A firm specialising in ductwork cleaning is warning premises owners and duty-holders in the catering and hospitality sectors that failure to maintain kitchen extract ducts can have catastrophic consequences.

Via an informative video that refers to several recent fires in commercial kitchens and restaurants Swiftclean Environmental emphasises how the fire risk of uncleaned kitchen-extract ducts affects every town and city in the country.  It quotes fire officers as saying that up to 70 per cent of all commercial kitchens fail to have their extract ducts cleaned to remove flammable fats and grease, or maintained to repair any breakages or gaps in the duct.  

According to Swiftclean, this is required by law under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order but it says the law is commonly flouted because there are not enough resources to enforce it. Swiftclean points out that most insurance companies now include a clause in buildings insurance policies covering restaurants, cafés and takeaways against fire, making it clear that cover is invalidated if regular maintenance and cleaning of kitchen extract ducts is not carried out.
 


To view the Swiftclean video, visit www.swiftclean.co.uk/video2.htm More information on the importance of regular cleaning and maintenance of ductwork is contained in the article ‘Go with the flow’ in the July 2011 issue of SHP.