Airflow testing and commissioning in Suffolk

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 Suffolk gets a written quote before it starts and a commissioning record when it finishes. We cover Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Felixstowe and Sudbury and the villages around them.

Airflow testing in Suffolk at a glance

Area: Suffolk
Towns listed: 12, largest Ipswich
Postcode districts: IP10, IP3, IP4, IP1, IP2 and NR32
Price region: East of England
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.

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.

MEV and dMEV commissioning

Trickle and boost rates measured and set.

Guide prices in Suffolk

Airflow testing and commissioning guide prices in Suffolk
Work	Guide price
Airflow testing and commissioning sheet for extract fans (up to 6 fans) (per home)	£150–£310 inc VAT
MVHR or MEV commissioning test, every terminal measured and recorded (per system)	£255–£415 inc VAT
Rebalance and recommission an existing MVHR system (per system)	£255–£465 inc VAT

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

When to get it looked at

After MVHR or MEV installation by another company
A landlord file needs proof of ventilation
After rebalancing or extending a system

Rules in England

English building work follows Approved Document F (2021 edition) for ventilation rates, installation and commissioning. For homes, it sets minimum extract rates such as 15 litres a second for a bathroom and 30 or 60 for a kitchen, and expects mechanical systems to be airflow-tested.

How the job runs

Book
Measure
Adjust
Record
Advise

Towns we cover in Suffolk

Questions about airflow testing and commissioning in Suffolk

Are prices different in Suffolk?

Our guide prices are adjusted by region. In Suffolk we use East of England rates, so airflow testing and commissioning sheet for extract fans (up to 6 fans) is typically £150 to £310 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 Suffolk?

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 Suffolk?

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.