Kitchen Exhaust System Inspections: Importance and Value

If you are a restaurant owner, then you know firsthand the importance and necessity of kitchen exhaust system inspections. Twin Cities restaurants can stay safe by having these inspections on a regular basis. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a requirement called the “Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations (NFPA 96) that stipulate that a kitchen exhaust system needs to be inspected by a fire protection company like Brothers Fire Protection. After the inspection, if there is a specific level of grease in the system, it needs to be cleaned by a professional company.

So why are kitchen exhaust system inspections so vital to the health, safety and well-being of your employees and customers? Simply put, a build-up of grease is a big fire hazard. The build-up can also contribute to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and airborne toxins. 

When Brothers Fire Protection performs the kitchen exhaust system inspections, we look at the amount of grease that has been left in the system. If we see that it is above a certain level, we recommend to the business owner that he or she hires a professional cleaning crew to come in and clean off the grease so it is down to an acceptable level of 0.002 inches or less.

Brothers Fire Protection will inspect every inch of the system to ensure it is clean and functioning as it should be. We will look at the duct work, fan, the kitchen hood itself and everything in between to ensure that the system is safe. Our thorough kitchen exhaust system inspections give you the peace of mind you deserve that everyone who enters your restaurant is safe from the threat of carbon monoxide, fire and other dangers.

So when you need a kitchen exhaust system inspection in the Twin Cities, call Brothers Fire Protection at 1-800-607-2767 or contact us for a Quote.

Fire Sprinkler Facts

Did you know that, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 92% of civilian structure fire deaths were at a home? It is a scary statistic, but it also highlights the need for fire sprinklers in Minneapolis homes. As a matter of fact, homes throughout the country (and even the world) can definitely benefit from working fire sprinklers. Here are a few more facts about these life-saving fire suppression devices.

• No matter how old your home is, fire sprinklers are a proven way to help fight a fire if one ever breaks out. They can be installed in older homes. Plus, they are now required by Minnesota law in all new homes that are more than 4500 square feet in size.
• It only takes three minutes for a home fire to become deadly, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Furniture nowadays is made out of materials that are more flammable than they used to be. These materials can quickly ignite and spread the fire, making it difficult for the home’s occupants to get out.
• Fire sprinklers are just as important as fire alarms in terms of helping the home’s occupants get out safely. Fire alarms will alert you that there is a problem. When the fire sprinklers turn on, they can suppress the fire enough that you and your family members have a chance to get out safely.
• Fire sprinklers are made in such a way that they work independently of one another. So you don’t have to worry that, just because one sprinkler goes off, all of the other ones will too. And they are activated by high levels of heat, so burning a piece of toast will not set them off.
• Regular inspections of your fire sprinklers by Brothers Fire Protection can help ensure they are working properly when it matters the most. Generally, they do not need a lot of maintenance.
• You can have the pipes insulated if you are worried about the water in the fire sprinklers freezing during the winter months.

Do you need more information about fire sprinklers in Minneapolis? Then call Brothers Fire Protection at 1-800-607-2767 or contact us for a Life Safety Quote.