In 2007 Nigel Jones, Managing Director of Ductclean (UK) Ltd, embarked on a revolution to create the world’s first grease, dirt and dust deposit monitoring sensor with the assistance of his two fellow directors Paul Davies and Simon Layer.

 

During its 2 year development Ductclean (UK) Ltd have provided the platform to trial the sensor in parallel to the accreditation and collaboration carried out by the Building Research Establishment. To ensure that our sensor had its own identity we created Vanguard Sensor Technology Ltd, and named our first sensor the Lexie Sensor.

 

 

The sensor currently operates successfully in the AEG O2 Arena, Greenwich, London, King’s College London, and Centrica Plc’s portfolio of offices.  This innovation is notably the first of its kind, but captures the real meaning of ventilation system condition based monitoring.

 

Previously the only methods available to the industry for ductwork system testing and monitoring was to visually and/or manually test each system in several locations for each and every site.

 

Our sensors will eliminate this requirement, with every ventilation duct located at any location across the client’s whole portfolio being monitored remotely and accurately. Our sensors are simply installed within the ventilation system via a new or existing access door, which can be hard wired (12 volt supply) or battery operated. The technology and accompanying software provide real time information of the deposit build up within the kitchen extract, supply, return air and general extract systems.

 

We can set our sensors to measure dust and grease build up to any agreed failure point.  HVCA’s tables 5 and 9 below outline current deposit levels for the ventilation hygiene industry.  When limits are reached remedial action can take place based on factual condition based monitoring, and not just called off as part of the regular planned maintenance.  By having this information at your finger tips you may find that previously planned cleaning intervals will now change, potentially providing substantial cost savings due to reduced maintenance visits.

 

The work place (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulation 1992, regulation 5
“Requires that mechanical ventilation systems used for providing general ventilation are maintained including cleaned as appropriate, in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.”

Regulation 6 section 33
“Mechanical Ventilation Systems (including air conditioning 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”

‘Condition monitoring takes the surprise out of ventilation clean requirements and helps avoid expensive call out/shut down cleans’