Restaurant kitchens are expected to be squeaky clean, for the sake of those who work in and eat at the restaurant. If proper procedures are not followed, the safety of nearby people can be put in danger, as well as concerns about pollution and other health risks.
One area of especially great concern is your restaurant’s kitchen hood which poses a serious risk of fire if not properly cleaned and maintained.
Read on for everything you need to know about why to have it cleaned and whom to hire for the job.
The Science of Kitchen Ventilation
Regardless of the size – or design – of a restaurant kitchen, the same basic principles of ventilation apply. Dirty air is exhausted from the kitchen, and replaced with new, filtered air in a perpetual cycle.
The performance, efficiency, and safety of a commercial kitchen ventilation system depends on several factors, including:
- Construction
- Design
- Installation
You can rest assured that maintaining cleanliness and hygiene levels will be regularly assessed.
Ventilation standards for the food service industry are much more advanced than a standard exhaust system, simply from the type of air that is being exhausted.
Grease and smoke-laden vapors produced by the cooking process must be exhausted from the building per local ordinances and codes such as IKECA and NFPA 96, and replacement or make-up air provided must equal to the amount of air being removed.
What Are the Reasons to Have Your Restaurant’s Kitchen Hood Cleaned?
There are multiple effluents produced by cooking, such as grease, moisture and smoke.
With the exhaust fan running, Tioughniat said, all these parts are taken up through the kitchen hood, transferred through the filters and into the ductwork – gradually accumulating over time. When the buildup is great enough, it becomes a fire hazard – which can only be avoided through regular cleaning. Here is an example of a series of events resulting in a kitchen exhaust fire, that have not been cleaned:
- On the stove top, a high flame either flares up or is created.
- Flame comes in different with the filters present in kitchen hood and it ignites.
- With the exhaust fan drawing air into it, the flames are also drawn upward into the ductwork.
- If enough grease remains in the ducts it can become a source of fuel, transporting the fire deeper into the exhaust system causing extensive damage and putting the building and its contents in danger.
Aside from the possibility of things catching fire, there are several other reasons to have your restaurant’s kitchen hood cleaned:
- Health. Grease buildup in your exhaust system not only hurts the air quality in your restaurant’s kitchen, but also the air quality in the rest of the building. When filters become saturated and ductwork is breached, contaminated particulate is free to travel in occupied spaces in the building where employees and patrons can inhale it.
- Compliance. NFPA 96: Many of NFPA 96 Standards include the care and cleaning of commercial cooking equipment such as exhaust and fan systems. Failure to meet these or other codes or regulations could result in your kitchen failing inspection and costing you additional time and money to bring it back up to code or even putting you out of business. And if a fire starts from lack of cleaning, your insurance company may reference this information to determine liability and deny your claim.
- Prevention. Your kitchen exhaust system is not only a fire hazard but also a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew due to large volumes of moisture and heat. Routine, professional, kitchen hood cleaning prevents illness and potential mechanical failure and damage.
Schedule Routine Cleanings
The frequency of kitchen hood cleaning for a restaurant varies on the type and quantity of cooking taking place in your operation. Follow these guidelines:
- Monthly – Restaurants utilizing wood or charcoal cooking, all-night restaurants, fast food outlets
- Quarterly – High & medium volumes – 24hrs schedules
- Semi-Annually – Pizza restaurants, average volume, sit down atmosphere.
- Yearly – Hoods above non-grease cooking appliances, or those used seasonally, sporadically or produce small volumes of food.
The Process of Cleaning Restaurant Hoods in Albuquerque and New Mexico
Ultimately, the risks of not properly scrub-cleaning your kitchen – and hired help will probably be required here – are probably greater than whatever you’re saving.
After having your kitchen hood cleaned by highly trained experts such as Brazas Fire, you won’t dare turn exhaust system cleaning into the next DIY project! If your business would benefit from monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual kitchen hood cleaning, contact Brazas Fire.
If you own a restaurant in Albuquerque or elsewhere in New Mexico don’t wait until an unexpected blaze breaks out on your premises before you decide it’s time for kitchen hood cleaning.
Call us today at 505-889-8999 if you need to schedule cleaning for your commercial kitchen exhaust system!