Managing director of Indepth Hygiene, Richard Norman, has been appointed chairman of the B&ES (Building and Engineering Services Association) Ventilation Hygiene branch.
Mr Norman has been md of the specialist ventilation cleaning services provider for more than 10 years and will hold the chairman's position for two years.

He joined the family business, Indepth Hygiene Services, in 1993. Working alongside his father who founded the business in 1970, he was responsible for sales and marketing before becoming managing director in 2003. He holds qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Mr Norman said: 'My focus will be on raising awareness of the imminent TR19 launch to ensure all relevant stakeholders are fully aware of the changes and what they mean for the industry. In addition, I will be concentrating on ventilation hygiene related issues whether new cleaning techniques and equipment, or duct cleaning specific, health & safety issues.'

He has already done much to refine standards and guidelines and raise awareness of key issues within the industry. In 2005, he was elected deputy chairman of the B&ES Ventilation Hygiene branch. He was on the subcommittee that re-wrote the industry standard TR/17 document to create TR/19, setting out a guide to good practice around the internal cleanliness of ventilation systems. Six years later he joined the working party which created the first industry-wide training programme for ductwork cleaning, the Greenbook Training Scheme, in 2011.

Mr Norman is currently part of the team undertaking a revamp of TR/19, and, on behalf of the UK industry, he is has been appointed to the CEN Committee which is now adding grease extract cleaning to the European ISO BS EN 15780 Ventilation for Buildings - Ductwork - Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems standard.