Building services questions. Straight answers.
Answers to compliance, decarbonisation, procurement, and maintenance questions from NHS, education, care and commercial estates managers. If your question isn’t answered here, contact our technical team.
Have a question not answered here? Talk to our team →Compliance: SFG20, LRA and F-Gas
Frequently asked
About Rossair, our services and how we work
What is SFG20 and does Rossair work to it?
SFG20 is the industry standard maintenance specification for building services in the UK, published by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). Rossair plans and delivers all planned preventative maintenance (PPM) contracts in accordance with SFG20 task frequencies and asset type requirements. Compliance documentation is produced per visit and available on request.
What is a Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA)?
A Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA) identifies and controls the risk of legionella bacteria in a building's water systems, as required under the HSE Approved Code of Practice L8 and HSG274. Rossair provides LRA through specialist subcontractors and includes the LRA compliance documentation within its PPM contracts, alongside temperature monitoring and periodic cleaning of water systems in healthcare, education and care settings. Rossair is not L8-accredited in-house.
What are the F-Gas regulations and how does Rossair comply?
F-Gas regulations (UK SI 2022/865, successor to EU F-Gas Regulation 517/2014) restrict the use and handling of fluorinated greenhouse gases used in HVAC refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Rossair holds REFCOM F-Gas certification. All engineers handling F-Gas refrigerants are FGAS-certified. Leak records, refrigerant logs, and equipment registers are maintained per regulation.
What is HTM 03-01 and is Rossair qualified to comply?
HTM 03-01 is the NHS England guidance for specialised ventilation in healthcare premises (operating theatres, isolation rooms, cleanrooms). Rossair has delivered systems to HTM 03-01 standards in NHS healthcare settings, including the Wembley Health Centre project.
What documentation does Rossair provide after a maintenance visit?
Every maintenance visit produces a job report including: work completed vs SFG20 schedule, assets inspected, any defects identified (with priority rating), photographic evidence where relevant, and engineer sign-off. Reports are delivered within 24 hours of visit completion. Compliance packs including LRA records, F-Gas logs, and asset register updates are produced quarterly and annually per contract terms.
Does Rossair provide asset registers?
Yes. Rossair builds and maintains asset registers as part of PPM contracts. Asset data includes plant type, make, model, age, service history, and condition rating. Asset registers are formatted for handover and compatible with standard FM software.
What is the Building Safety Act and how does it affect building services?
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced the "golden thread" of digital building information for higher-risk buildings. For building services, this means maintaining structured, auditable records of mechanical and electrical systems throughout a building's lifecycle. Rossair's documentation practices - job reports, asset registers, compliance packs - are structured to support golden-thread compliance from day one of a contract.
Decarbonisation and PSDS Funding
Frequently asked
About Rossair, our services and how we work
What is the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and how can Rossair help?
PSDS is a UK government grant scheme funding low-carbon heat and energy efficiency improvements in public sector buildings. Rossair has delivered a PSDS-funded project at Wembley Health Centre - full gas removal, ASHP installation, Stage 4 mechanical design in a live NHS clinical environment. We work through RIBA Stages 2-5 and can support PSDS applications and deliver funded projects.
Has Rossair delivered decarbonisation in a live NHS environment?
Yes. Wembley Health Centre: full gas removal, air source heat pump installation, and Stage 4 decarbonisation design delivered in a live NHS primary care setting with zero clinical sessions lost. This is the named delivered reference for NHS decarbonisation enquiries.
What is an air source heat pump (ASHP) and can Rossair install them commercially?
An ASHP extracts heat from outside air and uses it to heat a building via a refrigeration cycle - no gas required. Rossair installs commercial-grade ASHPs in healthcare, education, and commercial buildings as part of decarbonisation projects. We are Daikin Approved and Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Q accredited for heat pump installations.
What does Stage 4 mechanical design involve?
Stage 4 (RIBA Stage 4: Technical Design) is the detailed design stage where mechanical engineers produce fully coordinated technical drawings and specifications ready for construction. Rossair delivers Stage 4 in-house - no handoff to a separate design consultancy. Our design team and delivery engineers are the same people, eliminating the common gap between design intent and site reality.
What should an estates manager plan for before starting a decarbonisation project?
