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One of the most significant worries for restaurant owners and managers is fires. You may, however, have a fire-free business with the correct information, practices, and services. While nothing can ensure full fire safety, following these simple guidelines can keep your restaurant safer for years to come. Keep reading and then contact Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE if you need additional help with fire prevention and automatic fire suppression systems.

Install a fire-suppression system that works automatically

Installing an automated fire-suppression system is the first step in preventing fires in your restaurant. Because the majority of restaurant fires involve cooking equipment, a restaurant’s fire-suppression system is intended to automatically dispense the appropriate chemicals to deal with flames involving cooking oils and other kitchen materials.

Service for the fire suppression system on a regular basis

It is not sufficient to just install an automated fire suppression system. You must also maintain your vehicle on a regular basis. The frequency with which you should have your fire suppression system maintained is determined by a number of factors, so always consult with a professional who is familiar with your system’s requirements and can ensure that it is ready to put out any fire that arises.

Clean the exhaust ducts thoroughly on a regular basis

The purpose of your exhaust system is to take hot air from your kitchen and distribute it outdoors via a duct system. It does, however, serve the purpose of eliminating vaporized oil from the air. Grease may build up in the duct system, and if it gets too hot, it can start a hazardous and catastrophic fire. However, by cleaning your ducts on a regular basis, the risks of a grease fire in your ducts are greatly decreased.

Employees should be trained in fire prevention and suppression

The measures for fire prevention and suppression should be understood by all of your personnel, from top-level managers to freshly recruited servers. Make sure kids know how to avoid a fire and what to do if one does break out. The usage of fire extinguishers and when to escape the premises should be included in this training.

Maintain a clutter-free kitchen and storage area

One of the most proactive things you can do to avoid fires is to keep the environment clean. It will not only improve the appearance of your restaurant to your guests, but it will also lessen the risks of a fire spreading. Make sure any flammable things are kept appropriately, and dispose of rags and other flammable waste in a container away from the kitchen. All grease spills should be completely cleaned, and flammable liquids should be stored in a puncture-resistant container that has been firmly sealed.

Fire extinguishers should be serviced on a regular basis

Your fire extinguishers, like your automated fire suppression system, will need to be maintained on a regular basis. Working with a company that not only sells but also services fire extinguishers will ensure that you have all you need for a safe, fire-free restaurant.

Get complete fire prevention and air control services

To learn more about our dependable services, contact Flue Steam now. We can assist you in having a restaurant that is free of harmful fires and air quality issues, so give us a call right away at 800-700-FLUE!

If you own or run a commercial kitchen, fire rules require you to have portable fire extinguishers in addition to an automatic fire suppression system. This ensures that staff can swiftly put out a fire that may start in an area that isn’t covered by the automatic fire suppression system. Before you purchase items to safeguard your kitchen, here’s what you should know about portable fire extinguishers.

Fire classes

Before you start shopping for fire extinguishers, think about the many sorts of fires that might happen in your kitchen. Depending on the materials burnt, fires are classified into the following categories:

• Organic materials such as wood, linen, paper, and many polymers are classified as Class A.
• Flammable liquids such as solvents, lacquers, petroleum greases, tars, and other flammable liquids are classified as Class B.
• Energized electrical equipment is classified as Class C.
• Flammable cooking medium, such as oils and fats, are classified as Class K.

Portable Fire Extinguishers are available in two different types

Depending on the sort of fire that portable fire extinguishers are meant to combat, different extinguishing chemicals are used. Consider the following scenario:

• ABC Fire Extinguishers are a multi-purpose fire extinguisher that may be used in both the home and the business. To put out Class A, B, and C flames, they employ a chemical called mono ammonium phosphate. Because this chemical is corrosive, it must be cleaned up as soon as possible after usage.
• Grease fire extinguishers, also known as Class K fire extinguishers, are particularly intended to put out grease fires in industrial kitchens. To prevent oil from splashing and spreading the fire, they spray a mist of potassium acetate and potassium citrate into the flames rather than a stream. The chemical will assist prevent the fire from re-igniting when it settles on the cooking appliances.

