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Hygiene Services > Kitchen Extract Hygiene > Extraction System Hygiene Inspection
Extraction System Hygiene inspection from Swiftclean
The kitchen grease extract system presents particular hazards due to the potential for the accumulation of grease, which forms a hidden combustion load. Under certain circumstances flame or very high temperature within the duct can ignite the grease causing fire to spread rapidly through the duct. Therefore, it is of particular importance that grease extract systems are regularly inspected and cleaned as required, to ensure they do not pose a major potential fire risk at any time.
The Health & Safety Executive and industry and insurance guidance and regulations stipulate that kitchen extract systems should be kept clean to minimise fire and other risks. And the HVCA document TR19‘ Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems’ provides specific guidance on methods of measuring and defining cleanliness as a bench mark for good practice.
For advice on Extraction System Hygiene Inspection from Swiftclean please contact us on kitchen@swiftclean.co.uk or free phone 0800 243 471.
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The provision of adequate access is a primary issue. To enable proper inspection of the system, it is essential that all extract ductwork, canopy plenum and other components are fitted with a sufficient number of access panels to allow unrestricted access to their internal surfaces.
It is recommended that system testing is carried out at internals not exceeding 12 months, but depending on initial survey findings and level of kitchen usage, the inspection and, or cleaning frequencies may need to be more frequent.
The grease deposit thickness test methods used by Swiftclean, are as outlined in TR19 ‘Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems’. The primary method is the Wet Film Thickness Test (WFTT) measurement method, but in the case of extremely hard baked, carbonised, deposits it is permitted to use the Deposit Thickness Test (DTT). Both test methods provide an objective, repeatable and verifiable measurement of grease deposits, and overcome the subjectivity of visual inspection alone.
Measurements are taken at the following locations where practicable, or at as many alternative locations as possible;
- Canopy plenum behind filters
- Duct 1 metre from canopy
- Duct 3 metres from canopy
- Duct midway between canopy and fan
- Duct upstream of fan
- Discharge duct downstream of fan
| Wet Film Thickness Test Measurement | Complete cleaning required |
|---|---|
| 200 microns as a mean across the system | Complete cleaning required |
| Any single measurement above 500 microns | Urgent local cleaning required |
As recommended in TR19, Swiftclean inspections also include a photographic record, system layout drawings and information on a number of additional kitchen extract system safety issues, such as; filter cleaning regimes, component damage.
For advice on Extraction System Hygiene Inspection from Swiftclean please contact us: kitchen@swiftclean.co.uk or free phone 0800 243 471.