Don’t get caught out
You’re short-staffed, behind on prep, and the Friday lunch rush is building—when a health or fire safety inspector walks through your kitchen door. It’s a scene that plays out in thousands of commercial kitchens across the UK each year. And if you’re not ready, it can cost you more than a hygiene rating — it could lead to legal penalties, insurance claims, or worse, a kitchen fire.
One of the first things inspectors check? Your ventilation system. Whether you're running a care home kitchen, a school canteen, or a busy gastropub, your extraction system plays a major role in hygiene, fire prevention, and compliance. And for regulators, it’s not just about a quick visual check. It’s about documentation, safety standards, and consistency.
Why ventilation compliance matters
In the UK, over 1,100 commercial kitchen fires are reported every year, many of them caused by poor maintenance, grease buildup, or faulty extraction systems. According to London Fire Brigade data: “Grease build-up in extraction systems is one of the most common causes of fires in commercial kitchens.”
On top of that:
- Fire and Rescue Services in England attended over 582 restaurant fires in 2023.
- In many cases, fire investigators found that non-compliant or unmaintained ventilation systems were a significant contributing factor.
- Insurance claims resulting from kitchen fires often get rejected if maintenance records are incomplete or missing.
The message is clear: poor ventilation maintenance isn’t just bad practice, it’s a legal and financial liability.
What inspectors are really looking for
1. Clean, functional extraction systems
EHOs and fire safety officers look for:
- Grease accumulation on canopy hoods, baffle filters, ductwork
- Blocked or damaged filters
- Poor airflow or smoke lingering in kitchen areas
The presence of grease on vents or ceilings is a red flag. It not only impacts hygiene but signals that your extraction system isn’t performing properly.
> BS EN 16282 is the relevant British Standard for commercial kitchen ventilation, requiring that systems remove airborne contaminants and be maintained in a “safe and hygienic condition.”
How Just Filters Helps
Our monthly filter exchange service ensures that your kitchen is never operating with clogged filters. We bring in a clean set, take the used ones away for deep cleaning, and leave your ventilation system functioning at peak performance, no stress, no downtime.
2. Fire safety compliance
Kitchen fires move fast, and inspectors know this. That’s why they check:
- Whether filters are fire-rated to UK commercial kitchen standards
- Routine cleaning of ductwork and grease traps
- Evidence of a fire safety maintenance plan linked to your ventilation system
> Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, businesses are legally required to assess fire risks and maintain all fire prevention systems, including extraction and filtration, in good working order.
> TR19® (developed by BESA) is the industry standard for internal cleanliness of ventilation systems. It’s commonly referred to by insurers, fire investigators, and local fire brigades.
Remember, many commercial kitchen insurance policies require compliance with TR19 standards. Failure to meet these can void a claim in the event of fire.
3. Hygiene standards
Ventilation plays a huge role in maintaining food safety and hygiene. EHOs check:
- Visible grease on surfaces near extraction systems
- Odours, excessive heat, or signs of air contamination
- If airflow is causing cross-contamination between raw and cooked food zones
- Poor airflow increases the presence of airborne particles like grease, bacteria, and carbon.
This can affect your Food Hygiene Rating and damage your business’s public reputation.
> The Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 require commercial kitchens to maintain equipment in a clean condition and prevent food contamination by physical, biological, or chemical means.
4. Maintenance Records and Documentation
No matter how clean your kitchen looks, inspectors want to see paper trails. You should be able to show:
- Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
- Cleaning certificates for filters, ducts, and grease traps
- Logs of scheduled maintenance or inspections
> Under HSE guidelines, all employers must maintain adequate documentation of control measures taken under COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), including grease vapours and airborne contaminants.
> The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 also require “effective and suitable ventilation” in enclosed workplaces, which includes kitchens.
5. Insurance Requirements
Insurers are increasingly demanding evidence of kitchen ventilation cleaning and servicing. Lack of documentation or proof of professional maintenance can lead to:
- Premium increases
- Policy cancellations
- Rejection of claims after a fire or ventilation-related incident
At Just Filters, all clients receive digital service reports, completion certificates, and compliance logs stored in a secure online portal, ready for inspectors or insurers anytime.
Case Study: Fuller, Smith & Turner (Griffin Brewery)
One of our long-standing clients, Fuller, Smith & Turner, manages over 200 sites with
our filter exchange service.
“Just Filters cover approx. over 200 sites for us on the filter exchange service and I find them reliable, hard working, polite to customers (very important) and very conscientious… Nothing is a problem to Just Filters as they always find a solution.”
By entrusting their ventilation hygiene to us:
- They ensure consistent, professional maintenance
- They reduce fire risk and support compliance
- Their teams don’t worry about scheduling or documentation
It’s exactly the reliability inspections and insurers want to see.
Who needs to care about this?
All commercial kitchens, regardless of size or sector, are subject to the same safety and hygiene standards. That includes:
- Restaurants, pubs, and cafes
- Hotels and hospitality venues
- Hospitals and care homes
- Schools, colleges, and universities
- Facilities management companies and FM contractors
If your kitchen operates a canopy hood and extraction system, these regulations apply to you
Stay inspection-ready, all year round
Inspections don’t need to cause panic. When us as a reliable partner, you can be confident your kitchen ventilation is:
- Professionally maintained
- Fully documented
- Fire-safe and regulation-compliant
Need help? Let’s talk.
We handle everything — from initial site surveys and sizing, to routine filter exchanges, duct cleaning, and grease trap services. We work with NHS Trusts, hotel groups, schools, and restaurants across the UK.