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Get Answers to Common Questions About Fire Extinguishers in Commercial Kitchens

January 24, 2023
Get Answers to Common Questions About Fire Extinguishers in Commercial Kitchens

In the state of California, there are specific regulations that must be satisfied before a commercial kitchen can be opened, operated, or maintained in its current state. These include having the appropriate licenses and certifications, continuing to comply with safe food handling practices, successfully passing routine safety inspections, and ensuring that all appliances and plumbing are up to code.

Aside from the aforementioned, the presence of fire extinguishers in your commercial kitchen space is not only a crucial safety measure, but it is also a necessity in the state of California. However, it is not sufficient to merely have one or two fire extinguishers within your commercial kitchen. It is important to have the appropriate type, amount, and positioning of your fire extinguishers as well.

Read on to learn more. Then contact Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE if you need more information on fire extinguishers or fire suppression systems in Southern California.

In California’s commercial kitchens, which laws mandate the presence of fire extinguishers?

The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 8, Section 6151, provides businesses in the state of California with specific information regarding the fire extinguisher requirements that must be met. The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal OSHA), the California State Fire Marshal, local fire marshals, and businesses and corporate liability insurance carriers are the entities that observe and enforce these requirements.

Fire extinguishers of Class K must be fitted in a safe and secure manner at least once every thirty feet in commercial kitchens and dining establishments. Every extinguisher has to be easily accessible at all times, and nothing—not even furniture or other things—can get in the way of that. In addition, each worker is required to get instruction on how to operate a fire extinguisher and be made aware of the precise location of each unit within the structure.

It is important to provide employees with training not just when they are first hired but also on a yearly basis afterwards. In a similar vein, fire extinguishers ought to go through annual inspections, and hydrostatic testing ought to be done on a consistent basis.

Is it illegal to be without fire extinguishers in the United States?

If you own a commercial property and fail to comply with OSHA regulations regarding the number, type, and location of fire extinguishers on your property, you could be subject to hefty fines from the agency. These fines could amount to thousands of dollars for each fire extinguisher that is out of compliance. In addition, you could be subject to fines if you fail to provide your workers with fire safety training and/or if you don’t do well on annual inspections and tests.

It is imperative that you comply with all of the regulations and guidelines that are enforced not only in the state of California but also in your particular municipality in order to avoid being subject to these fines.

In Southern California, you can obtain supplies of high-quality fire extinguishers

Not only do you want to be in compliance in order to keep your commercial restaurant or kitchen up and running, but you also want to ensure that you have fire extinguishers that are of a high quality and can be relied upon in the event that a sudden fire breaks out on your premises. But how exactly do you go about acquiring fire extinguishers in which you may have complete faith?

For the benefit of Southern California businesses, Flue Steam stocks a comprehensive inventory of a variety of fire extinguishers in a wide range of sizes. In order to safeguard your industrial kitchen or restaurant from the devastation caused by fire, give us a call right away for additional information about fire supply: 800-700-FLUE.

Flue Steam Can Make It Easier to Successfully Run a Restaurant in a Number of Ways

January 10, 2023
Flue Steam Can Make It Easier to Successfully Run a Restaurant in a Number of Ways

As a restaurant manager or owner, you are required to juggle a significant number of competing responsibilities on a daily basis, but there is only so much time in the day. The good news is that you can relieve some of the pressure you’re feeling right now by working with Flue Steam.

We are here to assist you with all of the air control and fire protection requirements for your commercial kitchen anywhere in Southern California. Every day, it is our objective to make it so that your kitchen is risk-free, has excellent air quality, and achieves the highest possible level of energy efficiency. We are excited to establish a long-term business connection with you and to fulfill all of your requirements in an impeccable manner on a daily basis.

How we are able to assist your restaurant

The following services are available to commercial kitchens in Southern California:

Why should you take use of our services for cleaning kitchen exhaust hoods?

Because it removes vaporized grease, which is a natural result of cooking, from the air in your commercial kitchen in a safe and efficient manner, the exhaust system is an essential component of your commercial kitchen.

Additionally, it eliminates smells and heated air. If you do not keep your exhaust system clean and in correct functioning condition, not only will your commercial kitchen not be up to code, but there is also a risk of a flash fire occurring. If you were in that circumstance, calling the fire brigade and making repairs would be a significant disruption to your business, not to mention a very deadly issue.

