It is common sense that to achieve a healthy working environment, good indoor air hygiene is required. A clean and effective ventilation system will improve workplace productivity, avoid potential health problems and provide lower energy costs through increased efficiency. The life expectancy of ventilation systems may also be extended, which means that companies hard won profits do not get ploughed back in to pay for avoidable replacement costs.

Legislation has given building owners and managers specific responsibility for keeping air hygiene within stringent guidelines for standards of cleanliness.

Regulation 6 of the WHSW Regulations 1992 requires that any mechanical ventilation systems should be regularly and properly cleaned, tested and maintained to ensure that they are kept clean and free from anything which may contaminate the air and cause health effects.