The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has launched a certification pathway to help ventilation hygiene contractors demonstrate professional and technical competence and compliance in line with the Building Safety Act.
Created by the industry’s certification scheme the Ventilation Hygiene Register (VHR), the new category is based on BESA’s industry standard TR19 and provides a robust, auditable route for contractors to evidence competence, compliance and best practise in ventilation hygiene services across ventilation systems.
The launch of VHR Air comes amid continued regulatory focus on building safety, indoor air quality (IAQ) and system performance following the introduction of the Building Safety Act in 2022. BESA has developed this new certification category to reflect the Act’s core principles, including competence assurance, transparency, traceability and the need for a clear ‘golden thread’ of information.
Designed for contractors delivering ventilation hygiene work in line with TR19 Air, VHR Air provides independent assurance through auditing and reporting reviews to verify that:
- Work is carried out in line with recognised standards, including TR19 Air.
- Individuals undertaking and supervising work are competent for the scope delivered.
- Documentation and reporting support building safety and compliance obligations.
For contractors, the scheme offers third-party assurance that can strengthen procurement submissions, satisfy insurance requirements and reduce risk through improved audit trails.
Chris Major, BESA’s head of compliance, said: “Ventilation hygiene plays a vital role in maintaining good indoor air quality and building performance. Duty holders must be able to evidence that this work has been carried out by competent, compliant contractors and in line with recognised industry standards.
“Compliance with TR19 is increasingly important for those enforcing the legislation and for the insurance industry, so having fully trained operatives is crucial for contractors working in this area.
“The Act has fundamentally changed expectations around competence and accountability. VHR Air is a practical mechanism for contractors to provide evidence that their ventilation hygiene work meets those expectations, while giving clients and duty holders greater confidence and assurance.”
