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Howard Passey discusses fire risks inherent in kitchen extract ductwork, and RISCAuthority’s work to establish a certification scheme
F
IRE SPREADING into and through kitchen extract ductwork continues to be a signifi cant concern to property
owners, occupiers and insurers. Such systems are considered to be a high fi re risk element, particularly when serving commercial catering environments, and the scope and scale of damage is often disproportionate to the size of the establishment. The fi re risk is posed primarily where poor
standards of maintenance and cleaning allow for the build up of grease and fats in the extract ductwork, which itself is often extensive and may be routed through a premises, exacerbating the potential for signifi cant damage. Many will be familiar with high profi le fi res
where spread into and through kitchen extract ductwork has led to signifi cant spread and losses, including those at Heathrow Airport, River Café and the Hard Rock Café. However, following the London Fire Brigade ‘Latest Incidents’ feed shows that such fi res are not isolated incidents, nor necessarily infrequent – often with signifi cant loss and inconvenience to public and communities. Statistics for 2016/17 published by the government indicate that
in non domestic premises in England there were 918 fi res where cooking oil or fat was the fi rst item or material ignited, and 796 fi res where cooking oil or fat was responsible for the development of the fi re. Sadly, kitchen extract systems are not always
given the level and frequency of attention they demand, because extract ducting from the kitchen canopy often runs hidden above ceilings, or in ducts and risers or other void spaces in a building. Until a fi re occurs, there may be no other obvious signs of danger.
Effi ciency and ignition
Of course, extract systems are designed to remove the grease from the airfl ow above a cooking range; however, although the fi lters installed in the hood are designed to and will trap grease particles, they can never be 100% effi cient, and a signifi cant volume of particles will pass beyond the fi lters and into the extract ductwork. This allows for a potentially flammable
coating to form on the inside of the canopy, extract plenum, ductwork fan blades and turning vanes. It is recognised that different types
48 DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
www.frmjournal.com
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