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Finding Solutions and Exceeding Expectations

Construction & Shell and Core Ventilation Services

Pre-commission cleaning, DW143 leakage testing and balancing for new build and fit out projects.
  • UK Wide Coverage
  • BESA Accredited
  • DW143 Compliant

Commissioning-Ready Ventilation for Construction Projects

New and refurbished buildings have to be handed over with ventilation that is clean, sealed and balanced. VSS supports main contractors, M&E contractors and project managers with the full commissioning stack: pre-commission ductwork cleaning, DW143 leakage and pressure testing, and system balancing, all delivered to programme.

We help you reach a clean handover with the documentation the client and the building’s compliance file require, and we work to construction programmes and deadlines.

Engineer installing ceiling ventilation ductwork in a commercial building.

Why It Matters on a Construction Project

Ductwork installed on a construction site collects dust and debris before the building is even occupied. Handing over a system in that state means the client inherits a contaminated system from day one. Leakage that is not tested and sealed wastes energy and can prevent a system from commissioning correctly. A system that is not balanced does not deliver designed airflow.

Getting cleaning, leakage testing and balancing right before handover avoids delay, protects the client and gives everyone the evidence that the system was delivered correctly.

Insulated ventilation and air conditioning ductwork installed in an industrial building ceiling

Our Construction Services

As well as the services below, explore our related pages: Ductwork Leakage Testing, Ductwork Cleaning, and Aeroseal.

Pre-Commission Ductwork Cleaning

We clean newly installed ductwork to TR19 Air pre-occupancy standards, so the building is handed over with a clean system and the evidence to prove it.

DW143 Leakage and Pressure Testing

We carry out ductwork leakage and pressure testing in line with DW143, using calibrated equipment, with digital certification and reporting. Testing leakage against the allowable rates is a key part of commissioning new and refurbished systems.

Balancing and Commissioning

We balance and commission systems so they deliver designed airflow, resolving the leakage and performance issues that can otherwise hold up sign off.

Standards and Documentation

Our construction work is grounded in the recognised specifications: DW143 for ductwork leakage testing, DW144 for the allowable leakage rates, TR19 Air for pre-occupancy cleanliness, and the wider requirements of Approved Document F and the Workplace Regulations 1992 that the finished building must satisfy. On completion we provide the full handover and documentation package the client’s compliance file needs.
Aeroseal Equipment

Working to Your Programme

Construction runs to deadlines, and ventilation commissioning often sits on the critical path near handover. We plan our work around your programme and turn it around to suit, so cleaning, testing and balancing support your completion date rather than threatening it.
VSS Team Van

Accredited and Trusted

VSS is accredited by BESA and holds Constructionline and SafeContractor, the accreditations main contractors expect from their supply chain, alongside UKAS accredited services.
BESA

BESA

Constructionline

Constructionline

SafeContractor Approved Logo

SafeContractor

UKAS accredited 8320

UKAS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pre-commission cleaning and when is it required?

Pre-commission cleaning removes the dust and debris that collects in newly installed ductwork before a building is occupied, cleaning it to TR19 Air pre-occupancy standards. It is carried out before handover so the client receives a clean, compliant system.
DW143 is the recognised procedure for testing how much air a ductwork system leaks, measured against the allowable rates in DW144. Testing is a key part of commissioning new and refurbished ventilation, and VSS carries it out with calibrated equipment and digital certification.
Ductwork collects construction dust and debris during installation. Without pre-commission cleaning the client inherits a contaminated system from the first day of occupation, so cleaning before handover protects air quality and provides compliance evidence.
Balancing adjusts a ventilation system so that each part delivers the airflow it was designed to, ensuring the building is properly ventilated. It is part of commissioning a system correctly before handover.

Book a Free Site Survey

Don’t wait for a failed leakage test or a delayed handover to discover your ductwork isn’t ready. Our site survey gives you a clear picture of where your system stands, and what, if anything, it needs.VSS supports main and M&E contractors across the UK with independent, documented pre-commission cleaning, leakage testing and balancing.