Ventilation Validation Registration Scheme

Introduction

NSAI has established a registration scheme that certifies an individual as a competent independent third party to validate that a ventilation system has been installed, balanced and commissioned to meet the minimum requirements of Technical Guidance Document (TGD) F - Ventilation (2019) to the Irish Building Regulations.

Checks and measurement methods broadly follow the guidance given in I.S. EN 14134: 2019: Ventilation for buildings – Performance testing and installation checks of residential ventilation systems. Ventilations systems must be designed and commissioned to provide adequate and effective means of ventilation to satisfy the minimum requirements of F1 of TGD to Part F of the Irish Building Regulations.

Further information is available in the NSAI Ventilation Validation Registration Scheme Master Document Rev 8. and also on gov.ie via the following link; https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/938bf-home-ventilation/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/homeventilation/

Looking for a Registered Ventilation Validator?

Company	County	File Number	Certified Tester	Company Contact
Greenbuild Energy Rating & Building Info	Wexford	1.92.001	Gavin Ó Sé	contact@greenbuild.ie
Leon Ventilation Systems	Dublin	1.92.003	Kieron Clarke	leonvent@eircom.net
Lindab (Irl) Ltd.	Dublin	1.92.004	Chris Halligan	Chris.Halligan@lindab.ie
Donovan Low Energy Limited	Wicklow	1.92.005	Kevin Carmody	kevin@donovanlowenergy.ie
Nationwide Energy Consultants	Louth	1.92.006	Roy O Brien	roy@necber.ie
Newtown Energy	Wexford	1.92.007	Seamus McQuaid	info@newtownenergy.ie
Annaholty Energy and Engineering Service	Clare	1.92.008	John Hickey	annaholtyenergy@yahoo.ie
AirMatters	Kerry	1.92.009	Brendan Hehir	brendan@airmatters.ie
SC Air Tightness & Ventilation	Meath	1.92.010	Sean Coyle	info@scenergyrating.ie
Midland Heating & Plumbing Ltd	Meath	1.92.011	Austin Healy	austinhealy86@outlook.ie
Lee Capa Ltd	Dublin	1.92.012	Patrick Ennis	leecapalimited@gmail.com
Navitus Ltd	Dublin	1.92.013	Oliver Walsh	ollie@navitus.ie
Carroll Eco Systems Ltd	Dublin	1.92.016	Stephen Sheenan	ssheenan@carrolljoinery.ie
Greener Choices Ltd	Mullingar	1.92.020	Hugh Collender	hughcollender@hotmail.com
Property Energy Assessors Ltd	Laois	1.92.021	Chris Moore	chris@q50.ie
Irish Energy Assessors	Sligo	1.92.022	Martin Cooney	info@irishenergyassessors.com
Clean Energy Ireland Ltd	Cork	1.92.023	Seán Costigan	sean@cleanenergyireland.ie
Evolved Energy Solutions Ltd	Kildare	1.92.026	Brian Sweeney	brian@evolvedenergy.ie
Curran Energy Services	Kildare	1.92.027	Ken Curran	curran.ken@gmail.com
MCM Energy Consultants	Mayo	1.92.029	Mike Trench	info@mcmenergyconsultants.com
Start Energy Services	Cork	1.92.032	Maurice Murphy	maurice@betterair.ie
JK Site Services	Galway	1.92.035	Jarlath Kerans	jkerans@live.com
2EVA	Carlow	1.92.037	Mark Shirley	accounts@2eva.ie
ABUILD.ie (A-rated Airtight Buildings)	Donegal	1.92.039	John Curran	info@abuild.ie
Irish Energy Assessors	Sligo	1.92.040	Barry McCaffrey	info@irishenergyassessors.com
SC Air Tightness & Ventilation	Meath	1.92.041	Paul McDonnell	paul@scenergyrating.ie
BEP Consulting	Dublin	1.92.042	Brendan Boyle	info@bepconsulting.ie
Air Tightness Testing Ireland	Carlow	1.92.044	Paul Nyhan	jeff@jotenergy.ie
Air Tightness Testing Ireland	Waterford	1.92.045	Jeff O'Toole	jeff@jotenergy.ie
Midway Energy Services	Offaly	1.92.046	Frank Corrigan	info@midwayenergyservices.ie
Evolved Energy Soulutions Ltd	Kildare	1.92.050	James McNamara	brian@evolvedenergy.ie
Evolved Energy Soulutions Ltd	Kildare	1.92.051	Shane O Neill	brian@evolvedenergy.ie
JMS Design Services	Galway	1.92.053	Joseph Meehan	jmsdesignservices@gmail.com
2EVA	Carlow	1.92.054	Sean Ryan	scr@2eva.ie
Atbec Ltd	Fermanagh	1.92.055	James Taggart	james@atbecltd.com
Bawsh Ltd.	Monaghan	1.92.056	Trevor Brannigan	tjb.build@gmail.com
ECC Design & Engineering Ltd	Louth	1.92.057	Stuart Collins	stuart.collins@eccgroup.ie
HomeBond Technical Services Ltd	Dublin	1.92.059	Cathal Scott	energyservices@homebond.ie
Heat Recovery Validation Ireland	Sligo	1.92.060	Pat Munnelly	patmunnellyhrvi@gmail.com
Michael Neary	Mayo	1.92.062	Michael Neary	michaelnearyhrv@gmail.com
Aertec	Galway	1.92.063	Fred Murray	aertecireland@gmail.com
BM Environmental Ltd	Cavan	1.92.067	Sean Brady	sean@bmenergy.ie
Bercerts.ie	Meath	1.92.070	Nathan Lynch	nathan@bercerts.ie
Building Environment Resources Ltd	Cork	1.92.071	John Murphy	testingservices@berl.ie
Air Tightness Testing Ireland	Carlow	1.92.076	Bobby Clifford	info@greenproenergy.ie
KBL Site Services Ltd	Cork	1.92.077	Brian Milner	kblsiteservices@outlook.com
Evolved Energy Solutions Ltd	Kildare	1.92.078	Tony Francis	brian@evolvedenergy.ie
EMG Energy Consultants	Clare	1.92.079	Eoin McGann	info@emgenergy.ie
Building Enviroment Resources Ltd	Cork	1.92.080	Michael Zapart	testingservices@berl.ie
Building Enviroment Resources Ltd	Cork	1.92.081	Eoin Daly	testingservices@berl.ie

