How BESA is reshaping ductwork competence in the UK

BESA publishes new ductwork competence toolkit

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has released its second practical guide to support competence in the UK building services industry.

According to BESA, the toolkit provides support for professionals in industrial and commercial ventilation hygiene, following an earlier guide for industrial and commercial ductwork.

The association explained that the resources are designed to help firms and individuals meet obligations under the Building Safety Act and existing standards.

It added that the guides are free to download and show how to evidence Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours (SKEB) in practice.

BESA said the new guide offers a template of “what good looks like” at both individual and organisational levels, with advice on applying experience and knowledge as evidence.

Context of competence frameworks after Grenfell Tower fire

BESA reported that the failure of collective competence was identified as a contributing factor in the Grenfell Tower fire.

The organisation noted that national skills frameworks are being developed in response to the Hackitt Review recommendation.

It added that the new guides are intended to offer immediate support while broader frameworks are finalised.

The association said that clients increasingly need to see evidence of competence and compliance, making the guides directly relevant to current practice.

BESA indicated that the resources provide immediate help for engineers and contractors working in high-risk building environments.

Alignment with wider industry and regulatory bodies

According to BESA, the toolkit content aligns with work led by the Engineering and Building Services Skills Authority and Sector Group 10 of the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG).

It said that future guides in the series will also align with the ICSG’s work across all building engineering sectors.

BESA added that the approach is part of sector-wide collaboration to improve competence and compliance.

The association noted that this will support the goal of a consistent national competence framework for the industry.

Development with industry partners

BESA reported that the new ventilation hygiene guide was developed with ADCAS and Milford & Marah.

It explained that the guide provides specific support for industrial and commercial ventilation hygiene operatives, including air and grease hygiene technicians.

The association said that the guide covers cleaning requirements in critical healthcare environments and outlines safety considerations for high-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act.

It added that the toolkit reflects collaborative work between trade and consultancy organisations to strengthen competence across the sector.

Toolkit content and guidance for professionals

According to BESA, the guide sets out principles such as accurate record keeping, third-party validation, and regular compliance reviews.

It said that the toolkit also explains the role of training, qualifications, and on-site records in providing evidence of competence.

The association noted that supervision under the Building Regulations is included, alongside organisational processes for managing competence.

It added that ventilation hygiene operatives are given examples of qualifications and assessments needed for different tasks.

BESA explained that the toolkit provides clear pathways for evidencing competence and professional behaviour.

Industry response to the new guides

BESA’s director of specialist knowledge Rachel Davidson said: “The guides in this series are all designed to help individuals and companies simplify the process of measuring and assessing competence in a practical and easy to understand way.

“They form the first step towards creating a much-needed competence and compliance culture and are designed to support the more in-depth work being carried out by the ICSG to produce a national competence framework for the whole industry.”

Jon Vanstone, chair of the Industry Competence Committee, added: “These toolkits are a clear and practical example of what good looks like when sector-led initiatives meet the ambitions of national policy.

“This work provides an essential foundation for ensuring individual competence can be properly demonstrated and supported — both now and in the future.”

Davidson added: “There is still a lot of work to be done to help our industry develop a true competence and compliance culture.

“However, these ‘starter guides’ provide an important first step.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The guides are linked directly to competence and compliance requirements under the Building Safety Act.

They provide practical examples of how engineers and contractors can meet safety obligations when working on ductwork and ventilation systems.

The resources also give context for understanding how competence frameworks apply in high-risk buildings, including healthcare facilities.

Fire and safety professionals can use these guides to support training, demonstrate compliance, and prepare for future regulatory requirements.

BESA publishes new ductwork competence toolkit: Summary

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has published a second competence toolkit.

The toolkit is for the UK industrial and commercial ventilation hygiene sector.

The first toolkit in the series was for industrial and commercial ductwork.

The new guide provides examples of competence requirements under the Building Safety Act.

It includes guidance on training, qualifications, supervision, and record keeping.

The content aligns with frameworks developed by the Industry Competence Steering Group.

The guide was produced in collaboration with ADCAS and Milford & Marah.

Rachel Davidson of BESA said the guides simplify measuring and assessing competence.

Jon Vanstone of the Industry Competence Committee welcomed the toolkits.

The ventilation hygiene SKEB toolkit is available free on the BESA website.