Rodents, insects and decaying matter are not unusual in old buildings. When they die unnoticed inside HVAC ducts, they become breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. The real danger lies in contaminated air flowing from one duct to another in a hospital where patients are already dealing with other illnesses. The following insights have been shared by Nachiket Bokey, Marketing Manager of Nirmitee Robotics, a service provider working in the duct cleaning space across healthcare, pharma and industrial sectors.
Wherever there is bacterial growth, chances are that the ducts are carrying it further. And that is why hospital duct cleaning cannot be ignored.”
— Nachiket Bokey
How often should ducts be cleaned in hospitals?
“It depends,” he says. “In areas with heavy construction, such as a city that is constantly being built up, it should be done every six months. In other places, especially where hygiene is otherwise maintained well, once a year may be enough.”
Public hospitals, he points out, usually wait too long. “Sometimes, they clean after 20 to 30 years. Only when dust starts falling from the grills or someone complains that they wake up to the problem.”
Robots, ozone and the cleaning cycle
Most professional duct cleaning is done using robotic machines with brush and suction systems. “There are two stages: first physical cleaning, then hygiene cleaning. We deactivate bacteria using ozone gas before and after cleaning,” he explains.
The process starts with a study of the ducts. Once cleaning is approved, the team suits up in PPE kits and uses a robot equipped with a brush, suction hose and a camera. The technician controls it while watching a monitor. Once the ducts are physically cleaned, the space is ozonised again.
For an OT, the entire process usually takes around two to two and a half hours. “If it is the first time, it may take a little more because of setup. But the time comes down once we know the layout.”
Access, however, is key. “The duct may be twenty-five feet above, or it may be hidden. Without proper access, not just cleaning, any maintenance is difficult.”
Cleaning during shutdowns and with a responsible person present
In most hospitals, duct cleaning can only happen when the OT is shut and there is no emergency. Night-time work is often suggested. “We can work at night, but someone from their side must be there. We do not take risks. We do not want them to say later that something went wrong.”
One-time service or long-term contract?
“Usually, it is one-time, based on tenders or annual contracts,” says Nachiket. “Some facilities go for once in six months. Some just do it and forget it. NTPC gave us a two or three-year contract, but even there we clean only when units shut down.”
Railways are one of the few sectors that follow regular cleaning. “They cannot afford downtime due to dust and HVAC issues, so they have tenders in place and keep the work going. In pharma and hospitals, it is much slower.”
Pharma and the problem of access
“In pharma, we have done work earlier. But now, because of their process constraints and limited access, we have scaled back. Sometimes, they expect us to finish in a day, but our process needs at least two. We do not cut corners.”
Is the scenario improving?
“Some are waking up to the need, but many are not. I advise clients based on the condition. If you do it once in two years, I say so. If it needs six-month cleaning, I say that too. Not everything is about business,” he says.
Ultimately, he insists, duct cleaning is not just about hygiene. It is about safety, reliability and maintaining air quality that matches the expectations of a healthcare space.
