Canopy & filters
The cooker hood, plenum and baffle filters are degreased and hand-finished. Filters are cleaned or soaked, and we flag any that are damaged or missing.
Commercial Kitchen Ductwork Hygiene
Commercial Kitchen Extract Cleaning to TR19® Grease Standard
Every commercial kitchen extract system collects grease. Left in the ductwork, that grease is a proven fire accelerant — a single ignition at the canopy can travel the full run of the duct in seconds. Our kitchen extract cleaning is carried out to the TR19® Grease standard so that build-up is removed, documented and verified, keeping your building insurance valid and giving Environmental Health Officers and fire officers the written evidence they now routinely demand.
If your extract ductwork has not been cleaned to a recognised standard, your insurer can refuse a fire claim and your responsible person can be found in breach of fire safety law. We remove that risk. Clean Vents UK deep-cleans canopies, filters, extract ductwork, fans and ancillary components across the Midlands and nationwide, then hands you a TR19® certificate, a before-and-after photographic report and wet film thickness (WFT) test readings that prove the work was done properly.
- TR19® Grease
- Certificates Issued
- WFT Testing
- Out-of-Hours
- Fully Insured
IMAGE: before/after of a grease-laden extract duct cleaned back to bare metal
Scope of Works
What's included in a TR19® kitchen extract clean?
A compliant clean covers the whole system, from the canopy at the cooking line to the fan on the roof. TR19® Grease requires that the extract system is cleaned along its full accessible length — not just the visible parts — so grease deposits cannot remain hidden inside bends and vertical risers.
Extract ductwork
Horizontal runs, vertical risers and bends are cleaned along their full accessible length, using existing access panels or new ones where required.
Fans & impellers
Extract fans and impellers accumulate grease that unbalances the blades and cuts airflow. We strip, degrease and reinstate them so the system draws properly again.
Silencers & attenuators
Acoustic attenuators and silencers trap grease in their baffles. Where fitted and accessible, these are cleaned as part of the full-system works.
Access panel installation
Where ductwork cannot be reached, we fit compliant access panels at appropriate intervals so the system can be cleaned now and inspected in future.
Verification & sign-off
Post-clean readings, photographs and a TR19® certificate confirm cleanliness against the standard — the paperwork your insurer and EHO expect.
Kitchen extract cleaning is only one part of keeping a building's ventilation compliant. If you also run supply and general extract systems, our air duct cleaning service covers those to TR19® Air / EN 15780, and buildings with ducted fire compartments will also need annual fire damper testing. You can see the full range on our ventilation hygiene services page.
Compliance & Risk
Why TR19® Grease compliance matters
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the "responsible person" for commercial premises must manage fire risk — and in a kitchen that includes the grease accumulating inside the extract system. Grease is a fire accelerant: once it ignites, a grease-lined duct behaves like a chimney, carrying flame through ceiling voids and between floors. Regular, documented cleaning is the recognised way to control that risk.
Insurers know this. Most commercial policies require kitchen extract systems to be cleaned to a recognised standard at appropriate intervals, and a TR19® certificate is the evidence typically accepted to show the duty has been met. If a fire starts and you cannot produce that evidence, an insurer can reduce or refuse the claim — meaning failing to clean can invalidate your cover at the moment you most need it. A valid certificate protects both your building and your business.
The same certificate satisfies Environmental Health Officers during inspections and reassures fire officers that the extract system is being maintained. If you want the detail behind the specification, read our plain-English guide to what TR19® Grease actually requires.
Cleaning Intervals
How often should kitchen extract systems be cleaned?
TR19® Grease sets recommended cleaning frequencies based on how heavily the kitchen is used. The heavier and longer the cooking day, the faster grease builds up and the more often the system must be cleaned.
| Level of use | Typical daily cooking hours | Recommended cleaning frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy use | 12–16 hours/day | Every 3 months |
| Moderate use | 6–12 hours/day | Every 6 months |
| Light use | 2–6 hours/day | Every 12 months |
Frying, char-grilling and wok cooking generate far more airborne grease than, say, a light breakfast service, so a busy takeaway may need cleaning more often than the hours alone suggest. For worked examples and how to set the right schedule for your kitchen, read our full guide to cleaning frequency.
Your Documentation
What you receive after the clean
Cleaning without evidence is worthless when your insurer or EHO asks for proof. Every job we complete comes with a full compliance pack.
TR19® certificate
A certificate confirming the extract system has been cleaned to the TR19® Grease standard, recording the areas cleaned and the date — ready to hand to your insurer or fire officer.
Before/after photo report
Time-stamped photographs of the canopy, ductwork and fans before and after cleaning, so you can see grease physically removed rather than take it on trust.
Wet film thickness (WFT) readings
WFT test readings measure the remaining grease film on internal duct surfaces, giving an objective, numeric check that the surfaces have been cleaned back — not just visually wiped.
Post-clean verification
A final verification pass confirms all accessible areas meet the standard, access panels are refitted and the system is left safe, reinstated and ready to use.
Simple Process
Our kitchen extract cleaning process
1
Free site survey
We inspect your canopy, ductwork route, fans and access provision, then give you a clear fixed quote and identify any access panels needed.
2
Out-of-hours deep clean
We work overnight or around your opening hours, sheeting down the kitchen, stripping and degreasing the full accessible system, and taking WFT and photographic evidence throughout.
3
Reinstate & verify
Filters, panels and fans are refitted, the kitchen is left clean, and we run a final verification pass to confirm the work meets TR19® Grease.
4
Certificate issued
Your TR19® certificate, photo report and WFT readings are compiled and sent to you, typically within a few working days.
Sectors
Who we clean for
We clean commercial kitchen extract systems of every size, from a single canopy above a takeaway to multi-canopy hotel and institutional kitchens.
Restaurants
Takeaways & Fast Food
Hotels
Pubs & Bars
Schools & Colleges
Care Homes
Dark / Cloud Kitchens
Staff Canteens & Facilities
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What affects the cost of a kitchen extract clean?
Price depends on the length and layout of the ductwork, the number and size of canopies and fans, how much grease has built up, and how easily the system can be accessed. Systems needing new access panels, or with long vertical risers and roof-mounted fans, take longer. After a free survey we give you a fixed quote with no hidden extras.
How much downtime is involved, and do you work out of hours?
In most cases there is no downtime at all. We work overnight, early mornings or around your opening hours so the kitchen is clean, reinstated and ready for the next service. We sheet down and protect surfaces before starting and clear up fully afterwards, so trading is not interrupted.
How long does a kitchen extract clean take?
A single canopy with a short duct run can be completed in a few hours, while a large kitchen with long ductwork, multiple canopies and roof fans may take a full night or longer. Access panel installation adds time. We confirm the expected duration in your quote after surveying the system.
Do you cover my area?
We are Midlands based and clean regularly across Birmingham and the wider region — see our Birmingham kitchen extract cleaning page for local detail. We also work throughout the East and West Midlands and take on nationwide contracts, particularly for multi-site operators and facilities managers.
What are the insurance requirements?
Most commercial property and fire policies require kitchen extract systems to be cleaned to a recognised standard, such as TR19® Grease, at intervals suited to your level of use. Insurers typically ask to see a certificate as evidence. Without it, a fire claim can be reduced or refused, so keeping your certificate current protects your cover.
Free Site Survey
Get your free quote
Tell us a little about your site and we'll get back to you with a fixed quote — usually within a few hours during business hours.
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- info@cleanventsuk.com
- Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 · Sat 09:00–14:00 · Sun closed
- Midlands based — covering the whole UK