Sector · Courts

Hearings at fixed times and controlled access: how duct inspection is scheduled in a court

In a court the hearing calendar rules, and the entry of outside people goes through security control.

By Limpieza de Ductos PanamáReviewed October 21, 20263 min readShare

Short answer

Duct cleaning in courts is the camera inspection and cleaning of the ducts that air condition hearing rooms, offices and waiting areas, scheduled around the court calendar. It is coordinated with the court administration, controlled access is respected and no hearing is interrupted.

What sets courts apart

The court calendar sets the scheduleHearings are not moved for an inspection. The calendar of each room is requested and the work happens in the gaps or on days without hearings.

Rooms that rest between hearingsWhen a unit stays off for hours or days, it makes sense to look at the ducts before switching it on again.

Controlled access and confidentialityEvery entry is coordinated with the court’s security. Files are not opened and photos are limited to the inside of the ducts.

Facts that help decide in courts

In Panama: According to the Judicial Branch, the accusatory criminal justice system recorded 1,180,489 hearings between January 2, 2011 and the first half of 2025, of which 854,638 were before guarantee judges. (Judicial Branch, 14 years of the accusatory criminal justice system in Panama)
Technical fact: The EPA and NIOSH guide recommends confirming that the unit’s occupied and unoccupied cycles match the actual periods of use, and warns that in hot, humid climates ventilation may be needed during long unoccupied periods to prevent mold growth. (EPA and NIOSH, Building Air Quality, section 5)

Types of place within courts

Type of place	What changes in the work plan
Courts	A plan per court office, with the administration as the single contact
Hearing rooms	Work happens in the gaps of the calendar and the free room is confirmed the day before
Judicial offices and clerks’ offices	Offices serving lawyers and parties: scheduled outside the busiest hours
Criminal justice system judicial offices	Offices that schedule hearings: their coordination agrees when entry is possible
Judicial records rooms	Rooms with case files: coordinated with the person in charge and nothing is moved
Waiting rooms and lobbies	Spaces open to the public: reviewed at hours without hearings

How the work is organized in courts

Check the calendar and the access points. With the court administration the rooms, the free hours and who authorizes each entry are identified.
Inspect outside hearings. The camera goes through the ducts of rooms and offices in the gaps left by the calendar.
Hand over to the administrative lead. The report separates each room and notes what was not opened because of security or the calendar.

An example of what the report brings

An illustrative page from a court report: hearing room 2, ground floor. A photo of the supply grille, a photo of the filter of the unit serving the room and a note saying the neighboring records office was not opened.

What you are left with at the end

A calendar by room that respects the hearing schedule
Photographs of the inside of the ducts only, with no images of case files or people
The list of rooms and offices that were not opened
A suggestion of when to look again, based on how each room is used

Reference sources

EPA: Building Air Quality, a Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers (guide for building managers)
EPA: Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? (guide written for homes)
Technical references of this site, with all 45 sources

On this site

All sectorsWhat changes in each type of place
Camera inspectionThe real condition before deciding
Service areasWhere work is done

Climatiza and Radar Panamá

Air conditioning maintenance in Panama (in Spanish)Climatiza
Commercial, industrial and residential HVAC services (in Spanish)Climatiza
Air duct cleaning in Panama: when and how to checkRadar Panamá
HVAC asset survey: what it is and when a building needs oneRadar Panamá

Frequently asked questions

Is a hearing interrupted?

No. The work is scheduled in the gaps of the calendar or on days without hearings, and the court administration decides when.

Who authorizes entry?

The court administration and the security staff, under the court’s own rules. It is confirmed before the visit.

Are case files or people photographed?

No. Photos are of the inside of the ducts and of the units. If an image shows anything else, it is discarded.

What about a room that is hardly used?

It is reviewed before regular use resumes, to know the condition of the ducts and the unit.

How often does it make sense to check the ducts in courts?

There is no fixed frequency. It makes sense to look after periods when a room was closed, when an office has odors or moisture, and before intensive use resumes.

What does the report include for courts?

It brings photographs of the inside of the ducts. It is organized by room and office, with the areas not opened because of security or the calendar clearly marked.

Keep exploring

All sectorsThe 31 sectors and 119 types of place.Open →Offices and corporate towersIn an office building each floor has its own rhythm, and the one who decides is usually the property manager.Open →Banks and finance companiesA branch has a public hall and back offices with different hours and access rules.Open →

Related toolDuct inspection plannerEstimate the level of attention your system needs based on use and warning signs.Open planner →

Request an inspection

Do you want to know what your place needs?

Tell us what type of place it is and which area it is in. A camera inspection shows the inside of the ducts before anything is decided.