Duct cleaning is vitally important for the health and safety of your kitchen. This is especially the case for commercial kitchens, used more frequently than your kitchen at home. See below for more details on the risks and what you need to do.

How do Greasy Ducts cause Fires?

The number of reported fires caused by greasy air ducts in the UK has been on the rise over the last few years. The London Fire Brigade recorded 166 fires in restaurants in 2007-8, and that’s London alone. How commercial kitchen fires tend to happen is as follows:

• When cooking, the exhaust gases generated leave a greasy residue on the inside of your ductwork.
• The cooking heat removed by the exhaust system then warms this greasy residue.
• The combination of the grease, air and heat increases the likelihood of a fire starting.
• A single flare-up may ignite the grease in the ducts. Once that starts, it’s difficult to stop.

The good news is that this can be easily prevented by regularly cleaning your kitchen ductwork.

 What are the Commercial Duct Cleaning Legal Requirements?

Any business operating a kitchen is under a legal obligation to regularly clean ductwork, according to the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act.

“Employers and Persons concerned with premises owe the common duty of care to employees and others who may use or visit the premises”…”Requires that you as an employer, provide and maintain a working environment that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health”

 How Often should you Get your Ductwork Cleaned?

How often you’re obligated to have your ductwork cleaned depends on the level of usage in your kitchen. As below, usage of 2-6 hours per day requires annual professional duct cleaning. Moderate use, of 6 – 12 hours per day requires professional duct cleaning every six months. Heavy use of 12 – 16 hours per day requires duct cleaning four times a year, every three months.