Hood Cleaning

Abiding by a regular cleaning schedule should be seen as a fire safety measure, not as a janitorial job, say fire sprinkler system professionals.

When a hood is cleaned by a professional, it helps prevent costly damage by removing fire hazards from the area where most restaurant fires are started.

Hood cleaning involves areas near fire suppression systems, as well as the hoods, ducts and fans. According to the Fire Protection experts, hood cleaners must take precautions to avoid getting caustic chemicals inside the bracket where the fire suppression system's fusible link is situated. If grease begins to build up inside the pipe, the experts recommend that the fire suppression system installer be called to replace the pipes or to clean them themselves.

Hood cleaners also must make sure that the red caps on fire suppression nozzles are intact during and after cleaning. If they are left hanging, it is likely that grease will build up and clog the nozzles. In the event that the fire suppression system is activated, clogged nozzles could hinder the system's ability to put out the fire.

Cleaning these systems requires more than putting soap, water and elbow grease to work. The grease that collects in a kitchen presents a special fire hazard that must be removed with special chemicals and high-powered machinery used by trained professionals.

NFPA Standard 96 outlines the minimum fire safety requirements related to the design, installation, operation, inspection and maintenance of all public and private commercial-grade cooking operations.

These requirements include exhaust hoods, ductwork and fans; grease removal devices; as well as dampers, fire extinguishing equipment and components or systems involved in capturing, containing and controlling grease buildup.

The provisions of this standard are important when it comes to providing a reasonable level of protection from loss of life and property from fire and explosion," according to the International Kitchen Exhaust Hood Cleaning Association.

Regular maintenance of a restaurant's kitchen exhaust system is an integral part of defending a kitchen against fire hazards, according to the IKECA website. Keeping a system working at its best means smoke and grease is exhausted from the building to provide a cleaner, cooler kitchen and better working environment for staff.

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Author Jason Sadur Hood cleaning <www.donerighthoodcleaning.com> Done Right Hood Cleaning Inc. Boston MA 1-781-523-9372 When You Want ITDone Roght Call Us. Kitchen exhaust <www.donerighthoodcleaning.com>