NFPA 96 Standards

You are required to have your exhaust system cleaned at the frequency shown below. If you have questions about which category your facility is in, contact your local fire inspector.

Schedule of Inspection for Grease Buildup (Table 12.4)

NFPA 96 sets inspection intervals based on the cooking volume and fuel type your exhaust system serves:

• Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations — Monthly
• Systems serving high-volume cooking operations (24-hour, charbroiling, wok) — Quarterly
• Systems serving moderate-volume cooking operations — Semiannually
• Systems serving low-volume cooking operations (churches, day camps, seasonal businesses, senior centers) — Annually

Key Responsibilities Under NFPA 96 (2024 Edition)

Owners and operators share responsibility for keeping ventilation, fire protection, and cooking equipment inspection-ready. These requirements are commonly cited during fire inspections:

• Responsibility (4.1.5.1): The equipment owner is responsible for inspection, testing, maintenance, and cleanliness of the ventilation control, fire protection, and cooking appliances.
• Cleaning threshold (12.6.1.1): Surfaces are cleaned to remove combustible contaminants to a minimum of 0.002 in. (50 µm); cleaning is triggered at 0.078 in. (2000 µm), or 0.125 in. (3175 µm) in a fan housing.
• Inspection & testing (12.5): Listed hoods with mechanical or fire-actuated dampers and internal washing components are inspected and tested every 6 months by certified persons.
• Certificates & reporting (12.6.13–12.6.16): A certificate showing company name, the person performing the work, and the date is maintained, and written reports are provided to the owner.
• Cooking equipment maintenance (12.7): Cooking equipment is inspected and serviced at least annually by trained, qualified persons.

How ProKEC Helps You Stay Compliant

ProKEC performs all cleaning to NFPA 96 standards and provides certified documentation for your records and fire inspections. If you are unsure which frequency applies to your kitchen, request a free evaluation and we will help you map a practical maintenance schedule.