Excluding Duct Cleaning From a Bid That is in a Specification Transfers Liability to You
9/22/2020
| Michael D. Vinick, ASCS, CVI, President - Duct & Vent Cleaning of America, Inc. Past President - NADCA
Many Architects and Mechanical Engineers understand the importance of duct cleaning and have included it as a regular part of the scope of work on construction projects. The duct cleaning is usually carried under the mechanical contractors’ responsibilities. The mechanical contractor has a choice to carry a number for duct cleaning or exclude it from the proposal. If it is excluded, the contractor is putting their firm, the general contractor and the building owner at risk.
HVAC Systems carry fresh outside air and recirculated air into occupied spaces. Any debris in the HVAC system is at risk of being dislodged and delivered to the occupied spaces. Turning over the keys to a building that has debris in the HVAC system is a dereliction of duty and poor commissioning protocol.
Asthma, along with compromised immune systems and many other illnesses that are not fully understood, are growing health concerns. If down the line an occupant of a building becomes sick as a result of the building, may it be a child in a school or an employee in an office setting, those responsible for the project will be sought after and held accountable. The lawyers will sue everyone involved with the project. The only company they will not sue is the duct cleaner because they were written out of the project. That should prove to be interesting court fodder when the building owner is asked, why was duct cleaning written out of the project. “To save a few dollars” is the only answer that is feasible. We know ductwork gets dirty during construction no matter how many precautions are taken to protect it. The cost of the duct cleaning is a very cheap insurance policy to avoid this scenario from occurring.
Duct & Vent Cleaning of America, Inc has been in the air duct cleaning business as a nationally regarded leader in our industry for over 31 years. Please feel free to
call us if we can help you in any way.
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