Kitchen Extract Cleaning

Grease builds up inside every commercial kitchen extract system, and once it lines the canopy, ductwork and fan it becomes a serious fire and hygiene risk. We deep clean and maintain kitchen extraction ducts, canopies and ventilation systems to the BESA TR19 Grease standard, and document every job so you and your insurer can see the system is compliant.

Kitchen extract cleaning to TR19 Grease

Kitchen extractors draw grease, hot air and odours away from cooking areas. With use, layers of fat and oil build up on the inside of the metalwork. When exposed to high temperatures and naked flames, those deposits can ignite, and a fire spreads quickly. The same build-up also causes unpleasant smells, contaminated air flowing back into the kitchen, and pest infestation.

Regular assessment and thorough cleaning reduce these risks and keep your ductwork compliant with the BESA TR19 Grease specification. As a BESCA Vent Hygiene Associate member, we clean back to the bare metal and certify the result, so your kitchen extract system meets current fire-safety expectations.

Failure to keep the system clean can invalidate your insurance policy in the event of a fire, which is why every clean we carry out is fully documented and certified.

What our kitchen extract service covers

Our service focuses on cleaning and maintaining the whole kitchen extract ventilation system. That includes:

• Hood and canopy cleaning: removing grease, grime and flammable residues that accumulate during cooking.
• Ductwork cleaning, clearing grease build-up along the full extract ductwork to reduce fire risk and restore airflow.
• Fan cleaning: cleaning and degreasing extract fans for efficient, safe operation.
• Access panel installation: fitting access panels so ductwork can be inspected and cleaned in future.
• Grease filter replacement: cleaning or replacing grease filters to maintain effective filtration.
• TR19 Grease compliance: cleaning to BESA’s TR19 Grease standard for kitchen extract systems.
• Certification and documentation: a full written report with before-and-after photos after every visit.
• Access cleaning: cleaning and sanitising hard-to-reach areas within the system for a comprehensive result.
• Frequency planning: a cleaning schedule matched to how hard your kitchen is used.
• Risk assessment, identifying fire hazards and areas of concern across the extract system.

Recommended cleaning frequency

TR19 Grease sets cleaning frequency by how many hours the kitchen runs each day. As a guide:

Usage	Daily use	Cleaning frequency
Light	2-6 hours per day	12-monthly
Moderate	6-12 hours per day	6-monthly
Heavy	12-16 hours per day	3-monthly

We confirm the right interval for your kitchen at the survey stage.

Benefits of kitchen extract cleaning

• Fire prevention: regular cleaning reduces the risk of kitchen fires caused by grease build-up in the extract system.
• Health, safety and insurance compliance: meets the standards expected of commercial kitchens and keeps your fire-insurance cover valid.
• Improved air quality, removing grease, odours and contaminants from the ventilation system.
• Energy efficiency: a clean, well-maintained system runs more efficiently.
• Extended equipment life: regular cleaning helps extend the lifespan of extract components and reduces replacements.
• Enhanced kitchen hygiene, preventing the growth of bacteria and mould inside the extract system.
• Reduced operational risk: minimises breakdowns and costly disruption from a neglected system.
• Lower maintenance costs: prevents excessive wear and tear, cutting the frequency of repairs.
• Odour control: clears the grease and debris that cause unpleasant smells in kitchen and dining areas.

What we do

• Inspect and risk assess the kitchen extraction system.
• Deep clean and remove all grease, right back to the metal on canopies and ductwork.
• Use only environmentally friendly chemicals that are safe on metalwork and fire-safety coatings.
• Produce TR19 Grease certification of compliance, required for insurance validity, on completion.
• Consult with you to create an ongoing cleaning and maintenance plan.
• Provide out-of-hours cleaning so we can work around your service times.

Book a TR19 Grease survey of your kitchen extract system and we will assess the grease build-up, agree the right cleaning frequency, and certify the work once it is done.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a kitchen extract system be cleaned?

BESA TR19 Grease links the cleaning interval to how many hours the kitchen runs each day. As a guide, light use of 2-6 hours a day calls for a clean every 12 months, moderate use of 6-12 hours every 6 months, and heavy use of 12-16 hours every 3 months. Cooking style matters too, as solid-fuel and heavy frying kitchens generate grease faster. We confirm the right interval at the survey stage and build a frequency plan so you stay compliant between visits.

What is TR19 Grease and why does it matter?

TR19 Grease is the specification published by BESA (the Building Engineering Services Association) for controlling fire risk from grease deposits in kitchen extract systems. It sets out how canopies, ductwork and fans should be cleaned, how the results are measured, and how the work is documented. Fire risk assessors and insurers treat it as the benchmark for kitchen extract hygiene. As a BESCA Vent Hygiene Associate member, we clean to this specification, back to bare metal, and certify the result.

Can grease in my extract system really invalidate my insurance?

It can. Many commercial insurance policies require the extract system to be cleaned to TR19 Grease at appropriate intervals, and a fire traced back to a grease-laden duct can give the insurer grounds to reject a claim. That is why every clean we carry out is fully documented and certified, with before-and-after photographic evidence, so you can show your insurer and your fire risk assessor that the system was properly maintained.

How much does kitchen extract cleaning cost?

There is no flat rate, because the price reflects the job itself. The main factors are the size and layout of the system, including the number of canopies, the length of ductwork and the fans it serves, the level of grease contamination inside it, how easy the internals are to reach (existing access panels reduce time on site), and whether we need to work overnight or out of hours around your service times. We survey the system first, free of charge, then give you a fixed written quotation before any cleaning is booked.

Do you fit access panels if my ductwork has none?

Yes. Fitting access panels is part of our kitchen extract service, and on older systems it is often the first job, because without adequate access the ductwork cannot be inspected or cleaned to TR19 Grease along its full length. We fit panels where they are needed so that this clean, and every future one, can reach the whole run. For larger alterations or new extract runs, see our ductwork and air handling unit installation service.

Will the clean disrupt kitchen service?

It does not have to. We plan cleans around your trading hours and provide out-of-hours and overnight working, so canopies, filters, ductwork and fans are degreased while the kitchen is closed. At the survey stage we agree timings, access arrangements and any isolation needed, and the system is left clean, reassembled and ready for your next service.

What paperwork do I receive after the clean?

Every visit ends with a full written report including before-and-after photographs, plus TR19 Grease certification of compliance on completion. Keep these with your fire safety records: they are the evidence your insurer, landlord or fire risk assessor will ask for, alongside other ventilation records such as fire damper testing results. If any part of the system could not be reached, the report says so and recommends the access improvements needed.