The Ventilation Paradox: Why a Critical System is Still Routinely Failing
Eighteen months ago, I welcomed Nathan Wood to the third-ever episode of the Air Quality Matters podcast. A fellow campaigner for better outcomes in the built environment, Nathan—Managing Director of FARMWOOD M&E SERVICES LTD. and chair for both the EIA Air Quality Working Group and BESA London & South East—shared his on-the-ground perspective of a ventilation industry struggling with quality and competence.
Fast forward over 70 episodes, and Nathan and I found ourselves sharing an Airbnb in Manchester for a housing conference. It was the perfect opportunity to sit down and ask a crucial question: after 18 months of increased awareness, regulatory shifts, and non-stop discussion, what has actually changed?
The answer, as we discovered before even hitting record, was depressingly clear. Our temporary home, a modern apartment, was a perfect case study in failure: an inaccessible, switched-off MVHR unit with blocked filters, and windows that couldn’t be opened.
This irony set the stage for a candid, solution-focused conversation that gets to the heart of why ventilation, a system so critical to our health, continues to be the Achilles' heel of the construction and maintenance industry.
The Unchanging Reality of Widespread Failure
One of the first things we discussed is a reality Nathan and his team at Farmwood witness daily: the persistent, widespread failure of ventilation systems. Despite the introduction of new regulations and standards, the "horror shows" of poor installation that Nathan documents on LinkedIn have not subsided. This isn't about minor non-compliance; these are fundamental failures in design, workmanship, and professionalism.
Based on what his teams see when called out for routine maintenance or troubleshooting, Nathan confirms that a starting assumption of 75% failure rate for installed systems is not an exaggeration. This shocking statistic applies not only to individual residential units but to large-scale communal systems and commercial buildings as well. In our conversation, Nathan unpacks what this failure looks like in practice—from poorly routed ductwork that strangles airflow to systems commissioned with what can only be described as fraudulent data. To grasp the sheer scale and nature of these issues, hearing Nathan describe them with firsthand frustration is more impactful than any summary can convey.
A Fractured Supply Chain and the Accountability Void
So, why does this keep happening? The core of our discussion focused on the deep, systemic fractures in the supply chain and a glaring lack of accountability that has no parallel in other critical trades like gas or electrics.
We broke this down into several key areas:
The Uninformed Customer: From the individual homeowner who makes decisions based on aesthetics and noise to large housing associations operating on a reactive "replace-like-for-like" basis, there's a fundamental lack of understanding of what a good ventilation outcome even is. They ask for a product, not a performance outcome, creating a cycle of repeat failures.
The Competence and Professionalism Gap: At the heart of the problem are installers who either lack the skills or, more troublingly, the professional care to do the job right. We’ve all seen the pictures of fans venting into wall cavities. In our talk, Nathan shares a sobering example involving a major UK house builder and a demonstrably fraudulent commissioning certificate—a story that highlights just how broken the compliance pathway is. Unlike other trades, there is currently no effective mechanism to "strike off" bad actors, allowing poor workmanship to continue unchecked.
The Role of Manufacturers: While a product is only as good as its installation, we debated the significant responsibility manufacturers hold. They are often the first port of call for information, yet their technical data can be difficult to compare across brands, and their marketing often prioritises sales over ensuring the right product is chosen for the right application. They are a powerful point of influence in a chain that desperately needs clarity.
Charting a New Path to Genuine Competence
We were determined not to spend the entire episode just lamenting the problem. A significant portion of our conversation explored what "good" looks like and how we can build a realistic pathway to genuine competence.
Nathan argues compellingly that the current two-day "competency" courses are little more than awareness training. True competence in ventilation isn't a standalone skill; it requires a foundation in other trades. We discussed what a real curriculum should look like, incorporating fundamentals of:
Safe electrical isolation and controls.
Basic plumbing for condensate management.
Mechanical principles and correct use of tools.
Only with these basics in place can someone begin to master the nuances of ventilation design, ductwork installation, and system commissioning. We explore the urgent need to establish ventilation as a formal, qualified trade with a structured apprenticeship route—similar to plumbing or electrics—and the challenges that stand in the way. Hearing Nathan, who has built his own successful in-house training programme, outline this roadmap provides a rare and valuable blueprint for the industry.
Bonus Insight from Our ‘One Take’ Segment
In addition to our main feature, this week’s shorter One Take episode dives into a fascinating academic paper from the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. The research asks a simple but profound question: with so many air quality apps and sensors available, what actually convinces people to use them?
The study surveyed over 370 users and applied a proven technology adoption framework to find the answer. The results were surprising. While factors like the app being useful and becoming a habit were important, the single most powerful driver for adoption was hedonic motivation—a technical term for whether using the app was an enjoyable, fun, or engaging experience.
Just as interesting was what didn't matter. The perceived ease-of-use had no significant impact on a person's intention to use the app. The key takeaway is a clear signal for developers and policymakers: to achieve mass adoption, air quality technology cannot just be a sterile data utility. It must be designed as an experience, connecting with users on a human level. It's a powerful reminder that in the world of hard data, it's often the softer human elements that determine success.
Hear the Full Story
This post only scratches the surface of a candid and detailed conversation packed with real-world examples and hard-won insights. To truly grasp the nuances of the challenges our industry faces and the potential pathways to fixing them, I invite you to listen to the full discussion.
The Air Quality Matters Podcast in Partnership with
Farmwood - Eurovent- Aico - Aereco - Ultra Protect -
The One Take Podcast in Partnership with
SafeTraces and Inbiot
Do check them out in the links and on the Air Quality Matters Website.
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