Fire Prevention Tips Every Restaurant Owner and Manager Needs to Read

One of the most significant worries for restaurant owners and managers is fires. You may, however, have a fire-free business with the correct information, practices, and services. While nothing can ensure full fire safety, following these simple guidelines can keep your restaurant safer for years to come. Keep reading and then contact Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE if you need additional help with fire prevention and automatic fire suppression systems.

Install a fire-suppression system that works automatically

Installing an automated fire-suppression system is the first step in preventing fires in your restaurant. Because the majority of restaurant fires involve cooking equipment, a restaurant’s fire-suppression system is intended to automatically dispense the appropriate chemicals to deal with flames involving cooking oils and other kitchen materials.

Service for the fire suppression system on a regular basis

It is not sufficient to just install an automated fire suppression system. You must also maintain your vehicle on a regular basis. The frequency with which you should have your fire suppression system maintained is determined by a number of factors, so always consult with a professional who is familiar with your system’s requirements and can ensure that it is ready to put out any fire that arises.

Clean the exhaust ducts thoroughly on a regular basis

The purpose of your exhaust system is to take hot air from your kitchen and distribute it outdoors via a duct system. It does, however, serve the purpose of eliminating vaporized oil from the air. Grease may build up in the duct system, and if it gets too hot, it can start a hazardous and catastrophic fire. However, by cleaning your ducts on a regular basis, the risks of a grease fire in your ducts are greatly decreased.

Employees should be trained in fire prevention and suppression

The measures for fire prevention and suppression should be understood by all of your personnel, from top-level managers to freshly recruited servers. Make sure kids know how to avoid a fire and what to do if one does break out. The usage of fire extinguishers and when to escape the premises should be included in this training.

Maintain a clutter-free kitchen and storage area

One of the most proactive things you can do to avoid fires is to keep the environment clean. It will not only improve the appearance of your restaurant to your guests, but it will also lessen the risks of a fire spreading. Make sure any flammable things are kept appropriately, and dispose of rags and other flammable waste in a container away from the kitchen. All grease spills should be completely cleaned, and flammable liquids should be stored in a puncture-resistant container that has been firmly sealed.

Fire extinguishers should be serviced on a regular basis

Your fire extinguishers, like your automated fire suppression system, will need to be maintained on a regular basis. Working with a company that not only sells but also services fire extinguishers will ensure that you have all you need for a safe, fire-free restaurant.

Call us to make sure you are doing all you can in fire prevention.

Check out this video that shows one of those devastating fires.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antonio-molina-alcolea-3b27b924_prevenir-fire-fuego-activity-7006593372249337857-pRYo?utm_source=li_share&utm_content=feedcontent&utm_medium=g_dt_web&utm_campaign=copy 

Dear Valued Customers,

We have recently learned that there are multiple untrustworthy companies that are advertising in Kansas City for Hood Cleaning services. These companies are not local are are trying to get and sell your information. They are not real companies and unfortunately will waste your time. The few we have identified are KansasCityProHoodCleaning.com, MidwestDuctCleaning.com and HoodCleaning.net.

Our hope is that you will not waste your time with these websites and call us first. We are the only company in the KC area in this industry trying to be replicated. If you have any questions, please let us know. 816-365-8959.

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Mid America Service Company

With the pandemic affecting brick and mortar restaurants some chefs and restaurants are going mobile. Make sure your new rig is safe with this new fact sheet from the national fire protection agency NFPA.

This new product is something new to the industry that could change the way your hood system is serviced, it has many great reasons to be installed and could truly benefit kitchens with tough access to ductwork, like hotels, tall buildings, hospitals etc. We can give you a price breakdown on how much this will cost compared to what you are doing right now for your filters. Are you cleaning your filters yourself? Is your hood cleaning company cleaning your filters? That all cost money and can be factored in to see if this product makes sense for you.

For most foodservice operators, what happens on the roof, is a distant concern to the daily challenges happening on ground level and there are a number of commonly overlooked commercial kitchen hazards.

It’s understandable considering all the issues there are to deal with – staffing, food prep, customers, maintenance, purchasing, food cost control…the list goes on and on. And as the hustle and chaos goes on in the kitchen, there is often a quiet and costly hazard being overlooked on the roof: grease discharge from the upblast exhaust fan.

Here’s what happens. Fats, oils, and grease are turned into aerosols during the cooking process and are pulled up into the exhaust hood system. They travel up the through duct work and exit through the upblast exhaust fan.  Ultimately, these highly flammable fats, oils, and grease seep out of the fan and onto the roof.

This grease buildup on the roof is cause for concern for several reasons, each with their own consequences.

First, roof grease damage poses a very serious fire hazard. Even if hood filters and ductwork are being properly cleaned and maintained, the grease spilled onto the rooftop is just as flammable and just as dangerous. Because this potential hazard is even more “out of sight, out of mind” than other fire hazards, many restaurant owners and managers don’t consider the risks of improper rooftop grease control until it’s too late.

Beyond fire hazards, grease leaks and spills can cause significant damage to rooftops themselves, breaking down roofing materials and causing warping, splits, cracks, softening, and blistering. This means reduced stability for the roof itself, which translates into the potential for catastrophic building damage, employee injury, or at the very least, the need for costly roof repair.

Excess rooftop grease damage also poses a significant environmental concern. If grease is allowed to spill or leak onto rooftops, over time it will be washed into gutters and storm sewers by the rain, eventually finding its way to bodies of water and causing damage to plant and animal life. Not only is this irresponsible, it can also result in fines from the Environmental Protection Agency for water contamination!

Similarly, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also has standards in place for rooftop grease containment and grease control. Beyond the costs associated with fire damage, employee injury, insurance premiums, or rooftop replacement, failure to comply with NFPA and EPA regulations can result in fines, and even forced closure of your restaurant.

The solution to this problem, however, is actually quite simple. With the installation of an affordable grease containment system,  you can protect your roof from grease spills and excess runoff – as well as all of the costs associated with improper maintenance.

Rooftop grease containment systems are available in several designs to accommodate all exhaust fans and every situation from operations with low volume grease discharge to high volume needs. Every system includes its own type of grease absorbent filters (or pillows) to trap grease and repel water.

Compared to the potential costs of not addressing the problem, installation and maintenance of grease containment systems is minimal.  Systems range from $70 to $700 depending on the level of protection you need and the absorbent pillows should be changed each time the exhaust hood system is cleaned.