"We called in several companies, ... but what I liked about PdC was that they took the time to survey the system properly and proposed a very pragmatic solution"

Owner of a prestigious Country Hotel & Restaurant More...

Part 1) - Kitchen and Fire Risk

Regular Kitchen Cleaning will help you to stay on top of two key requirements, namely; Food Hygiene and Fire Safety.

Commonly Asked Questions

We have compiled a set of answers to some of the questions that we are commonly asked;

• Questions relating to cleaning of commercial kitchens, including on cleaning frequency, how we go about cleaning a commercial kitchen and what certificates we can provide.
• Questions relating cleaning of Air duct and ventilation systems
• Questions about the Fire regulations and completing a Fire Risk Assessment

We also have some more detailed guidance on;

1. regular maintenance of kitchen extract canopies and grease filters (including recommended cleaning cycles for different types of establishment).
2. Care and maintenance of stainless steel

Standards and Best Practice

The HVCA produce a range of best-practice guides and specifications, which help ensure that all reputable cleaning contractors are able to conform to common industry standards in their work. Of particular relevance to Kitchen cleaning and extract systems are the following;

• TR/19 HVCA Guide to Good Practice Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems; and specifically Section 7 (Specific Considerations for Kitchen Extract Systems).
  In 2005 the HVCA amalgamated two publications (TR/17 and DW/TM2) to produce the TR/19, which incorporates the best practice for installing new systems and maintaining them and allows specifiers to deal with all aspects of the duct system in one publication. Follow this link for more information about the HVCA TR/19 Best Practice standards.

• DW/172 HVCA Specification for Kitchen Ventilation Systems.
  DW/172 is a definitive guide to kitchen ventilation systems in non-domestic properties. This publication has evolved to incorporate legislative change and new standards, and represents the most up-to-date and indispensable industry specification for HVAC specialists serving the catering sector. Follow this link for more information about the HVCA DW172 Specification for Kitchen Ventilation Systems.

TR/19 and DW/172 are available exclusively from HVCA Publications. To order a copy, visit www.hvca.org.uk/publications

Fire Safety and the law

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect in October 2006 and consolidated all fire safety legislation for non-domestic premises into a single Order. One of the benefits of this change is that it reduces the number of enforcers that businesses, or others with responsibility for non-domestic premises, have to deal with.

Under the Order, those with the responsibility for non-domestic premises (usually the owner, employer or occupier) are required to actively pursue and maintain fire safety and take responsibility for staff and others visiting their premises.

To help you ensure your premises comply with the new legislation, the Communities and Local Government website contains information on how to comply with the requirements of the Order.

To summarise the main requirements of the order, the responsible person is required to:

• Carry out a fire risk assessment identifying the risks and hazards.
• Consider who may be especially at risk.
• Eliminate or reduce the risk from fire as far as is reasonably practical and provide general fire precautions to deal with any residual risk.
• Take additional measures to ensure fire safety where flammable or explosive materials are used or stored.
• Create a plan to deal with any emergency and, in most cases, document your findings.
• Review the findings as necessary.

See also; the Fire Gateway site.

Part 2) - Ventilation Systems & Air Quality

Standards and Best Practice

The HVCA produce a range of specifications, relating to the construction and cleaning of ductwork. Of particular relevance to Ventilation systems are the following;

• TR/19 HVCA Guide to Good Practice Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems
  In 2005 the HVCA amalgamated two publications (TR/17 and DW/TM2) to produce the TR/19, which incorporates the best practice for installing new systems and maintaining them and allows specifiers to deal with all aspects of the duct system in one publication. Follow this link for more information about the HVCA TR/19 Best Practice standards.

• HVCA Duct work construction to DW/144
  The DW144 is recognised throughout the UK as the Standard Specification for ductwork manufacture and installation. It replaced the former DW/142 in 1998. Follow this link for more information about the HVCA DW144 Specification for Kitchen Ventilation Systems.

• TM26 Hygienic Manitenance of Office Ventilation Ductwork (CIBSE)
  This document aims to provide practical guidance on the proper procedures for maintaining ductwork systems in a safe and effective state. Follow this link for more information about the the TM26 publication on Hygiene Maintenance of Office Ductwork.

TR/19 and DW/144 are available exclusively from HVCA Publications. To order a copy, visit www.hvca.org.uk/publications.
TM26 is available from the CIBSE bookshop. To order a copy visit http://www.cibse.org

Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome is a phenomenon where workers in office environments complain that they are experiencing a range of non-specific symptoms. The symptoms usually resolve once the person who is experiencing them has left the building. Follow this link for more information about Sick Building Syndrome.