He is taking over from Nathan Wood, managing director of Farmwood M&E Services, who served as chair for five years and is now taking up a new position as head of special projects focused on helping BESA establish competence standards for ventilation design, installation and commissioning.

During Wood’s time in office, the group produced a series of best practice guides to IAQ including a rapid response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It also forged a close working relationship with leading air quality and child health campaigner Rosamund Adoo Kissi-Debrah.

“This is an amazing time to be taking up the reins,” said Taylor. “Hardly a day goes by without IAQ hitting the headlines and our industry is deeply involved in a range of vital activities aimed at improving the health, wellbeing, and productivity of building occupants.

“I am also hugely indebted to Nathan for his inspirational leadership over the past five years – and am delighted that he will continue to play a central role by taking on several key projects that will help take our guidance, training and thought leadership onto the next level.”

Making waves
Taylor’s first official role will be hosting a special event marking National Clean Air Day at the Wave in Bristol on June 20th. This will be sponsored by S&P Ventilation and will feature several expert speakers addressing the role of IAQ in protecting human health, comfort, and productivity. For details of how to attend email: charlie.pierpoint@theBESA.com.

The IAQ Group also supported the development of a new specification for ventilation hygiene as part of BESA’s wider efforts to minimise the risk posed by contaminated indoor air to human health and well-being.

The new guidance is also reflected in two updated air hygiene training courses delivered by the BESA Academy and training providers nationwide. The courses are designed so that contractors can advise their clients about ventilation cleanliness to help them meet health & safety obligations and comply with increasingly stringent legislation.

The Association said that TR19® Air ‘Specification for internal cleanliness and hygiene management of ventilation systems’ was designed to address an “urgent need for better cleaning and maintenance of ventilation ducting”. This has been highlighted by healthcare professionals as vital for reducing building occupants’ exposure to harmful airborne particulates and pollutants.

More information about the IAQ Group can be found here.