Are You Doing Everything To Protect Your Establishment From A Fire?
The majority of restaurant fires originate from kitchen cooking appliances that may flare into the kitchen ventilation hood. The United States Fire Administration statistics
show that restaurant fires peak during pre-lunch hours when the kitchen is the busiest, with over half of these fires resulted from ignited grease and cooking oil.
One of the most important pieces of equipment to maintain and keep clean is the kitchen ventilation hood in order to reduce the risk of fire.
A kitchen ventilation hood that is properly cleaned and maintained can also have a number of additional benefits:
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Reduce or eliminate smoke and unpleasant odors
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Reduce possible contamination of food from dripping grease and debris
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Allow refrigeration units to work more efficiently, saving on food waste cost and electrical cost
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Provide a better working environment for your kitchen staff by lowering the air temperature of your kitchen.
In order to keep the kitchen ventilation hood clean, a regular cleaning schedule is necessary. It is recommended that the kitchen ventilation hood should be cleaned at least
every six months; however more frequent cleaning may be necessary depending on the type of cooking equipment that is used (example: multiple fryers in use) and type of foods cooked. The volume of food will also determine the frequency the kitchen ventilation
hood will be cleaned. It is recommended that a professional cleaning service clean the entire kitchen ventilation hood system from the kitchen to the roof. The ventilation hood grease filters must also be routinely cleaned by restaurant staff. If you have
any questions regarding ventilation hoods or cleaning schedules, please call our office (373-5210).
By Neil Fifield, R.S., Standardized Food Trainer/Evaluator and Plan Review Specialist
Kalamazoo County Environmental Health
Vern Johnson, R.E.H.S.
Environmental Health Director
Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department
Environmental Health Bureau
3299 Gull Road----P.O. Box 42
Nazareth, Michigan 49074-0042
Office: 269/373-5356 FAX: 269/373-5333
E-Mail: vljohn@kalcounty.com
