Airflow Duct Cleaning Procedure
Hi everyone,Happy new year! An airflow duct has been installed in our facility. It is Galvanized Steel fabricate, and I am working on the cleaning procedure. I would appreciate your input to what to consider for the cleaning instructions, and help me to complete the risk assessment and cleaning procedure for low risk products. Thanks, Tresa
Hi everyone,Happy new year! An airflow duct has been installed in our facility. It is Galvanized Steel fabricate, and I am working on the cleaning procedure. I would appreciate your input to what to consider for the cleaning instructions, and help me to complete the risk assessment and cleaning procedure for low risk products. Thanks, Tresa
Hi Tresa,
A little context might help, eg -
Purpose ?
Dimensions ?
Internal Accessibility ?
Product ?
Process?
Cleanliness specification ?
Hi Tresa,
A little context might help, eg -
Purpose ?
Dimensions ?
Internal Accessibility ?
Product ?
Process?
Cleanliness specification ?
Hi Charles,
The ductwork is part of the HVAC to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning that have been installed inside the facility, and obviously above all the steps of process. we produce low risk products as cookies, crackers. we have the HVAC filter change part of the cleaning program, and thinking of wiping the duct, but not sure about the inside cleaning of the air duct.
Don't if anything put this on a once/year schedule
As long as the system is designed properly and installed well they really shouldn't get grimy inside.
NOTE: they must be cleaned post installation though----there may be metal shavings from screwing the galvanized together
Hello everyone.I would like to share my case on this occasion. My bakery was always very stuffy. Because of this, I often go outside to get some fresh air. I had no idea that the temperature was rising because the air duct was clogged with dust. I decided to look for the cause only after I fainted once.
We pay somebody to do that, and not often.
Oh, I know what you mean. My bakery was always very stuffy. Because of this, I often go outside to get some fresh air. I had no idea that the high temperature was being maintained because the duct was clogged with dust.
do be careful with hvac /cooling units. if these are not designed and maintained properly the can be a source of food pathogens.
do be careful with hvac /cooling units. if these are not designed and maintained properly the can be a source of food pathogens.
what would you recommend to avoid being a source of pathogens from cleaning point?
Tresa--best place to start----------have your maintenance manager show you using a camera (he'll know what to use) to have a look in the ductwork
Most likely, you do not need to do this------------if you want to be sure, swab the ducts in a couple places and see what (if anything) you have
Ductwork and cooling units pose very different risks----ductwork SHOULD be dry and fairly clean----just like at home, clean/replace filters
Cooling units however, they need to be on a preventative maintenance schedule-----most importantly, the drains need to be disassembled and inspected for "gunk" that will build up over time---when that happens, the water from the condensers cannot drain away, and ends up overflowing the catch pan and dripping onto things
Assuming this is newly installed ducting----i would (during zero production time) use compressed air only to blow them out---which should be more than sufficient
Tresa--best place to start----------have your maintenance manager show you using a camera (he'll know what to use) to have a look in the ductwork
Most likely, you do not need to do this------------if you want to be sure, swab the ducts in a couple places and see what (if anything) you have
Ductwork and cooling units pose very different risks----ductwork SHOULD be dry and fairly clean----just like at home, clean/replace filters
Cooling units however, they need to be on a preventative maintenance schedule-----most importantly, the drains need to be disassembled and inspected for "gunk" that will build up over time---when that happens, the water from the condensers cannot drain away, and ends up overflowing the catch pan and dripping onto things
Assuming this is newly installed ducting----i would (during zero production time) use compressed air only to blow them out---which should be more than sufficient
Thank you! I really appreciate your inputs.
I decided to look for the cause only after one of the employees lost consciousness one day. When the ambulance arrived, they noted that it was very stuffy. It was necessary to solve this problem urgently. I called the air duct repair service. After cleaning, they reported that some places needed repairs. I was lucky that the same service was able to repair it. They told me to clean the air conditioners regularly. Now I don't have to open all the windows so that my employees and I can breathe in the bakery. I'm thinking of installing a new air conditioning system in a couple of months.
what would you recommend to avoid being a source of pathogens from cleaning point?
the cleaning itself should not be a problem. however the coil area can collect water if incoming air is not filter properly pathogens can grow on coils an other damp areas and be distributed to the rest of the facility. like others said on clean only when needed and avoid water if possible. ive seen people literally blowing pathogens onto product from cooling systems
more than anything id make sure you are checking the areas where moisture could accumulate and clean using the suppliers recommendations. or have them perform the cleaning.
i would test your air at some frequency. it will help determine if you have an issue with condensation / growth in the system as well.
i hope this helps