Every restaurant owner should know fire code guidelines for their commercial kitchen, especially when it comes to their exhaust system (range hoods). If these are not properly cleaned and inspected on a regular basis, this can result in a serious fire, damaging your entire kitchen and restaurant. If you do not know your state’s commercial kitchen fire codes, just read below (click on the link at the end of the summary to read about it in more detail).

You must clean the exhaust system if you find contamination from the grease vapors.

You must have your exhaust system inspected AND cleaned by a trained, qualified and certified company or person. Please check with your local or state fire marshal to ensure (click here to find out).

Duct systems should not have access panels installed more than 20 feet apart. If a panel changes directions from the rest it must be installed no more than 10 feet apart. Lastly you should ensure everything is in an area where it’s easily accessible for cleaning.

Remember to clean: floors, backsplash, kitchen appliances, hoods,
plenums, ducts, fans, fan housing and roof discharge areas.

Everything should be “bare metal clean”

Always have your exhaust system fans on whenever cooking.

Air flow should not be less than 500 feet per minute at discharge from the duct.

Do not operate with filter gaps or filters removed with the filter equipped exhaust systems.

How Often to Clean My Exhaust System:

Utah law requires you to clean your kitchen exhaust systems based on the info below:

• Monthly: Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations.
• Quarterly: Systems serving high-volume cooking operations such as 24 hour charbroiling, or wok cooking.
• Semiannually: Systems serving moderate-volume cooking operations.
• Annually: Systems serving low-volume cooking operations, such as churches, day camps, seasonal businesses, or senior centers.

Make sure your ventilation openings are not restricted, shut down or blocked, especially while cooking is in progress.

Exhaust fan housings must be hung with easy openings.

Fan housings must have a grease drainage and a grease containment system.

The roof structure must be cleaned and free of grease or corrosive contaminates.

https://up.codes/viewer/utah/irc-2015/chapter/15/exhaust-systems#15