Developing effective quality control plans for ventilation

Developing effective quality control plans for ventilation

By Ruth MacEachern

Product Manager

A guide to creating and implementing quality control plans that work.

The need for high-quality, sustainable products and solutions within the construction industry is of ever increasing importance if companies are to stand a chance of complying with regulatory requirements, fulfilling environmental aspirations, and ensuring customer satisfaction. As in any technical discipline, thorough planning and quality control are vital to the success of any ventilation installation. In this article we will discuss how to develop effective quality control plans and implement a reliable process control system with a view to ensuring high quality and regulatory compliance.   

What is a quality control plan?

A quality control plan is a document or a set of documents that defines and specifies the quality standards, practices, processes, personnel requirements, equipment specifications, activities and checks/approvals that are required to ensure that a product, service, or project runs smoothly, successfully and in accordance with statutory requirements. Among other specifications, an effective quality control plan might contain details on any of the following factors:

• Objectives to be obtained
• Process steps / operating procedures to be followed
• Allocation of responsibilities
• Standards, practices, procedures and instructions to be observed
• Suitable testing, inspection, examination and audit programmes
• A documented change procedure for the quality control plan
• A method by which to measure the achievement of quality objectives

ISO 9001: the benchmark in quality control management

Arguably the most acknowledged and respected quality control management certification, aside from providing assurance to potential clients and customers, ISO 9001 provides a number of tools and guidelines for companies on how to implement quality control within a company or project. The standard defines a list of 7 principles, which should all be taken into consideration when developing an effective quality control plan:

1. Customer focus - The primary focus of quality management is to meet customer requirements and to strive to exceed customer expectations 
2. Leadership - Leaders at all levels must strive to establish unity of purpose and direction 
3. Engagement of people - Competent, empowered and engaged people at all levels throughout the organisation are essential to enhance its capability to create and deliver value 
4. Process approach - Consistent and predictable results are achieved more effectively and efficiently when activities are understood and managed as interrelated processes that function as a coherent system 
5. Improvement - Successful organisations have an ongoing focus on improvement 
6. Evidence-based decision making - Decisions based on the analysis and evaluation of data and information are more likely to produce desired results 
7. Relationship Management - For sustained success, an organisation manages its relationships with interested parties, such as suppliers 

A quality control plan that is built on the aforementioned principles provides the optimum framework with which to ensure the success of any ventilation project. With these principles and the associated structural organisation in place, there are a number of practical questions that a company or project manager might ask when formulating a quality plan for a ventilation system.

Where is the building and what will it be used for? Are there any special requirements? 

The location and the intended purpose of a building is of crucial importance when planning and dimensioning a ventilation system. For instance, a building within a high pollution environment may require a different solution with fewer vents opening to the exterior of the property. While commercial properties may allow for the presence of exposed ducts and equipment, residential properties will require careful planning to ensure that installations are hidden or kept as discreet as possible. Sound emissions from ventilation installations are another factor that may differ from one building type to the next.

How will the building be built?

An understanding of the size, layout and type of building as well as the building fabric and air permeability are paramount to ensure the correct ventilation strategy and product is specified.

Different ventilation strategies are more suitable for different dwelling types, understanding how air will move in, out or through a building may affect what ventilation strategy can be used. 

Which type of ventilation system will best suit the building and the customer? Are there any budgetary constraints?

Among the available “whole-house” solutions are Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV), and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). MVHR offers the benefit of offsetting heating expenses through the integration of a heat cell that filters as it tempers  the supply air. This also helps to improve air quality throughout the house. Either system (although particularly MVHR) will require extensive expert planning, and while MVHR will reduce heating expenses i, it has a relatively high initial outlay, meaning budgetary constraints must be considered during the early planning stage.

What regulations and standards must it fulfil?

The recent increase in awareness concerning climate change and the construction industry’s contribution to global warming have resulted in the introduction of a range of new rules and regulations concerning building ventilation. The government’s “future homes and building standard” initially announced in 2019, for example, sets general objectives regarding low carbon heating and the energy efficiency of buildings, while changes to Approved Document F of the UK Building Regulations stipulates requirements regarding airflow rates and mechanical ventilation requirements in airtight buildings. Consequently, quality planning within a ventilation project must allow for the inclusion of duly qualified expert personnel and must budget for the use of measuring technology to ensure compliance with the various statutory requirements. The standard is also due to be revised which will require flexibility when planning and achieving compliance with ventilation and other regulations.

Which approvals must be acquired? What testing is required?

There are various building standards that recommend higher standards than those recommended by the UK Building Regulations. However, as previously alluded to, Approved Document F is the specification that must be adhered to in order to ensure regulatory compliance in a building ventilation system. While the document stipulates specific requirements concerning air flow and indoor air quality, it also provides guidelines and recommendations on a number of other quality-related factors, such as noise attenuation and professional installation. Appendix C of Approved Document F Volume 1: Dwellings even provides a commissioning checklist that must be signed and submitted by the person responsible for commissioning within 5 days of commissioning, requiring confirmation by the installer that:

• The equipment manufacturer’s requirements have been followed
• Paragraphs 1.2 – 1.83 of Approved Document F have been adhered to, with details provided as to any deviations*
• There were no abnormal sounds or vibrations upon initial start-up

Additional elements, controls and tests that you may wish to integrate into your quality control plan include a comprehensive list of all systems, components, and features, a description of the performance verification testing to be carried out for each system or component, and procedures/schedules for the functional performance testing of all applicable systems. 

Alongside numerous other certifications and accreditations, EnviroVent holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, which means that when you purchase our products or avail of our expert project planning services, you can rest assured that comprehensive planning and process control measures are implemented with a view to ensuring the success of your ventilation project.