Pay attention to UL ratings

Underwriters Laboratory (UL) analyzes portable fire extinguishers and assigns ratings to them based on their performance. When putting out a fire, the first figure in the rating always represents how the extinguisher compares to 1.25 gallons of water.

On a Class K fire, for example, a product rated 2A:K would be twice as effective as 1.25 gallons of water (or 2.5 gallons). A second number on ABC extinguishers indicates the amount of square footage it can handle. A 4A:80B:C extinguisher, for example, would hold the equivalent of 5 gallons of water and cover 80 square feet.

Non-rechargeable vs. rechargeable

There are rechargeable and non-rechargeable variants of most portable fire extinguishers. Rechargeable extinguishers are strongly recommended for commercial kitchens by Flue Steam. This sort of portable fire extinguisher is more expensive up front, but it provides superior value over time because it may be replenished rather than thrown after each use. Contact us at 800-700-FLUE for help finding the right fire extinguisher.

Exhaust hoods and ductwork are given a lot of attention in the realm of commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaning. Grease filters, on the other hand, are an essential component of the puzzle. In a commercial kitchen, grease filters serve two critical functions. Read on to learn more and then contact Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE to learn about our kitchen cleaning services.

Safety

The primary purpose of a clean grease filter is to aid in the reduction of fire threats in commercial kitchens. Grease particles are caught as grease-laden air flows past the filter. As a result, less grease enters the ducts, where it can cause major fire hazards. Some grease filters have a spark arrestor mechanism that prevents sparks created by cooking with solid fuels like wood or charcoal from entering the ductwork, providing even additional fire safety.

Proper Airflow

The second function of a clean grease filter is to aid in proper kitchen airflow. The excess grease that would build on the walls of your ducting without a grease filter might actually increase drag inside the ducts. This would force your exhaust fan to run continuously, thereby increasing system wear and tear. Smoke and smells would be a problem in the kitchen due to the limited ventilation.

Unfortunately, a grease filter’s performance degrades as it becomes more clogged. A clogged grease filter may be a fire danger in and of itself, as well as restricting airflow even more than clogged ducts.

How to Maintain the Cleanliness of Your Grease Filters

Commercial kitchen grease filters may become dirty rapidly, but the good news is that they are meant to be cleaned and reused. To begin, have your employees examine the grease filters at the end of each day. The filters should be removed and cleaned if they seem oily. Most grease filters may be readily cleaned by scrubbing them with a solvent, letting them sit for a time, and then washing them in your industrial dishwasher.

But what if your employees don’t have time to do these tasks? What if your kitchen is open 24 hours a day and you can never leave your equipment without grease filters? You can ensure that your grease filters are clean by using Flue Steam‘s grease filter exchange service.

Every week or so, we’ll come out and remove your old, dirty filters and replace them with new ones. This doesn’t mean you’ll have to buy new filters every time; instead, we’ll clean your old ones and return them to you on your next visit. To take use of this service, you simply need two sets of filters.

Please contact 800-700-FLUE right now to learn more about receiving grease filter swap service on a schedule that fits for your company.

At Flue Steam, our objective has been to provide full kitchen air control and fire protection services to our Southern California clients for over 40 years. We’re ecstatic to be able to contribute to making Southern California kitchens safer and cleaner on a daily basis.

What we do for hotels and restaurants

Complete kitchen exhaust system cleaning (including hand scraping and steam cleaning), fan, hood, and duct cleaning, grease filter exchange service, swamp cooler maintenance, exhaust fan maintenance, automatic fire suppression system maintenance, and portable fire extinguisher sales and service are just a few of the services we offer.

The California Restaurant Association, the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association, and the National Fire Protection Association are all proud members of our company (NFPA).