However, if you have Flue Steam clean your kitchen exhaust system on a regular basis, you won’t ever have to worry about your exhaust system again.

Cleaning by hand scraping and using steam

Cleaning exhaust systems in commercial kitchens requires both manual scraping and steam cleaning, which we offer as services. When done by hand, scraping comprises a straightforward and efficient cleanup of any grease deposits that are accessible. We strongly suggest that you sign up for hand scraping services on a monthly basis.

The use of hot water under high pressure is a key component of the steam cleaning process, which gets rid of grease completely from all components of an exhaust system. In addition to hand scraping, we recommend getting steam cleaning services anywhere from two to four times a year.

After each cleaning, we will issue a “Certificate of Performance” sticker for you to display. This sticker will ensure that code inspectors are pleased and may even help you save money on your insurance premiums. You may have peace of mind knowing that our trained professionals will provide the deepest cleanings possible at each and every visit.

We are concerned about the safety of your kitchen

Because we are concerned about the health and well-being of those who work in your kitchen, we provide a number of additional services in each cleaning appointment. The exhaust fan, the belts, and the other components of your exhaust system will all be inspected by our professional, who will also lubricate the fan bearings.

If the expert determines that your belts are beyond repair but you already possess a replacement, he or she will do the installation at no additional cost. This is just one more step we take to maintain the cleanliness of your exhaust system for the longest possible period of time. Call Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE now to get started.

Everything You Should Look for When Choosing a Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Company to Work With

December 24, 2022
Everything You Should Look for When Choosing a Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Company to Work With

A flammable, greasy buildup that accumulates over time in kitchen exhaust systems can be a serious fire threat. You shouldn’t disregard grease buildup in the exhaust system just because you are protected by an automatic fire suppression system. While a fire suppression system discharge may extinguish the flames, it will also halt all kitchen activity, necessitate cleaning and re-inspection, and cost you money.

Regularly paying for kitchen exhaust system cleaning can keep you in line with California fire safety regulations while also assisting you in preventing a fire. Here are a few things to think about when selecting a company to clean your kitchen exhaust system. Contact Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE if you have questions.

Qualifications

It’s crucial to have a professional clean your exhaust system. You require a contractor who not only has a high degree of technical proficiency, but also the required state credentials. Flue Steam satisfies both of these conditions. We can give you “Certificate of Performance” stickers that code inspectors and your insurance provider will accept as evidence that you are meeting your cleaning duties.

As an IKECA (International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association) member, Flue Steam can meet your demand for highly qualified technicians to clean your exhaust system. Our specialists have successfully completed a variety of certification programs offered by IKECA, giving them the knowledge and abilities required to use steam cleaning technology to thoroughly clean your exhaust system.

How efficiently they clean

It goes without saying that you want to know you are getting your money’s worth when you spend money on a kitchen exhaust system cleaning. Choose a contractor who will be eager to provide you with evidence that their service is effective. For instance, a contractor can monitor grease buildup before and after cleaning using a device known as an IKECA Depth Gauge Comb.

Your grease deposits should, in theory, have been at or above the dangerous limit of 0.125″ before cleaning and down to the permitted level of.002″ after cleaning, as shown by the comb. If you work with a contractor who has the necessary tools to conduct these measures, you may determine whether you need to boost the frequency of your cleanings to address a quick grease buildup.

Effectiveness of cleaning

Additionally, you want to guarantee a complete cleaning. Some businesses will only concentrate on the exhaust system hood because grease is most visible there and is also the simplest to remove. Because we use steam cleaning, Flue Steam is able to thoroughly clean your entire system. For the most complete cleaning possible, we will also clean and check roof fans, empty drop cups, and even install additional access panels.

Learn the Essential Reasons That Flue Cleaning Needs to Be a Priority in Your Commercial Kitchen

December 12, 2022

Learn the Essential Reasons That Flue Cleaning Needs to Be a Priority in Your Commercial Kitchen

Did you realize that one of the most crucial components of your setup is the flue in your commercial kitchen? No matter how big or small your kitchen may be, the flue is crucial to maintaining the effectiveness and safety of the entire system. However, a lot of people make the mistake of ignoring the flue in their industrial kitchen, which has terrible consequences.

