The majority of restaurant fires originate on kitchen cooking appliances and flare into the kitchen exhaust system. Regular maintenance of the exhaust system is one of your primary defenses against fire hazards. By keeping these systems working at their best, they will evacuate the smoke and grease out of the building and produce a cleaner, cooler kitchen and better working environment for your staff. The greatest factor governing required cleaning frequency is the volume of cooking and severity of the cooking operation. Configuration of the exhaust system may also dictate increased frequency. The cleaning frequency of the exhaust system should be specified to keep the system free of fuel load sufficient to support fire and operating at maximum efficiency. The National Fire Protection Association has developed the recommended cleaning schedule:
Cleaning Frequency Recommendations
When contracting for cleaning services it's important to ensure that the entire system is being maintained. Some contractors offer “hood cleaning” that does not include the ductwork or rooftop fan. While these services might keep the interior kitchen looking sharp, they do little to secure fire safety and reduce health threats. Only a complete cleaning from the hood to the roof will reduce your risk of fire and ensure compliance with fire regulations. When you schedule with Otter Commercial Services you can be assured that your exhaust system will be cleaned to the highest standards in the industry. In addition to being members of the NFPA and IKECA, we have also received certification from the Portland and Vancouver Fire Marshalls. Our teams undergo continual training and will carry out your cleaning with professionalism and precision. Before and After photos are taken of every job to ensure quality. Upon service completion, you will be presented with documentation of the work performed and a list of any needed repairs. A sticker will be attached to your exhaust hood detailing the date we cleaned and when the next cleaning is due. In addition, exhaust fans shall be restarted, all access doors utilized during cleaning will be replaced and fastened, and any mess generated during service operations will be cleaned leaving the kitchen sparkling and ready for your kitchen staff.
For a more in depth look at some aspects of your hood exhaust system see the following articles:
