THE BASICS
What NFPA 96 is
NFPA 96 is the Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations, published by the National Fire Protection Association. It covers how commercial kitchen exhaust systems are designed, installed, operated, inspected and maintained.
NFPA is a standards organization, not a government agency. The standard carries weight because fire codes reference it and because local fire departments, called the authority having jurisdiction, enforce those codes. In Pasadena that is the Pasadena Fire Department.
This page is general information for kitchen operators, not fire-safety, code, insurance or legal advice. KitchenGuard Pasadena does not assess compliance. Confirm requirements for your kitchen with a qualified professional and the Pasadena Fire Department.
FREQUENCY
How often systems are inspected
| Type of cooking | Inspection frequency |
|---|---|
| Solid fuel cooking (wood, charcoal) | Monthly |
| High-volume cooking (24-hour, charbroiling, wok) | Quarterly |
| Moderate-volume cooking | Semi-annually |
| Low-volume cooking (churches, day camps, seasonal) | Annually |
The standard ties cleaning to inspection: when an inspection finds grease buildup, the system is cleaned. In practice many kitchens simply schedule cleaning at their inspection interval.
THE WORK
What a cleaning is expected to cover
- The hood, including the area behind the filters
- The filters and grease collection points
- The ductwork, as far as it can be accessed
- The exhaust fan
The standard also expects the person doing the work to be properly trained and qualified, and for the kitchen to be left with a record of the service. That is why providers leave a dated sticker on the hood and a written report noting anything they could not reach.
WHAT IT IS NOT
Related things people confuse with hood cleaning
For Pasadena specifics, see cleaning frequency and requirements in Pasadena.
FAQ
Common questions
Is NFPA 96 a law?
NFPA 96 is a standard, not a law. It becomes enforceable where fire codes adopt or reference it, and the local fire authority enforces those codes.
Does NFPA 96 say how often to clean?
It sets inspection frequencies by cooking type and requires cleaning when an inspection finds grease buildup.
Who decides which category my kitchen is in?
A qualified professional can advise, and the local fire authority has the final say. In Pasadena that is the Pasadena Fire Department.
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