You might have heard about grease duct access doors for facilities that have commercial kitchen exhaust ducts and hoods. One of the reasons that an access door to the interior of your grease duct is so vital is that it helps your facility meet local code requirements.
How the Exhaust System Works
Whether you have a restaurant or another commercial kitchen facility, the exhaust system will take the impurities and smoke from your cooking area or kitchen and send them outdoors. As the system performs this job, the grease duct, hood, and your fan will accumulate grease, oil, and fats, among other impurities. This type of contamination can restrict the flow of air through the system.
But the most important reason you want to get rid of oils and grease is that it is a fire hazard. That means that you are required to clean your entire system regularly to eliminate all of the internal contaminants.
Many businesses choose to hire a professional company to do this work. It can be hard, and it is always a dirty job. But with the required grease duct access door, it is easier for the cleaning professionals to reach the contaminants and clean all the way down to the bare metal of the system.
If the cleaning people can’t reach part of the system with ease, then it is likely to stay left uncleaned. This is why many fire codes require businesses to have access doors every 12 feet or less in the duct. When the duct changes direction, this can result in difficult-to-reach corners, so you have to have grease duct access doors at changes of direction, as well.
Why You Need a Grease Duct Door
Of course, many managers, property managers, and restaurant owners do not want to spend money in areas that they do not feel is necessary. However, many of the people responsible for these systems do not understand the regulations and do not know why they are vital.
This means that some education is necessary so they can better understand why properly located and installed access doors, are a wise investment. Better access to the interior surfaces of the grease duct allows for a more thorough cleaning as well as allowing the cleaners to complete their work faster. Time is money for duct cleaners so the longer they are on site, the more the duct cleaning will cost the building owner or tenant.
If you want to know more about adding grease duct access doors to your existing or future kitchen exhaust system, contact DuraSystems today.
