean air into the HVAC system is that the system will work more efficiently, thereby reducing your energy costs. In addition to lowering the cost of heating and cooling, you will also reduce your carbon footprint, making you a hero to future generations.

Not a Luxury, a Necessity

Until the early 20th century most people worked outdoors and spent much of their non-work time outdoors as well. In addition, the commercial buildings of the time had windows that opened so there was always fresh air circulating through. Today most people work in huge buildings that are sealed up tight. If there is anything dangerous in the air it’s going to circulate through the building day after day.

Air quality monitoring by CleanAir UK can track down potentially dangerous compounds in the air and provide a way for you to eliminate them, with the result being all the benefits we listed above. To learn more get in touch with CleanAir UK today by calling 01303 249667, or write to info@cleanairuk.com.

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While 12 months is the maximum time that should be left between fire damper testing, it is actually sensible to test them more frequently than this. If fire dampers are in areas that would be considered high-risk such as hospitals and similar, fire damper testing should be completed more often to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.

How Do You Test Fire Dampers?

Our technicians can thoroughly test your fire dampers to ensure they are working exactly as you would expect them to. Fire damper testing involves locating all dampers on-site and making sure they are fully accessible and within the fire containment zone. Once this has been done, the dampers are cleaned, lubricated, and reset.

If any simple faults are found during our fire damper testing, they can be resolved there and then to ensure everything is left in full working order. Our technicians can also update mechanical drawings and create a full report of any work undertaken during their visit. The report will clearly state what was done along with the date, time, and a detailed explanation of the work. This adheres to all relevant fire safety compliance procedures.

Why Are Fire Dampers Important?

Fire dampers are extremely important when it comes to fire safety and prevention. They work by closing off air ducts if they detect heat in the air. In the event of a fire, this can prevent smoke from travelling through ventilation systems into other areas. They can also help prevent fire from spreading due to reducing or restricting the flow of air in the immediate vicinity around the fire.

Without fire dampers, there is a big risk of a fire quickly getting out of control and the spread of smoke, heat, and flames can be devastating. With fire dampers though, you can limit the amount of damage, disruption, and danger that fire causes by isolating it in one area.

Fire dampers need to perform exactly as they need to in the unfortunate event of a fire. Without regular testing, you run the risk of putting yourself and everyone else in your building in danger from fire.

How Cleanair UK Can Help

One of our highly-trained technicians can visit your premises and thoroughly test all fire dampers. They will complete all the physical testing as well as leaving you with a detailed report of what has been done. They can answer any questions or concerns you may have, and they will also make any minor repairs that need to be done.

If more work is needed to ensure your fire dampers are working properly, they will record this and we will get it sorted as soon as possible to ensure everyone stays safe and the risk of fire is kept as low as possible.

The post How Often Should Fire Dampers Be Tested? appeared first on Cleanair UK.

In most cases, this needs to be done by an independent third party or by another person who is not directly involved with the management or maintenance of the building. This article details the various testing requirements for fire dampers in different UK locations.

Read on to discover more about the different regulations regarding fire damper testing for built-new properties, extensions, renovations, service company work, and commercial vs. non-commercial buildings.

UK Fire Dampers Regulations

Fire dampers are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and fall under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2002. All fire dampers need to be tested by an independent person at least every 4 years and records of the testing must be kept.

If a company is contracted to test or clean fire dampers, it must be able to produce an insurance certificate and a valid license from an accrediting body.

Fire dampers should also be included in the building’s fire risk assessment as part of the risk management procedures. In addition, fire dampers should be inspected regularly by the building owner or manager to ensure they are in good condition and operating correctly.

One of the best things about fire dampers is that they are easy to inspect. When inspecting the dampers, make sure they are not damaged, have been installed correctly, and operate smoothly.

Built-New Properties

Newly built properties need to comply with the requirements of the latest version of the Building Regulations in force at the time when they are built. If they are not, they may need to be retrofitted to make them safer in the event of a fire.

In particular, if sprinklers are not installed as part of a newly built property, fire dampers are an essential alternative protection measure.

Extensions to Existing Buildings

If you are extending an existing building, you need to make sure that you comply with the requirements that applied when the building was first constructed. This will protect you from future problems if the building regulations change.

If you are extending an existing building that meets the requirements of the Building Regulations in force when it was built, the risk of fire is generally reduced.

Renovations and Alterations to Existing Buildings

When you make any alterations or renovations to an existing building, you need to make sure that you comply with the requirements that applied when the building was first constructed.

If you are adding a new storey to an existing building, you need to make sure that the extended part of the building complies with the requirements of the current Building Regulations.

Commercial Properties

When a commercial property is built, the design must comply with the Building Regulations in force at the time. If it does not, it may need to be retrofitted to make it safer in the event of a fire.

In particular, if sprinklers are not installed as part of a commercial property, fire dampers are an essential alternative protection measure.

If you are in any doubt about the requirements relating to fire protection in a commercial building, you should check with your local planning authority before work is started.

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Fire dampers are there to contain the fire/hot gasses, preventing spread from one fire compartment to the next.

There are several technical & legal documents which state how, why, when and who needs to test fire dampers which can be quite confusing. If you contact us at Cleanair we can talk you through all the necessary actions you need to take. Check with your fire risk assessor as they would have highlighted fire dampers in their fire risk assessment.

No mechanical drawings or even know where the dampers are? Not a problem. We will carry out an on-site survey to list the locations and highlight any access issues before any fire damper testing is carried out.

BS 9999: 2017 states the following…

‘All fire dampers should be tested by a competent

person at regular intervals not exceeding one year,

and to be repaired or replaced immediately if found

to be faulty. Spring-operated fire dampers should be

tested annually and fire dampers situated in dust laden

and similar atmospheres should be tested

much more frequently, at periods suited to the

degree of pollution.’

Fire & Smoke dampers can come in many different guises. Below is a fusible link-spring operated type damper open and closed.

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