Dirty, greasy kitchen extraction systems can pose a serious fire hazard – filters simply cannot eliminate all the vaporised grease that commercial cooking causes. These greasy residues then condense and build up on the canopy plenum, duct and fan surfaces. A dirty supply or extract system particularly a Kitchen Extract is a definite fire or dust explosion risk.
Both Health and Safety at Work Regulations as well as Fire Regulations dictate that a risk assessment of the grease build up within the extraction system must be carried out by those responsible for the workplace, with the results acted upon to ensure that any risk of FIRE or to health is eliminated or in the very least minimized.
The HVCA Tr19 Guide to Good Practice Internal Cleanliness or Ventilation Systems has provided an indication as to the recommended maintenance schedules that should be administered by organizations dependent of the daily level of cooking carried out.
This is our main line of work and is often an area which is overlooked as it can be inaccessible or is just overlooked as it is often not visible from ground level and requires inspection from loft spaces and or roof tops. The extraction system can however prove to be a potentially very hazardous area if maintenance is left unmonitored or unscheduled, the system is not maintained sufficiently at the correct intervals or past cleaning has not been completed to the high standards that AAA Vents LTD can guarantee.
The reason for this is that a build up of grease and carbon deposits quickly form within the extract system and it is important to maintain the cleanliness of this system not only to reduce the risk of fire and bacteria but to deter unwanted vermin such as flies, cockroaches and mice.
At AAA Vents Ltd we clean the whole system from the canopy and filters through to the terminal, fitting fire rated access doors (if required and authorised by clients) in order to gain access to the whole system. If in a situation where fitting an access door is not possible we look for another solution in order to ensure cleanliness can be maximised, whether removing part of the system or where this may reduce the integrity of the system and in accordance with Health and Safety regulations actually physically get inside the system to ensure the best possible quality of cleanliness. This level of quality is unparalleled and only with a totally clean system can one truly eliminate or minimise the risks of fire, vermin and bacteria but at the same time the ‘AAA Standard of Cleanliness’ can potentially improve the longevity of the equipment and therefore reduce long term costs to our clients.
In order to highlight our quality of work and to ensure that our clients are getting value for money for the job they have paid for, we supply a complete range of before and after photographs for all work undertaken as well as providing a post job report and completion of work certificate. This ensures that our clients are kept fully versed with aspects of the system and to ensure that they know the job has been completed properly and to the highest standards.
We also encourage both site and client management to actually have a look at the system with us before and after as sometimes photographs do not show the true extent of the build up.
Supply Cleaning
With the supply system, if these are not maintained a build up of dust and bacteria will form in the system causing potential health issues for patrons and staff. Removable filters can help reduce the risks and slow the build up in the system but this area cannot be over looked. Once the cleaning is completed the whole system is sanitised to eliminate any leftover chemicals or bacteria that had not been irradiated from the cleaning process.
