Spettro Duct Clean – Keeping you safe

Spettro keeping you Safe

We work with our customers to ensure a safe work place for employees and a safe environment for your customers. We want to make sure everyone is aware of the dangers of dirty ducting and the legal duties of employers. Don’t worry – it is easy to stay safe and legal – just talk to us and we will make sure that you have nothing to worry about.

The Risks

• According to local fire authorities and insurance companies, one of the most common causes of fire spreading in commercial premises is failure to remove combustible grease deposits from the kitchen extract ductwork.
• According to government statistics in 2010/11 in the UK there were over 2,000 fires in Public houses, Restaurants, & Cafes etc.
• In London Fire Brigade sources report that on average every 9 days a kitchen extract ductwork fire was attended.
• Insurance companies now stipulate as part of a buildings insurance terms the requirement for the kitchen extract ductwork to be cleaned on a stated frequency (normally once or twice a year depending on use) to the TR19 standard.
• If your insurance company are not satisfied with your ductwork cleaning standards you may find in the event of fire you are not covered.
• When your ductwork has been professionally cleaned by a professional duct/extract cleaning company you will receive a certificate that will comply with all the recommendations your insurance company require giving you peace of mind.

Legal Duty

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005- requires building operators to assess fire risk & to take steps to prevent or remove the risk.
• Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992-requires ventilation systems to be cleaned as appropriate.
• Grease is clearly a fire risk therefore it is appropriate to take steps to remove the risk i.e. clean & remove the grease.
• Insurance companies will not pay out on claims where it is found that the fire was spread through, or caused by, grease build up in ductwork.

B&ES TR/19 Standards

Access doors are recommended at the following locations

• Every 3 meters.
• Either side of air vanes.
• Both sides of sound attenuators.
• Either side of volume control dampers.
• Either side of fan units.
• At changes of direction.

Summary

• If there are no access panels, then its extremely unlikely the system has been cleaned.
• If its not been cleaned then it could be in breach of the fire safety laws.
• Insurance claims may be declined.
• Urgent action will be required to enforce compliance with the law, to protect lives.