The fireman dilemma

What does this have to do with firemen, though? You could inquire. Why should a fireman be concerned with what Flue Steam does on a daily basis?

Because Flue Steam makes the work of firemen so much easier! Kitchen fires are one of the most prevalent mishaps in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Though they’re still uncommon nowadays, it wasn’t always the case.

The significance of fire and health legislation

When our firm was created in 1971, health and fire standards controlling commercial kitchens began to be carefully enforced when the government learned that greater limitations could prevent fire incidents. When that happened, however, many business owners and managers found themselves unable to satisfy all of the standards while also attending to all of the other critical problems. Flue Steam arose from the necessity to fulfill all of the standards and assist restaurants in remaining profitable.

We are still doing the same work over 40 years later, and many of our clients have been relying on us for decades. We place a great emphasis on each customer and endeavor to surpass their expectations with our high standards.

We make it easy for everyone’s job

We not only make firemen’ work simpler by preventing them from having to rush all over town putting out kitchen fires, but we also make your job easier. Whatever your duties are, you’ll be able to focus on them much more effectively when we manage all of your kitchen air control and fire prevention needs. Focus on what matters most to you, and leave the less thrilling but equally crucial components of your kitchen to us.

We also provide exceptional emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—just contact 800-700-FLUE and one of our business vehicles will be there right away to assist you, no matter what time of day or night it is.

To discuss your kitchen’s needs and set up a regular maintenance program, call 800-700-FLUE, email contact@fluesteam.com,. When you contact the professionals at Flue Steam to manage your kitchen air control and fire prevention services on a daily basis, you’ll have a lot of peace of mind. We hope to build a long-term professional relationship with you!

Across Southern California, we’re here to fulfill all of your commercial kitchen air management and fire protection needs. Every day, our objective is to ensure that your kitchen is safe, has excellent air quality, and operates at peak efficiency. We look forward to building a long-term business relationship with you and exceeding your expectations on a daily basis. Keep reading to learn how we can help and then contact Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE to get started.

We can help your commercial kitchen in a number of ways

For commercial kitchens throughout Southern California, we provide the following services:

• Cleaning the exhaust system in the kitchen (hand scraping and steam cleaning services)
• Services for grease filter exchange
• Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Sales and service of automated fire suppression systems
• Services for swamp coolers

Why should you choose us to clean your kitchen exhaust?

The exhaust system is an important part of any commercial kitchen because it properly removes vaporized oil, which is a natural consequence of cooking, from the air. It also eliminates stale air and smells. Your commercial kitchen will not be up to code if your exhaust system is not kept clean and in good functioning condition, and a flash fire may develop.

When the fire department must be summoned and repairs must be done, it would be a dangerous scenario and a major disruption to your business. However, with Flue Steam’s kitchen exhaust cleaning services, you’ll never have to worry about your exhaust system again.

Hand scraping and steam cleaning

For commercial kitchen exhaust systems, we provide both hand scraping and steam cleaning services. Hand scraping is a quick and easy way to get rid of any grease deposits that are visible. Once a month, we recommend signing up for hand scraping services. Steam cleaning is the process of removing oil from every area of your exhaust system using hot, high-pressure water. Hand scraping should be supplemented with steam cleaning services 2-4 times a year.

We’ll give you a “Certificate of Performance” sticker after each cleaning, which will satisfy code inspectors and may even save you money on your insurance premiums. At each appointment, you can rest confident that our qualified specialists will perform the most comprehensive cleaning possible.

We care about the safety of your commercial kitchen

We are concerned about the safety of your commercial kitchen, therefore we provide a number of extra services with every cleaning session. Our specialist will thoroughly inspect your exhaust fan, as well as the belts and other components of your exhaust system, and lubricate the fan bearings. If your belts are worn out and you have a replacement on hand, the technician will change them for free. It’s just another method we keep your exhaust system as clean as possible for as long as feasible. Call Flue Steam now at 800-700-FLUE to learn more about how we can help you.