Ventilation Hygiene in Switzerland: SWKI VA104-01 & SN EN 15780

1. Regulatory Framework: SWKI VA104-01:2019 and SN EN 15780

In 2019, the Swiss Society of Building Services Engineers consolidated former guidelines VA104-01 and VA104-02 into the updated guideline SWKI VA104-01:2019 'Hygiene Requirements for Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Systems'.

It harmonizes with European standard SN EN 15780:2011, establishing defined cleanliness classes and dust accumulation limits across Swiss commercial real estate.

2. Cleanliness Classes under SN EN 15780

SN EN 15780 classifies buildings into three distinct hygiene levels:

• Low: Warehouses, technical plant rooms, underground car parks.
• Medium (Standard): Commercial offices, hotels, schools, retail centers, restaurants.
• High: Hospitals, cleanrooms, laboratories, intensive care units.

3. Specialist Qualification: Category A vs. Physical Cleaning

Swiss standards distinguish between microbiological assessment and technical duct cleaning:

Hygiene inspections, microbial air sampling, and system approvals require a certified specialist (SWKI / VDI 6022 Category A certification).

Physical duct cleaning, filter exchanges, and mechanical debris removal do not require Category A status and are executed by qualified technical cleaning teams.