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Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Maintenance and Compliance in the UK
Quick answer: In the UK, commercial kitchen ventilation must be kept safe and working under fire, workplace, gas and food hygiene law. In practice that means: cleaning the grease extract to TR19 Grease (BESA), keeping the system designed and maintained to DW/172, having a working gas interlock where gas appliances are used (BS 6173), servicing the fan and filters, and keeping written records your insurer and fire risk assessor can check.
This guide from Duct Clean London sets out which rules apply, who is responsible and a simple maintenance plan for UK commercial kitchens.
The rules that apply to kitchen ventilation
| Rule or guidance | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 | The responsible person must assess and reduce fire risk, including grease in extract systems. |
| Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 | Workplaces must have effective ventilation, and equipment must be maintained in working order. |
| Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and BS 6173 | Gas appliances need adequate ventilation. A gas interlock stops gas flowing if the extraction is not running. |
| Food hygiene regulations | Food premises need suitable, sufficient ventilation that can be cleaned and does not contaminate food. |
| BESA TR19 Grease | How often extract systems are cleaned, how grease is measured and what reports must show. |
| BESA DW/172 | Design and installation of kitchen ventilation, including access panels for cleaning. |
| HSE catering information sheet CAIS10 | Practical HSE guidance on ventilation in catering kitchens. |
TR19 and DW/172 are not laws themselves, but insurers, fire risk assessors and Environmental Health Officers use them to judge whether you are meeting your legal duties.
Who is responsible?
The “responsible person” under fire safety law, usually the business operator or employer, must make sure the extraction is maintained and cleaned. In multi-let buildings, the landlord or managing agent is often responsible for shared risers and roof discharges. Write down who covers each section so nothing is missed. See our service for landlords and managing agents.
A simple maintenance plan
| Task | Who | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Wipe canopy, check filters in place | Kitchen team | Daily |
| Wash grease filters | Kitchen team | Daily to weekly |
| Check fan noise, airflow and gas interlock | Kitchen team | Weekly |
| Canopy, duct, fan and discharge clean with grease readings | Specialist (TR19) | 3, 6 or 12 months by cooking hours |
| Fan motor, belts and bearings service | Ventilation engineer | Usually 6–12 months |
| Gas interlock and appliance safety check | Gas Safe engineer | At least yearly |
| Fire suppression system service (if fitted) | Suppression specialist | Usually every 6 months |
For cleaning intervals, see how often kitchen extraction should be cleaned and the TR19 grease thickness limits.
Records to keep
- TR19 post-clean reports with grease readings and photos
- Filter cleaning logs
- Fan, gas interlock and suppression service records
- Your fire risk assessment, updated when the menu, hours or system change
- Any access limitations reported, and what was done about them
Common compliance gaps
- Only the canopy is cleaned, while the duct and fan are left
- Reports with no grease readings or no photos
- Ducts with no access panels, so sections are never cleaned
- Intervals not updated after a menu change or longer hours
- Shared risers that nobody takes responsibility for
Duct Clean London provides kitchen extraction cleaning and TR19 cleaning and reporting across London, with clear notes about any section we cannot reach.
Sources
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
- HSE CAIS10 – Ventilation in catering kitchens
- BESA – TR19 toolkit
Frequently asked questions
What are the UK rules for commercial kitchen ventilation?
Fire safety law requires grease fire risk to be managed, workplace regulations require effective and maintained ventilation, and gas safety rules require adequate ventilation and usually a gas interlock. TR19 Grease and DW/172 are the industry standards used to show compliance.
Is TR19 cleaning a legal requirement in the UK?
TR19 is not named in law, but it is the standard insurers and fire risk assessors use to judge whether you meet your duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Who is responsible for kitchen ventilation maintenance?
The responsible person, usually the business operator. In multi-let buildings, landlords or managing agents often cover shared risers and roof discharges.
Do commercial kitchens need a gas interlock?
Where gas cooking appliances are used with mechanical extraction, a gas interlock is normally required so gas cannot flow unless the ventilation is running.
What records should I keep for kitchen ventilation compliance?
TR19 cleaning reports with grease readings and photos, filter logs, fan, gas interlock and suppression service records, and an up-to-date fire risk assessment.
Book a measured clean in London
Duct Clean London cleans canopies, filters, ductwork and extract fans across North West, West and Central London (Zones 1–4), with grease readings and photographs in every report. Call 07843 141416 or send a booking enquiry with your postcode and a few photos of your system.
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