Wednesday 12 August 2015

Kitchen Extraction Cleaning – By Ingot Services



Kitchen Extraction Cleaning – Five Reasons Why This Is Vital


With most daily commercial kitchen cleaning, you are clearing away dirt you can see – for instance, ensuring surfaces, walls and sinks are spotless. However, there is also dirt in areas you can't see where cleaning is equally crucial, including kitchen extraction. Ductwork from cookers or ovens in a pub or restaurant can easily be forgotten, but allowing grease to build up in these areas is dangerous for a number of reasons. 

Here we look at just some of the reasons why regular kitchen extract cleaning is vital for all food businesses.

1. Fire Risks: A fire at a fish and chip shop in south Essex was just one recent incident caused by build-up of grease in ductwork, showing the risks. Fire services across the country are called to many similar blazes every year. Grease and oil are highly combustible, so if deposits are allowed to build up in kitchen ductwork they can easily catch fire. By law, extract systems need to be included in fire risk assessments and action must be taken to minimise any risk posed – and that means regular cleaning is essential. 

2. Bacteria Risks: As well as the fire risk, if grease builds up in kitchen extracts it can provide a breeding ground for bacteria. This could cause food poisoning and pose a potential danger of airborne infections spreading to both staff and customers. Cleaning surfaces and equipment rigorously won't prevent bacteria spreading into the area from uncleaned ductwork.

3. Regulatory Compliance: There is a whole raft of regulation covering safe operation of commercial kitchens, and extract systems are included in regular inspections. Even if the worst doesn't happen and the build-up of grease in your extract systems doesn't cause a fire or an outbreak of food poisoning, inspectors are likely to take a dim view of the fact that you have allowed this risk to occur. The result could be a shutdown or even prosecution.

4. Insurance Conditions: If a fire occurs in ductwork that has not been cleaned, your insurer could argue that the fire was due to your negligence. Many insurance companies now set stipulations for regular cleaning by a specialist commercial cleaning contractor as a condition of cover, and require evidence that this is being carried out.

5. Performance of Equipment: If you let your extract systems get clogged up they won't perform so well, meaning there is a risk of breakdown and of parts wearing out more quickly. Keeping equipment clean and performing properly will also keep down energy costs – which is yet another reason for proper cleaning of all kitchen equipment and fixtures, including air duct systems.

Although a lot of daily kitchen cleaning can be carried out by your own staff, this doesn't apply to ventilation duct cleaning. It's essential to have this work done by professionals with the specialist training and knowledge, in order to ensure that it is carried out properly and satisfies regulatory and insurance requirements.

Ingot Services has more than 25 years of industrial cleaning and specialises in kitchen extraction cleaning. We provide reliable and expert services to businesses across the country, including customers in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bristol and Manchester.




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