The National Association of Air Duct Specialists UK [NAADUK] has launched its new SCQF Level 5 Ventilation Hygiene Certificate, believed to be the first of its kind in the country.
NAAD UK is an association for qualified ventilation ductwork maintenance technicians who are trained in kitchen extract, ductwork cleaning and fire & smoke dampener inspecting and testing. Its objective is to raise industry standards in ventilation hygiene.
This year, NAADUK, alongside Paddeco and AEME [a CITB NI and UK CITB approved training centre] launched the SCQF Level 5 Ventilation Hygiene Certificate to help upskill industry operators.
Speaking at the launch, Paddeco chief executive Joe Lloyd told Heating & Ventilating Review: “The ventilation hygiene industry is growing quickly and rightly so, there is ever more emphasis on indoor air quality and the cleaning of ventilation systems.
“Although there have been a number of short courses available to the sector introducing the practice of cleaning systems, they have fallen far too short of the assessment requirements of the BSEHV11, the National Occupational Standard [NOS] for cleaning industrial ventilation systems, and several other relevant NOS.”
NAADUK president Peter Reid [pictured] commented: “This Ventilation Hygiene Certificate allows our industry’s operatives to have their skills and knowledge assessed against the industry’s NOS, helping to create a platform, to then follow an upskilling programme within the ventilation sector.
“It provides each learner with an opportunity to understand the new code of practice for our industry, NAAD21, and for them to be taught the principles and practices of ventilation hygiene, investigation surveys, testing and post inspection reporting. This will increase their knowledge of the principles, equipment and components within a ventilation system. They will also be introduced to the process of decommissioning and the installation of components within a ventilation system, opening the door to possible maintenance roles within the sector.”
Following the Grenfell Inquiry, the Construction Leadership Council has mandated operatives to hold a minimum Level 2 qualification within their job role. The new course offered by NAADUK will help bridge that gap, with no other Level 2 qualification [equivalent to SCQF Level 5] available in the ventilation industry.
Meanwhile, NAADUK and its member companies including Overclean, AEME and Paddeco have worked with the CITB to improve the AEME Fire Damper course, which is to receive the NOS in Fire Damper Inspection and Installation, a standard that NAADUK has been working on for two years and will be audited by independent officials.
Reid said: “Fire dampers are a life saving device. Their inspection is of the utmost importance so the concentration should be on quality and competence when it comes to training inspectors.
“It is by reaching this NOS level of training that will give NAADUK independent member clients the satisfaction and trust that all this is carried out to the highest standard. We always have and always will put quality and safety of the work carried out as our main priority.”
