airflow meters for extracor fans..building inspectors

[vitoboy]

hi all
has anyone had there building inspector ask them to supply a cert for air flow from there ex fans.
he tells me that its been a requirement since oct 2010..
any veiws on this?
ta vitoboy

 

[vitoboy]

lev qualifyed
please tell me more.
to me this is just like waking up one day and finding you need to be qualifyed to nail wood in order to fit a noggin.

anyhow ive quoted to suppy fit and wire only.

 

[Marvo]

If you need to get super technical measuring air volumes and in-duct static pressures then a pitot tester is necessary. RS Components have one here for under a grand (ZAR) which should be about 100quid UK.

 

[paturback]

Is this the document? If so, I'll read an inwardly digest, ta.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/domestic_ventilation_compliance_guide_2010.pdf

ok i didnt read it all but

Specific statutory requirements in the Building Regulations for England and Wales which
this guide addresses are:

• The requirement to commission mechanical ventilation systems (where they
can be tested and adjusted) in accordance with an approved procedure, and
to provide a notice confirming that commissioning has been carried out to the
building control body not later than five days after the work has been completed
where a person has had to submit a building notice or full plans or, in other cases,
not later than 30 days after the completion of work.

• For mechanical ventilation systems in new dwellings only, the requirement
to measure air flow rates in accordance with an approved procedure, and to
provide a notice recording the results and the data on which they are based in an
approved manner to the building control body not later than five days after the
final test is carried out.

• The requirement to provide sufficient information about the ventilation system
and its maintenance requirements to owners or occupiers so that the ventilation
system can be operated to provide adequate air flow. This guide contains
recommendations on the range of information that could be given to dwelling
owners on completion to satisfy this requirement.

Red herring?

 

[vitoboy]

marvo
im not sure if that will give you acceptable readings or measure in l/s.
i can find lots of cheap hand held ones but there not for measuring this sort of thing..i think
must be a spec for this sort of thing as is for our insulation/earth loop testers..other wise the test means nowt

 

[Marvo]

You can't measure volume of air movement directly, there's always a calculation involved. With the anemometer you measure the air velocity through the duct or fan and if you know the crossectional area you calc the volume. The pitot tube uses dynamic pressure to measure flow from which again you can calc the volume.

 

[vitoboy]

marvo ta mate
can you or anyone else direct me to more info on airflow testing.
my concern is do i need a part f compliant meter.
the only one i can see anywhere on the net is the airflow lca301.
then you need a hood that fits over the exit grill..then calculate the loss of flow due to meter and hood...
then if your lev qualifyed fill out your 5 page ventilation installation cert.

and maybe then never asked to do the test ever again!

i love this job.

 

[vitoboy]

paturback.
yep..should have listened er or looked at your post more carefully.
called the building inspector this morn..he couldnt direct me to what qualifications i needed to fill in the cert...or where you can buy a metre..or any company who do do the test...
in the end he directed me to labc tec help line..answered by a non english person who knew nothing but gave me another number mobil no answer or ring back from my message..
rang the nic help line..yes they said thats right you need to fill in that cert...but i know nothing about it..ill get the bloke to give you a ring back....what today...oh yes for sure.....no return call...
then at midday i get a call from the builder..the building inspector has just called him to say its all been a mistake on his part and he will sign off the building today..
no need for a cert for airflow as.....ITS NOT A NEW BUILD.....

but watch out boys.....if your doing new works check your quote details or you could be made to do all this...or not

 

[netblindpaul]

with what..
who are you registered with
how many have you done
were can i fing the spec for the airflow meters

do tell...

Sorry I have not been back sooner, busy.
I hold the P601 testing & P602 design qualifications from the British Occupational Hygiene Society, (BOHS) these are for inspection & testing, and design of local exhaust ventilation systems for compliance with COSHH regulations.
They are the qualifications recommended by HSE themselves for this work.
I also have a suite of testers costing around £5k just for this work.
It fits with the other work I do, electrical and mechanical.
It is not just about having the testers it is about understanding the fluid dynamics of the flows also, this was not so bad for me as fluid mechanics was not a small part of my degree.

 

[Former Sponsor TM]

Hey guys,
We've currently got a special offer on the TSI LCA301 Anemometer only £295.95 calibrated and it comes supplied with a Aircone flow hood that's perfect for fitting around ducts and extractor fans. If you are interested don't forget that forum members get an additional 5% discount off the web price too!!! Just use the code "ELECFORUM" during checkout .

 

[Des 56]

Breaking news

To reduce the expense of purchasing test meters for the air flow :hurray:


It has been decided that a strong smelling fart that makes the building inspector leave the room before it has been extracted is inefficient
Clean air through the nostrils before any comatose state is brought on, has been deemed suitable

Now thats progress

 

[Engineer54]

Our mechanical department supply and fit the fans, sparks connect them and the mech guys tests the airflow.

Agree, .....That's the way it's always been too....

 

[vitoboy]

i think the point we need to remember is that if we fit any fans then we may be requuired to airflow test and cert it!
to avoid this state that air flow tests and certs should be carried out by others on all your quotes.

 

[malcolmsanford]

I've had to walk away from this and hit the tea boy ........................is this really for real.

We are talking about moving air around in a bathroom, not under a hood where you are trying to grow cultures for the next chemical weapon here, this is not bio-med engineering really is it.

OK if you follow me you might want to have something that will replace the air pretty sharp, but come on here let's get to grip, what is happening.

 

[Dunc]

OK if you follow me you might want to have something that will replace the air pretty sharp, but come on here let's get to grip, what is happening.

Bureaucracy, and it's getting madder by the day!

 

[telectrix]

it's working up to a new short course qualification. only $500 for the course and exam. it will be the C&G 2401-01 , fart-in-a-fan, 99% pass rate. fail if you put skidmarks on the fan blades.