Airflow testing and commissioning in Berkshire

Airflow testing measures how much air each fan or valve actually moves, using a calibrated flow hood, and records it against the required rates. It is how you prove a ventilation system works, and for new homes it is part of the building regulations.

Every job in Berkshire gets a written quote before it starts and a commissioning record when it finishes. We cover Maidenhead, Wokingham, Newbury, Lower Earley and Windsor and the villages around them.

Airflow testing in Berkshire at a glance

Area: Berkshire
Towns listed: 14, largest Reading
Postcode districts: SL3, GU47, RG40, RG14, RG18 and GU17
Price region: South East
Survey: Charged visit, price agreed first

How we do it

Approved Document F expects mechanical ventilation in new dwellings to be tested with a flow device that has been calibrated within the last 12 months, and the results recorded on a commissioning sheet. The person commissioning should be registered with a competent person scheme for ventilation or show evidence of competence; we tell you who will sign your sheet when we quote. Testing is also useful outside new builds: it shows landlords and homeowners whether existing fans meet the rates, and it is the first step in rebalancing an MVHR system that no longer feels right.

MVHR commissioning

Supply and extract at every valve measured and balanced.

Remedial advice

If a fan fails, we explain why and quote the fix.

Extract fan tests

Each fan measured and compared with the Part F rate for the room.

Guide prices in Berkshire

Airflow testing and commissioning guide prices in Berkshire
Work	Guide price
Airflow testing and commissioning sheet for extract fans (up to 6 fans) (per home)	£160–£325 inc VAT
MVHR or MEV commissioning test, every terminal measured and recorded (per system)	£270–£435 inc VAT
Rebalance and recommission an existing MVHR system (per system)	£270–£490 inc VAT

South East rates shown. Prices include VAT at 20%. The fixed price is confirmed in writing after we have seen the job.

Common reasons people call

After rebalancing or extending a system
Building control needs a commissioning sheet
You are selling a new build and the paperwork is missing

Rules in England

English building work follows Approved Document F (2021 edition) for ventilation rates, installation and commissioning. It sets extract rates for kitchens, bathrooms and utilities and asks for mechanical ventilation to be commissioned and recorded.

How the job runs

Book
Measure
Adjust
Record
Advise

Towns we cover in Berkshire

Questions about airflow testing and commissioning in Berkshire

Are prices different in Berkshire?

Our guide prices are adjusted by region. In Berkshire we use South East rates, so airflow testing and commissioning sheet for extract fans (up to 6 fans) is typically £160 to £325 inc VAT per home.

What happens if a fan fails the test?

We explain the likely cause, such as an undersized fan or a crushed duct, and quote to fix it. Many failures are cheap to put right.

Is testing a legal requirement?

For new dwellings in England, mechanical ventilation must be commissioned and the results given to building control. For existing homes it is good practice and useful evidence.

Is the survey free in Berkshire?

This is a charged visit because it is servicing, testing or repair work. We tell you the cost before booking. Surveys for new installations on the UK mainland are free.

Which rules apply to ventilation in Berkshire?

In England, ventilation in new and altered homes is covered by Approved Document F of the Building Regulations. Landlords also have duties under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, and workplaces must be ventilated under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.