What Does the Scheme Involve?

Under the scheme, NSAI inspectors assess the operations and procedures of the Ventilation validator. NSAI inspectors witness a ventilation check and will review the accuracy of the applicant’s assessment of the as presented ventilation design for the same dwelling.

Individuals who wish to apply to registered as a NSAI certified Ventilation validator will need to demonstrate the following competencies;

•    The applicant will be required to demonstrate that they are familiar with a range of ventilation systems/approaches that they are likely to encounter in dwellings. Typical systems and approaches are described in TGD to Part F - Ventilation (2019) of the Building Regulations and Section 4 of the NSAI “Ventilation Validation Registration Scheme Master Document”.
•    The applicant can establish that the presented ventilation design provides for the minimum ventilation requirements as described in TGD to Part F - Ventilation (2019) of the Building Regulations.
•    The applicant will need to present a valid annual calibration certificates for all measuring instrument.
•    The applicant will need to pass an air flow proficiency test. See clause 8.3 of the NSAI “Ventilation Validation Registration Scheme Master Document”.
•    The applicant will need to demonstrate that they can correctly configure the dwelling prior to measuring the flow rate in the ventilation system.
•    The applicant retains adequate documentary evidence when carrying out a validation check.
•    The applicant has an adequate template to issue third party “Ventilation validation Certificates”.
 

What are the Benefits?

For consumers, the benefits of Ventilation validation are far-reaching in terms of energy efficiency of the dwelling improvement and indoor air quality improvement, providing enhanced comfort and health benefits to the occupant. . Home owners can be reassured that, at the time of validation, then ventilation system as installed in their dwelling provided the minimum ventilation rates as required under TGD to Part F - Ventilation (2019) of the Building Regulations.

As a result, Home owners can be reassured that best practice has been achieved to

(a) limit the moisture content of the air within the building so that it does not contribute to condensation and mould growth, and

(b) limit the concentration of harmful pollutants in the air within the building.

Home owners are reminded that adjustments to ventilation systems must only be carried out by competent installers.

Clause 1.2.1.2 of TGD to Part F - Ventilation (2019) of the Building Regulations requires that provision should be made to facilitate transfer of air and cross ventilation between rooms, e.g. a 10 mm gap should be provided under doors.

Ventilation systems will require regular maintenance to clean filters and establish that equipment is operating correctly.   

What are the Fees?

Ventilation Validator Registration scheme
	Initial Application Fee (1)	Annual Registration Fee(2)	Initial Audit/ Annual Audit
Ventilation validator	Waived	€500	€1,250
Currently registered NSAI Air Tightness Tester adding ventilation validation(3)	Waived	€500	€625
(1) Year one only (2) Applies year two and onwards (3)This rate only applied when the initial/annual audit for this scheme is combined with the annual audit for the Air Tightness testing scheme.  All rates are Excl. of VAT

The Validator of Ventilation Systems will be subject to an annual audit. Results of all tests must be retained for future inspection during annual audit.

What is the Registration Process?

The registration process is straightforward and involves the following steps:

• The company submits its application for Ventilation Validator registration
• NSAI contacts the company to arrange an audit date
• Following proficiency testing and audit, NSAI will register the successful applicant under the scheme.