Fire Safety: Get Your Ducts in Order
When it comes to fire safety, the hidden risks can cause the greatest harm. A significant portion of commercial building fires generate behind the scenes in your HVAC ductwork. In this case, what you don’t know can hurt you, which is exactly why proactive ductwork cleaning is an essential part of your standard HVAC safety protocols. Professional ductwork cleaning protects your customers, employees, and property from potential harm.
The link between fire safety and HVAC hygiene
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately 2% of the 3,300 commercial building fires that flare up each year originate in the “attic, ceiling/roof assembly or concealed space,” but these fires cause 13% of the total annual commercial property damage. Periodic cleaning of your building’s ductwork — including HVAC units, pipes, ducts, and if you have them, dryer vents — helps you protect your property from fire damage.
HVAC duct cleaning often falls into the “out of sight, out of mind” category of maintenance activity. Building owners and facility managers have a lot of other, more visible, concerns, but ignoring HVAC cleaning altogether has consequences beyond fire safety. Neglected ductwork can cause a decline in indoor air quality and an increase in energy expenses due to inefficient air filtration and duct leaks. Regular cleaning is a fire safety necessity, but it’s also an opportunity for close inspection to identify and correct any problems contributing to HVAC system inefficiency.
How often should your HVAC system be cleaned?
HVAC vendors typically advise cleaning your system every three to four years. The NFPA doesn’t have a specific recommendation, but periodic inspection of your building’s ductwork is a preventive measure recommended for commercial properties. Beyond regularly scheduled maintenance of your equipment to ensure safety and efficient operation, indicators for duct cleaning and inspection in commercial buildings include:
High humidity or recent water leaks. Inspect ductwork for signs of developing mold. Mold can aggravate asthma and allergies, which affects the health and safety of building occupants and visitors.
Pest infestation. Mice, rats, squirrels, bees, and other unwelcome guests can use your ductwork to access and move through your building, and they can leave unpleasant messes behind.
Dust buildup. Dust in your air ducts is recirculated throughout your building, shortening the life of your HVAC equipment, and negatively affecting indoor air quality.
Additional benefits of commercial air duct cleaning
The biggest benefit of commercial air duct cleaning remains the reduction of fire risk. Other benefits include:
Improving indoor air quality. Cleaner air ducts keep the air circulating through your building free of pest debris, mold spores, dust, and pollen.
Increasing HVAC efficiency. Debris in your ductwork makes your HVAC system work harder and shortens its lifespan. Clean air ducts circulate cleaner air, so the HVAC motor uses less energy to distribute it.
Saving energy costs. Energy savings can be substantial when your HVAC unit is working at peak efficiency. Cooling and heating are two of your biggest property expenditures. When you reduce energy costs with periodic duct cleaning, routine maintenance pays for itself while lowering your risk of fire damage.
Commercial property owners and managers must be aware of the fire and life safety hazards caused by dirty or clogged ductwork.
TRL Systems specializes in the design, installation, integration, monitoring, and maintenance of your critical fire and life safety systems. We can help you keep your property — and the people who use it — safe. Contact us at fire@TRLsystems.com or call 1-800-266-1392.