Technical Hygiene
Hygiene inspections of ventilation and air-conditioning systems in accordance with VDI 6022
Air that is hygienically sound is a key prerequisite for our health, well-being and productivity. Section 4 of the Workplace Regulations therefore requires regular inspections of ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
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Air of impeccable hygienic quality is essential for our health, well-being and productivity. Section 4 of the Workplace Regulations therefore requires regular testing of ventilation and air-conditioning systems. The technical standard VDI 6022 sets out the requirements for implementing this. Hygiene safety is a crucial requirement that operators must comply with. Compliance with VDI 6022 is therefore a legal obligation under the Workplace Ordinance.
In accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Section 4 of the Workplace Ordinance and the associated regulations, ventilation or air-conditioning systems serving workplaces are subject to specific requirements. These systems must be continuously maintained in accordance with the current state of the art, as currently specified in VDI 6022. Compliance with this standard is mandatory. HVAC systems must supply air that is safe for health and operate reliably. The operator of the system is responsible for carrying out the inspection.
The initial hygiene inspection or repeat hygiene inspection in accordance with VDI 6022 comprises a comprehensive survey and assessment of the system as part of the initial inspection. The assessment of the system’s current condition covers planning and design aspects, as well as features relating to its installation, and includes a review of the documentation. Measurements, such as Legionella tests in humidifier water, microbiological surface analyses and airborne bacteria measurements, form part of the inspection. VDI 6022 provides a comprehensive checklist with various test criteria.
System inspections must be carried out by qualified personnel and meet certain minimum requirements in order to ensure legal compliance in the event of an emergency. The hygiene inspection carried out by TÜV NORD meets these requirements.
As part of the regular checks, periodic inspections, known as repeat inspections, must be carried out in accordance with the applicable regulations. For systems/equipment without air humidification, an inspection is required at three-yearly intervals, whilst for systems with air humidification (regardless of the type of technology), an inspection is required every two years.
As part of the hygiene inspection, airborne micro-organism measurements of the supply air from the systems – which are now mandatory – are carried out, along with a comparison with the reference air drawn in. Compared with the previous version, the hygiene inspection is significantly more complex; at the same time, however, the reliability of the findings is substantially improved by these airborne micro-organism measurements.
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Our testing laboratory is accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. This accreditation confirms our technical competence and our compliance with internationally recognised standards for testing and measurement.
What does this mean for you?
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