For almost three decades, Kimmo Haapalainen has been part of EVHA's journey, serving as President, Board Member, lecturer and today as Past President.

In this anniversary interview, he looks back on EVHA's journey, shares his perspective on how the ventilation hygiene industry has evolved, and explains why EVHA's mission remains just as important today as it was thirty years ago.

A European Association Built for the Industry

The idea behind EVHA was simple but ambitious: to establish an independent, non-profit European association for companies specialising in ventilation and air duct cleaning.

At the time, the founders saw the need for an organisation that would bring European professionals together, promote high standards and share knowledge across national borders. Unlike commercial organisations, EVHA was created solely to support the industry and its members.

"The idea was to establish a European non-profit association for duct cleaning service companies – an organisation where nobody personally benefits, only the industry itself."

According to Kimmo, the very first idea for EVHA was born during what he describes as a "trash-can meeting" at a NADCA conference, where three professionals – Brian Hargreaves (United Kingdom), Oscar Rodriguez (Spain) and Roger Malmström (Sweden) – discussed the need for a European organisation dedicated to ventilation hygiene.

Surviving the Difficult Years

Like many organisations, EVHA has experienced challenging periods.

For Kimmo, the most difficult time came after the global financial crisis in 2008, when membership dropped to fewer than ten companies, most of them from the United Kingdom.

Despite those challenges, EVHA continued its work and gradually rebuilt its international community.

An Industry That Never Stops Evolving

Over the past thirty years, ventilation hygiene has developed significantly.

Growing awareness of indoor air quality, new inspection methods and the experiences gained during global pandemics have all contributed to raising expectations of professional cleaning and maintenance.

As the industry has evolved, EVHA has continued to adapt by developing guidance, promoting best practices and providing education.