KITCHEN EXHAUST HOODS/VENTILATION INSPECTION AND CLEANING
Why do I need to schedule professional exhaust hoods cleaning?
- It's required by law and providing proof of service is essential to pass health inspections. In compliance with Alberta Public Health Act and the province's Food Regulation, exhaust hoods must be inspected, cleaned and maintained by a certified exhaust hoods professionals (MFS or PAC certifications only), according NFPA 96 industry standards. See below for frequency of service.
- Kitchen fires and the dangers of poor maintenance: Grease poses a significant risk as it is highly flammable and can accumulate rapidly after just a day’s use. This makes it one of the primary culprits behind kitchen fires.
- Prevent equipment damage: As the filters in the exhaust hood system traps more grease, your equipment works harder and can cause machinery components to wear out quicker.
- Lower Your Business Insurance: Regular preventative maintenance activities in adherence to Alberta fire codes can significantly decrease the probability of fires or other hazardous incidents in commercial settings. By taking a proactive approach to safety, businesses can minimize risk and subsequently reduce insurance expenses.
CCE Services offers health inspection and insurance specific documentation as evidence of your compliance and scheduled maintenance of exhaust hood and ventilation systems, grease traps/interceptor, or kitchen appliance steam cleaning.
Resources:
- Alberta Fire and Building Codes - Exhaust Hoods Maintenance Guidance (April 2020)
- Alberta Food and Retail FoodServices Code (March 2020)
- Building codes for restaurants related to ventilation systems/exhaust hoods
- Health inspections are public and can be found here.
2. How often are inspections and cleaning required?
According to NFPA 96, your hoods should be inspected (not necessarily cleaned) anywhere from every month to every year, depending on the frequency of use. For example, a restaurant or manufacturing plant will likely need their hoods inspected every 1-3 months, while a nursing home or church may only have to have their hoods inspected every six months or even just once a year. You may notice grease buildup on your hood filters and determine they need to be cleaned sooner than expected. Please refer to NFPA 96 recommendations in the table (11.4).
CCE Services is trained, qualified and certified to inspect your exhaust hood systems and provide certification of inspection. If found to be contaminated with deposits from grease-laden vapors, the entire exhaust system will be cleaned and maintained in accordance with NFPA 96 industry standards.
Note: Discount hood cleaning is often performed by a service company that isn’t certified by the Alberta recognized certifications to perform NFPA 96 inspections. What’s more, these discount cleaning services have a reputation for cutting corners by only cleaning visible areas instead of removing panels to clean in unseen places.
