Kitchen ductwork before cleaning with combustible deposits posing fire risk

Is your ductwork safe?

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Minimising fire risk, maximising hygiene and functionality are all good reasons to ensure your building’s ductwork is effectively maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. The new Loss Prevention Standard (LPS 2084) seeks to minimise fire risk from ducting.

In response to the issues caused by ineffective cleaning and maintenance, BRE Global has launched a new standard. LPS 2084 defines the LPCB requirements for the approval of companies carrying out inspection, cleaning and maintenance of ductwork systems that may be contaminated with combustible deposits. The standard was launched in May 2017, and there are already ten companies who have applied to join the scheme.

Using a company certified to LPS 2084 will give clients the assurance that the cleaning and maintenance of their ductwork systems has been carried out correctly. Certified companies with LPS 2084 have to:

– meet the requirements of the client contract
– document and report correctly
– identify and record areas of limited access where inspection, cleaning and maintenance are impractical and communicate these limitations to the client
– provide recommendations for access improvements to better facilitate the ongoing cleaning and maintenance of the ductwork system.

Fire safety in ducting

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that a fire risk assessment is undertaken. This requires the building’s owner or workplace manager to nominate a responsible person to identify all possible sources of fire and eliminate, or at least minimise the risk, to the building’s occupants. Regular kitchen extraction cleaning will remove one of the most common causes of fire within the kitchen. There is growing evidence that failure to clean the ductwork system by a competent ductwork cleaning company can result in fire insurance cover being withdrawn. Regular effective kitchen extraction cleaning is imperative to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants and reduce the risk of a fire caused by grease build-up in the extraction system.

Kitchen extract ductwork – before and after cleaning

Kitchen ductwork before cleaning with combustible deposits posing fire risk   Kitchen Extract Ductwork After Cleaning

Regardless of the efficiency of the canopy filters, it is inevitable that grease deposits will build up over time in the kitchen extraction ductwork and canopy. For this reason, regular cleaning of the ductwork system is essential. If left, grease will become baked on and carbonised making it extremely difficult to remove, thus reducing the effectiveness of the extraction system, potentially shortening the life of the fan and creating a serious fire hazard that may propagate around the building in question.

LPS 2084 is of great importance in an industry with little regulation. Certified companies will be audited by BRE Global on an ongoing regular basis to ensure that the company continues to adhere to the requirements of the standard. The auditors will be checking records and supporting documentation covering the contract itself, storage and handling of cleaning materials and the disposal thereof, training etc..

Specifying LPCB approved products and services enables the Responsible Person to reduce risk by showing due-diligence in the selection of products and services can be trusted to perform as specified.

Review LPCB’s new standard: LPS 2084 requirements for the approval of companies carrying out inspection, cleaning and maintenance of ductwork systems.

If you would like to learn more about the scheme contact: Phil Brownhill, Installer Scheme Manager [email protected]         07870 155 816