The COSHH (Containment of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations have been in
existence since the late 80s, and have regular revisions as and when safety improvements can be made. For extractor fans, the safety requirements of a fan might seem obvious, yet especially in the home ignorance of the COSHH regulations can result in illness and potentially long term problems if the wrong type of extractor fan is installed.
The requirement for a suitable extractor fan is often obvious and although that is not always the case people usually have a good idea. This is not an excuse however in the eyes of the law and extraction can often be governed by COSHH Regulations or the Containment of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
These are laws and advice that has been in operation since 1989 and has been regularly updated with the last serious revision being carried out in 2002. This set of regulations takes in the control of all substances that are hazardous to health no matter how they are used and is not just limited to extraction systems. They are designed to protect the workforce and nearby residents and all persons in the area. This has been triggered by various disasters such as the asbestos debacles and has been extended to try and stop many of the long term potential illnesses that can occur from work being carried out with hazardous materials.
Extraction is obviously one of the major areas that are covered by the COSHH regulations and it is worth checking whether those regulations apply to the use to which they have been applied because they can be construed to apply to most applications. It is quite easy to comply with those regulations and it is often as easy to comply with the rules and regulations as to ignore them.
The major requirement for the extractor fan is that it will extract at the required rate. The rate should be established prior to installation to make sure that it is adequate. The example is that a large commercial kitchen should extract at around 30 to 40 air changes per hour and the extractor fan must be checked on a regular basis to see that it is working at its manufactured design levels. The checks must be carried out by a competent person but it can be carried out in house if there is a suitable person otherwise a contractor should be brought in.
The person does not require certification but the test needs doing properly. A full record of the test must be made and retained for 5 years. The extractor fan must take the air away from the room and if it is not a material that must be put through a cleaning system then it must exit through an area where it will not affect or annoy people in the vicinity. If there are any queries Health and Safety will advise or point the person in the right direction.