Restaurants have all the ingredients for a small kitchen fire to quickly become an out of control blaze. Open flames, cooking oils and hot cooking equipment contribute to the nearly 8,000 restaurant fires that are reported each year.  Restaurant owners know all too well what a fire can do to their business. A devastating fire can result in lost revenues and potentially a total loss of the business.  Periodic maintenance, testing and inspection of your commercial kitchen fire suppression system can help ensure your business is protected against fires and are key to minimizing the damage caused by a fire. Approximately 57% of all restaurant fires involve cooking equipment thus having a commercial kitchen fire suppression professionally installed is critical to protecting your business

Periodic preventive maintenance for commercial kitchen fire suppression systems

NFPA 17, 17a, 72, and NFPA 96 detail the requirements for Inspections, tests, and maintenance on kitchen ventilation hoods and fire suppression systems. The equipment manufacturer or an authorized commercial kitchen fire suppression system installation or maintenance company should accomplish the following minimum inspections, tests and maintenance on your commercial kitchen fire suppression system. Additional manufacturer’s instructions and updated code requirements may be required. Maintenance tags shall be attached to each fire suppression system to allow recording the inspector’s initials, date, and confirmation on maintenance/inspections performed. A system inspection tag shall be used to document the manufacture and installation dates for any fusible links incorporated into the system. In addition to the aforementioned documentation, a signed and dated log of maintenance and a certificate showing date of exhaust system inspection or cleaning shall be maintained and available. Minimum inspection, testing and maintenance requirements include:

• Monthly, inspect extinguishing system nozzles located directly above grease producing equipment
• Monthly, inspect manual actuators to ensure they are unobstructed
• Monthly, inspect tamper indicators and seals to ensure they are intact
• Monthly, inspect the maintenance tag or certificate to ensure it is in place
• Monthly, inspect and verify no obvious physical damage or condition exists that might prevent operation
• Monthly, inspect the pressure gauge(s) to ensure they are in operable range
• Monthly, inspect the nozzle blow-off caps to ensure they are intact and undamaged
• Monthly, inspect and verify neither protected equipment nor hazard has been replaced, modified, or relocated
• Semiannually, test gas and electric power shutoff to ensure they are operational
• Semiannually, test water-wash hood cleaning systems to ensure they are operational in conjunction with hoods protected by sprinkler systems
• Quarterly and Semiannually, perform maintenance to remove grease from the exhaust system
• Semiannually, test recirculating systems operation and safety interlocks performance in or more frequently in accordance with mfg’s instructions. if needed.
• Weekly, perform maintenance on recirculating systems to clean precipitators
• Quarterly, perform maintenance on recirculating systems to clean entire hood plenum and blower section
• Annually, perform maintenance to replace fixed temperature sensing elements of the fusible alloy type
• Annually, perform maintenance to clean fixed temperature sensing elements other than the fusible metal alloy type
• Semiannually, test manual release stations to ensure they are operational and send a signal to the building fire alarm control panel.
• Semiannually, test automatic release devices to ensure they are operational and send a signal to the building fire alarm control panel.
• Semiannually, test water flow, valve tamper, and low water pressure cutoffs to ensure they are operational.
• Semiannually, perform maintenance to examine detectors, expellant gas containers, agent containers, releasing devices, piping, hose assemblies, nozzles, signals, and all auxiliary equipment
• Semiannually, test and verify that the agent distribution piping is not obstructed.
• Every 6 years, inspect and examine dry chemical in stored pressure systems for caking
• Every 12 years, test wet and dry chemical extinguishing systems (agent containers, aux. pressure containers, hose assemblies) by performing a hydrostatic pressure test

Contact Jay L Harman Fire Equipment Company today to learn more about inspection procedures and keeping your kitchen safe.

The Jay L Harman Fire Equipment team understands your fire fighting needs including fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers and cylinder re-qualification

Jay L Harman Fire Equipment Company is your local AMEREX dealer offering the full range of AMEREX Fire Extinguishers, Kitchen Protection systems, Vehicle Systems, Automatic Gas Detection and Industrial Systems.

Jay L Harman’s DOT Hydrostatic Testing facility and equipment meet all NFPA requirements for the hydrostatic testing of self contained breathing apparatus compressed gas cylinders in addition to testing ABC portable fire extinguisher cylinders.

Jay L Harman is the best and one of the biggest firefighting equipment suppliers and service providers in the region, specializing in fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, fire hoses, hydrostatic testing and more. Serving El Paso TX, Las Cruces NM and the surrounding areas, we pride ourselves on buying local and hiring local whenever possible.

Jay L Harman Fire Equipment is your go-to distributor for OVAL low-profile fire extinguishers in West Texas and New Mexico.

Contact Jay L. Harman Fire Equipment in El Paso TX at 915-533-7021 or Las Cruces NM at 575-523-8880.

Since1925, we have protected businesses throughout the area from the harms and hazards of fires. Every Jay L Harman technician is licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal’s Office.  Each of these technicians continually receives the most up-to-date factory training and certifications by our manufacturers. Contact Jay L Harman Fire Equipment today. Let our friendly and knowledgeable staff tell you more about our fire suppression systems and help you find the ideal fire suppression system for your needs. Learn more about our full offering of fire extinguisher training, firefighting services, firefighting products, request a quote, ask a question or request additional information.