Making sure that a kitchen exhaust system is cleaned regularly is the first step to preventing an unexpected grease fire.  Many restaurant owners wonder how often they should be assessing their exhaust systems.  The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) has the following set of guidelines:

NFPA 96 – 11.4 Exhaust System Inspection Schedule

  • Monthly Inspection: Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations

  • Quarterly Inspections: Systems serving high-volume cooking operations such as 24-hour cooking, charbroiling, or wok cooking.

  • Semiannual Inspection: Systems serving moderate-volume cooking operations

  • Annual Inspection: Systems serving low-volume cooking operations, such as churches, day camps, seasonal businesses, or senior centers.

If your exhaust system is not properly maintained, then you are exposing your business to a potential fire hazard.  In fact, most kitchen grease fires spread rapidly because the flames will flare up from a kitchen appliance into a grimy, neglected exhaust system full of built-up grease.

Invest in the safety of your kitchen equipment today by scheduling regular cleaning with an IKECA Certified Professional.