Current affairs
FOCUS
of kitchen extract ductwork, the primary requirements being that initial inspection shall include: • a survey of level of grease present throughout ductwork – including photographic evidence status of filters
•
• details of existing cleaning regime • typical usage levels • identification of suppression systems and their maintenance regimes
• identification of restricted access areas
• a proposal to address restricted access issues to improve future cleaning
and also that the post cleaning report should include the following: • a survey of the cleaned ductwork system, to include photographic evidence
• status of cleaned filters
• detailed schematic of the ductwork system, showing areas of restricted access
• suggested remedies for areas of restricted access
• details of agreed ongoing cleaning/maintenance regimes
It is understood that there has been a high level of demand for certification from companies working in this market, and at the time of writing, three were already listed on the redbooklive website.
Future hopes
It is hoped also that the introduction of the scheme will raise the profile of the risks associated with kitchen extract ductwork with fire risk assessors.
Although assessors will be familiar with the
more obvious and visible fire risks, and the need to ensure that appropriate records of inspection and maintenance are available, there is a need for better awareness of the hidden risks in ventilation and extract systems, and for clear and robust reporting on cleaning activities by contractors.
As with other safety related services,
technologies in the field of extract ductwork cleaning continue to evolve. In preparation for the planned update to RC44, as described above, RISCAuthority is also exploring systems using biological cleaning agents, such as Ecofix from Quintex. The cleaning agent is introduced into the
kitchen extraction and ventilation system as a mist via a system of pipework and nozzles. The agents attach themselves to any grease, oils and fats, breaking down their carbon structures into water and carbonic gas, and leaving a small biomass residue
Howard Passey is principal consultant at the Fire Protection Association. For more information, view page 5
www.frmjournal.com DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 51
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