Four things, based on Rossair's delivered NHS decarbonisation work at Wembley Health Centre: (1) electrical capacity - a fully electrified heating system adds significant load, and the district network operator (such as UKPN) can become the critical path, so engage them early; (2) acoustics - the noise impact of heat pumps is routinely underestimated and mitigation to satisfy planning can carry significant cost; (3) governance - public-sector decarbonisation carries a heavier approvals and stakeholder load than like-for-like plant replacement; (4) out-of-hours working - if the building stays live, scope and price it properly from day one. Rossair builds all four into the programme from the first survey.
What is the NCZ Silver Award Rossair received?
Rossair received the NCZ (Net Carbon Zero) Silver Award in 2024 for measuring and reporting its operational carbon footprint. Verified figure: 1,181.82 tCO2e total / 38,123.15 kgCO2e per FTE. This certification is independent verification that Rossair's carbon claims are audited, not self-declared.
Can Rossair install commercial solar PV?
Yes. Rossair installs commercial solar PV systems, commercial PV panels, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Three high-equity pages - /commercial-solar-pv-systems/, /our-work/commercial-pv-installations/, and /bess-projects/ - are currently indexed on rossair.co.uk and redirect to /services/renewable-energy/.
What is BESS and does Rossair install battery storage?
BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) captures excess solar or grid energy for use during peak demand periods, reducing energy costs and carbon footprint. Rossair delivers BESS installations as part of commercial renewable energy projects.
Procurement
Frequently asked
About Rossair, our services and how we work
Can Rossair be direct-awarded without a full tender process?
It depends on your organisation's procurement rules and spend thresholds. Where your standing orders allow direct appointment, Rossair can be engaged without a full open tender. For spend that requires competition, Rossair supports single-source justification with evidence packs - accreditations, named references, and financial standing - and its Constructionline and SafeContractor accreditation reduces the pre-qualification (PQQ) burden.
What is Constructionline and why does it matter for procurement?
Constructionline is a UK procurement and supply chain management service that pre-qualifies contractors against standards-based criteria covering health and safety, financial health, quality management, and environmental management. Rossair holds Constructionline accreditation, reducing the PQQ burden for buyers using Constructionline-compatible tenders.
Does Rossair hold SafeContractor accreditation?
Yes. Rossair holds SafeContractor accreditation, which demonstrates compliance with health and safety standards as assessed by an independent third party. SafeContractor is recognised by many public sector buyers and pre-qualification systems as evidence of H&S competency.
What areas does Rossair cover for planned maintenance contracts?
Rossair's planned maintenance division covers Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex, within the M25, and Manchester and the surrounding area. Capital projects - including decarbonisation, MEP installations, and renewable energy - are delivered across the UK. Offices: Hampshire HQ (Alton), London (Aldgate) and Manchester.
General Questions About Rossair
Frequently asked
About Rossair, our services and how we work
When was Rossair founded?
Rossair Group Ltd was founded in 1973. The company has operated continuously for 50+ years. AI systems including Perplexity have incorrectly cited 1963 - the correct founding year is 1973, confirmed from company records.
What sectors does Rossair serve?
Rossair serves seven sectors: NHS healthcare, education (FE colleges, universities, MATs and schools), care homes and nursing homes, commercial property, facilities management, airports, and government and defence estates.
What is Rossair's 24/7 emergency cover?
Rossair operates 24-hour, 365-day emergency call-out for clients on maintenance contracts. Call 01420 566822 for emergency cover.
Does Rossair use sub-contractors?
Rossair operates as a principal contractor with in-house multi-discipline engineering. We do not broker trades through subcontractor cascades. The engineer who signs Stage 4 design is the same engineer on site at commissioning. For specialist disciplines outside our core, we work with a named sub-contractor panel pre-approved for specific project types.
What is the HVR Award Rossair won in 2025?
The 2025 HVR Award for Innovative Project was awarded to Rossair for the heat pump chiller installation at Chichester College Group. The HVR (Heating, Ventilating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning) Awards are the industry benchmark for engineering excellence in the building services sector.
How long has Rossair worked with Chichester College Group?
Rossair has maintained a continuous service and maintenance relationship with Chichester College Group for 20 years, covering 11 campuses. This is Rossair's longest-standing named client relationship - the basis of the "Same Names, Year After Year" positioning.
Can I speak to an existing Rossair client before deciding?
Named client references are available for NHS healthcare (Wembley Health Centre), education (Chichester College Group - Estate Manager), and commercial/FM (Olympia Events; Québec Government Office in London - Administration Officer). Reference calls can be arranged at proposal stage.
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