Ventilation is one of the utilities that are required to equip residential, administrative and utility buildings. The circulation of air removes the carbon dioxide, fumes and dust produced by breathing from the rooms. At the same time, a clean atmosphere enters the buildings, which contributes to the creation of a healthy and comfortable microclimate in the rooms. Grilles are installed on the supply and exhaust ducts. All pollution that enters and leaves the premises is deposited on them. If the exhaust grilles are not regularly cleaned of dust, unpleasant consequences for human health and for interior elements occur.
The design and purpose of the ventilation system
The ventilation system is designed to ensure air exchange in the premises. For each of their types, multiplicity rates have been established - the number of complete volume updates within one hour. For living rooms, the frequency ratio should correspond to 2-3, kitchens and bathrooms - at least 5, classes and gyms - 3-4. The principle of ventilation is based on the movement of air under the influence of natural or forced draft.
Depending on the place of installation, the systems can consist of the following elements:
- Supply openings. They are usually equipped under the ceiling so that, going down, the cold air can be heated to the optimum temperature for people.
- Ventilation grates. They clean the air from mechanical impurities, dust and insects with filters and mosquito nets. Check valves prevent backdraft.
- Fans. Installed in rooms where there is no traction or its power is insufficient to ensure high-quality air exchange. The devices can be installed on the supply, exhaust openings or all at once.
- Transfer grids. Installed in the interior doors of living rooms and auxiliary rooms to ensure air circulation when they are closed.
- Channels. They are pipes of round or rectangular cross-section. Usually they are laid from the hood or from the inlet to blind rooms.
- Central shaft with top collector. It is part of a multi-storey building project. Serves for collection and removal of polluted atmosphere outside.
All elements of the system must be cleaned regularly. The frequency of cleaning is determined by regulations and the intensity of the work of the structures.
Areas of dirt formation
Since polluted air from the street and premises passes through the ventilation, plaque formation inevitably occurs on all elements of the structures.
Foreign formations arise in such parts of the system:
- Mosquito net. These elements take on the main load. They retain grease, tar, dust, wool and fluff from pets. All this should be removed weekly to avoid blocking the system.
- Propeller blades. When they rotate, they capture a large amount of partially purified air and become coated.
- Channels. The pipes have a large area and retain all impurities that have passed through the pre-filters.
Periodic cleaning of the system is necessary to prevent soft deposits from hardening. Otherwise, it will be much more difficult to remove them.
Procedure frequency
The necessity and frequency of maintenance of ventilation systems is regulated by the Federal Law No. 52 of 03/30/1999 and the Order of the FGU Center of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service No. 107 of 08/12/2004. The cleaning procedure is described in more detail in GOST and SanPiN.
Frequency of work:
- monthly - kitchens, canteens, industries associated with a large volume of dust, grease and oil fumes;
- quarterly - schools, kindergartens, gyms, hospitals and clinics;
- annually - residential buildings and apartments, administrative, utility buildings and structures.
Ventilation ducts from technological equipment must be cleaned as they become dirty, not being guided by the established deadlines. In especially dirty industries, you need to clean the elements of the system every week.
The importance of timely care
Many property owners and business leaders underestimate the importance of regular maintenance of ventilation systems, considering them to be surplus interior and useless construction.
Ignoring sanitary standards leads to the following consequences:
- Due to contamination of structural elements, the supply of fresh air is first limited and then stopped. Indoors, the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, which causes fatigue, headaches, lowers immunity and increases the risk of disease.
- Stagnant air contributes to the formation of moisture and dampness. In some cases, condensation appears on the surface. This negatively affects furniture, things and interior decoration. Lack of air exchange can lead to costly repairs.
- Pollution is a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. Pathogenic organisms cause a variety of diseases in people, animals and plants in the room.
- The dust is combustible. An accidental spark can cause it to ignite and spread throughout the premises.
In accordance with regulations, a leader of any rank must take effective measures to maintain the ventilation system in working order.
Contamination removal methods
To clean the ventilation elements from dirt, improvised and professional means are used. The choice is determined by their location and the amount of work. Apartment residents can only clean communications and equipment within the boundaries of their property. Maintenance of public facilities is the prerogative of special sanitary services.
To unclog clogged channels and grates, the following methods can be used:
- Mechanical. It is the scraping of deposits using a hand or electric brush. For work in remote areas, a backlit video camera can be used. The cleaned material is either carried away by the air stream into the mine, or collected by an industrial vacuum cleaner.
- Chemical. It is used to remove grease and oil deposits that cannot be removed with a brush. This approach is used in the kitchens of apartments and catering establishments. A special liquid is sprayed onto the elements of the system, which dissolves the plaque. Then it is sucked in by a vacuum device or flows out into a common vertical channel under the action of thrust.
- Cryogenic. Impact on contamination is carried out by spraying dry ice granules. On contact with plaque, it instantly freezes and explodes, which leads to flaking from the base. Upon subsequent heating, they turn into slurry, which is sucked in by a vacuum cleaner or drains into a central shaft.
To consolidate the achieved result, disinfection can be carried out.Its purpose is to destroy pathogens that may have remained in the system after treatment.
Equipment for cleaning exhaust ventilation grilles
Exhaust ventilation grilles are cleaned of dust with a soft toothbrush. If grease has adhered to them, you can rinse the garments in soapy water. It is advisable to remove the fans from the slots, disassemble and wipe with a damp sponge. Canal cleaning is carried out using hand-held sprayers or long-handled garden sprayers. The remaining moisture is collected with a rag wrapped around a stick or telescopic fishing rod.
Mechanical cleaning is best done with a chimney sweep brush on a cable, flexible shaft or extendable handle. If the system needs to be serviced frequently, it is advisable to purchase an electric brush with a rotating function.
