Kitchen extract cleaning is the removal of grease, carbon and cooking residue from the whole ventilation system that serves a commercial kitchen: the canopy above the cooking line, the plenum and filters behind it, every metre of ductwork, the extract fan and the point where the air leaves the building. The standard that defines a proper job is TR19 Grease, the specification published by BESA (the Building Engineering Services Association) for managing the fire risk from grease build-up in kitchen extract systems. Insurers, fire and rescue services and environmental health officers all refer to it.
What a compliant clean covers
A wipe-down of the visible canopy is not a TR19 clean. The specialist we assign works through the full system, element by element:
- Canopy and plenum: the hood, the internal chamber behind the filters and the grease trays, degreased back to bare metal.
- Baffle or mesh filters: removed, cleaned or replaced, and refitted (see filter cleaning and replacement).
- Ductwork: the complete run from the canopy to the discharge point, reached through access panels; where none exist, the contractor will fit them so that every section can be cleaned and inspected.
- Fan unit and impeller: the motor housing, blades and casing, which collect the heaviest deposits and are the most common ignition point (see extractor fan cleaning).
- Discharge and cowl: the terminal on the roof or wall.
Cleanliness is verified by measurement rather than by eye. Using a Wet Film Thickness Test or Deposit Thickness Test, the contractor records the grease depth at set points before and after the clean. A mean reading of 200 µm across the system is the level at which TR19 says cleaning is required; the post-clean acceptance figure is in the region of 50 µm.
Why it matters
Grease inside ductwork is a fuel load directly above the cooking line, and a flare-up on the range can travel along it faster than anyone can react. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes the responsible person for the premises accountable for managing that risk, with equivalent law in Scotland. Beyond the fire itself, three other parties take an interest. Insurers usually write an extract-cleaning condition into commercial kitchen policies, and a loss adjuster investigating a fire will ask for the latest certificate before anything else; our insurance requirements guide covers this in detail. Environmental health officers ask about the extract during hygiene inspections. Landlords and franchisors increasingly require the certificate as a condition of the lease or the brand agreement.
How often a kitchen extract needs cleaning
TR19 Grease sets the interval by hours of cooking per day, not by how clean the canopy looks.
| Usage band | Cooking hours per day | Typical kitchens | Clean every |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy | 12 to 16 hours | Takeaways, hotel main kitchens, charcoal and wok cooking | 3 months |
| Moderate | 6 to 12 hours | Most restaurants and pubs, care homes, hospital kitchens | 6 months |
| Light | 2 to 6 hours | Schools, cafes, office and church kitchens | 12 months |
These are the intervals insurers expect to see, and the cleaning frequency guide explains how to place a kitchen that sits between bands.
What you receive on completion
The clean ends with a report, and the report is what you will be asked to produce. It should contain photographs of each section of the system before and after cleaning, the grease-depth readings, a list of any sections that could not be cleaned with the reason, a schematic of the access points, and the date the next clean falls due. This is the document commonly called the TR19 certificate. Our partner contractors are BESA-qualified, CHAS-accredited and fully insured, and issue the TR19 certificate and before/after photo report on completion.
How arranging works nationally
Extract Cleaning UK does not carry out cleaning. We run a vetted network of specialist contractors across England and Scotland, with Wales served through our three regional sites, and match each enquiry to one who covers the postcode and knows the type of kitchen. Tell us where you are, what you cook and for how many hours a day, and we will come back with a quote, usually within one working day. Most cleans happen overnight or on a closed day so that service is not interrupted. Afterwards we diarise the next due date and get in touch before it arrives.
Costs depend on the length of the duct run, the number of canopies, how long since the last clean and how easy the fan is to reach; the cost guide gives typical ranges. Whether you run a single takeaway, a hotel with three kitchens or a group of care homes, request a quote and we will arrange the rest.
Related services: Canopy Cleaning · Ductwork Cleaning · Extractor Fan Cleaning · Filter Cleaning and Replacement
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between kitchen extract cleaning and canopy cleaning?
Canopy cleaning deals with the hood, filters and plenum you can see from the kitchen. Kitchen extract cleaning covers the entire system, including the ductwork behind the walls and above the ceiling, the fan and the discharge point. Only a full-system clean measured against TR19 Grease produces a certificate that insurers and fire officers accept, because most of the fire load sits in the duct and the fan rather than the canopy.
How long does a full TR19 clean take?
It depends on the length of the ductwork, how many access panels need fitting and how heavy the deposits are. A single canopy with a short run can be finished in a few hours; a hotel with several kitchens and long vertical ducts may need a full night or more than one visit. The contractor will give a realistic time when quoting, and will usually work while the kitchen is closed.
Is Extract Cleaning UK a cleaning company?
No. We are a national arranging service. We vet specialist contractors, match your enquiry to one who covers your area, and follow up to make sure the certificate and photo report arrive. The contractor carries out the work, holds the qualifications and insurance, and invoices for the clean. You get one point of contact and a reminder when the next clean is due.
Do you cover the whole of the UK?
We arrange cleans across England and Scotland through the national network, and Wales is served by our three local sites covering Cardiff and South Wales, Swansea Bay, and Pembrokeshire and West Wales. Rural and island locations may take a little longer to schedule, but if a kitchen has an extract system, we can find a contractor to deal with it.