Among the various safety hazards in a commercial kitchen, fires caused by grease build-up in exhaust ducts are often the most overlooked — yet the most dangerous.
Why does grease catch fire?
After exhaust cools inside the duct, it condenses into thick grease, which is essentially combustible. When an open flame at the stove, an oil-pan fire or high-temperature flue gas enters the duct, the accumulated grease is easily ignited and spreads rapidly along the duct, creating a three-dimensional fire that is hard to extinguish.
Three warning signs
- Noticeably slower exhaust and a stuffy kitchen
- Grease dripping from the hood or duct openings
- Louder fan noise and reduced airflow
How to reduce fire risk
- Regularly clean the exhaust duct, hood and fan to remove combustible grease
- Install and maintain an exhaust purifier
- Keep before-and-after photos and test reports to support fire inspections
- Build a cleaning record with automatic reminders when service is due
Regular professional cleaning is the most effective and economical way to prevent kitchen grease fires. Safeguarding kitchen fire safety starts with one standardized cleaning.