Your entire system will operate less effectively if your flue is not fully cleaned on a regular basis. It may even be harmful. Grease will accumulate in filthy flues and eventually cause a flash fire. As a result, you’ll need to call the fire brigade, you might need to close your company (costing you money), and you might even need to repair certain commercial kitchen equipment (further hurting your bottom line).

Types of chimney cleaning

Knowing how important flue cleaning is for your commercial kitchen, Flue Steam would like to inform you of the several forms of flue cleaning you can choose from. You won’t again have to worry about your flue being regularly cleaned correctly again if you work with Flue Steam.

Steam cleaning and hand scraping are both used to clean the flue. We advise reserving both hand scraping and steam cleaning services on a regular basis. Simply scraping the accumulated grease off the fans, hoods, ducts, and any other accessible part of your exhaust system is hand scraping.

On the other side, steam cleaning is more expensive but also more comprehensive. Hot, pressured water efficiently removed accumulated oil during steam cleaning. Many businesses sign up for steam cleaning twice a year in addition to monthly cleaning.

Certificate of achievement

We clean your flue more completely than some other flue cleaning firms. We make an effort to access every nook and cranny of your exhaust system. After every project, we even give out “Certificate of Performance” stickers as evidence that you’ve complied with the requirements of the NFPA code. These decals might cut your insurance costs while also keeping inspectors happy.

Extra services

We will be pleased to check your exhaust fan each time we visit to clean your flue. We’ll lubricate the fan bearings and check the belts and other components. If you happen to have spare belts on hand and your current ones are worn out, we’ll happily install them for you at no extra cost. It’s just one more way we ensure that your exhaust system functions as effectively and as long as it possibly can.

Dial us now

Are you prepared to start a collaboration with Flue Steam? We would adore working with you! Call 800-700-FLUE right away to join the ever-expanding number of clients we already have. We are eager to hear from you and take care of your needs for flue cleaning.

Learn the Truth About How Often Your Commercial Kitchen’s Flue Should Be Cleaned

November 16, 2022
Learn the Truth About How Often Your Commercial Kitchen’s Flue Should Be Cleaned

Did you know that it’s imperative to ensure that the flue in your commercial kitchen is regularly cleaned? It can be exceedingly unsanitary, ineffective, and even dangerous to have a dirty flue or exhaust system in general. This is due to the ease with which accumulated grease can spark a flash fire.

A disastrous flash fire that starts with just one match or one towel that catches fire while cooking can result in injuries, a call to the fire department, a significant disruption of business operations, and the need to repair your expensive commercial kitchen appliances. By using Flue Steam’s commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaning services, you can save all of that bother. You’ll yourself a ton of trouble and anxiety!

How often?

You might be wondering how frequently the flue in your business kitchen has to be cleaned to avoid an unsafe situation from developing. We advise signing up for monthly hand scraping services for the majority of commercial kitchens and augmenting that with steam cleaning services 2-4 times per year. All grease deposits in reachable places can be easily and effectively hand scraped away.

Although this approach is excellent, steam cleaning, which uses hot, pressurized water to reach every crevice of your industrial kitchen exhaust system, is more comprehensive. Although steam cleaning costs more and needs more work up front, it produces superior results. The majority of commercial kitchen managers choose hand scraping services on a monthly basis, supplemented 2-4 times a year by steam cleaning services.

How will the flue in my kitchen be accessed?

This is a common query we get from clients who hire us to clean their flues. Our professionals who do flue cleaning will enter your flue through access panels. The exhaust hood is the one that stands out the most, followed by the duct access panels, which will be removed for cleaning and then sealed back in place using a special caulking compound that is fire-rated.

The exhaust fan will then be cleaned after that. It has a hinged base and an additional electrical cable if it was set up in accordance with fire code specifications. Simply turn it over on its side and our professionals will clean it.

Having issues with your access panels?

We would be pleased to install access panels for your flue in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations, and materials according to NFPA 96 and the California Mechanical Code if they are missing or not positioned properly.

Code requirements

When you work with Flue Steam, you won’t have to be concerned about keeping up with code requirements for your exhaust system. A “Certificate of Performance” sticker with the date of service, the frequency of service, and the existence of any inaccessible regions in your system will be applied to your system following each cleaning. We advise preserving this sticker as documentation that you have complied with the code.

Phone us now!

Call us at 800-700-FLUE right away to set up your initial exhaust system cleaning treatment.