Commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning to AS 1851 — removing the grease fire risk across canopy, filters, duct and fan, with the compliance certification you need.
8 min read FreshDuct Melbourne Melbourne, Victoria
Commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning is one of the most important — and most regulated — services a food business needs. Grease builds up throughout the canopy, filters, ductwork and fan, creating a genuine fire hazard, and Australian Standard AS 1851 requires the system to be cleaned to a defined standard with records kept. FreshDuct cleans commercial kitchen exhaust across Melbourne’s restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels and institutional kitchens, and provides the compliance documentation your building and insurer require.
AS 1851Cleaned to standard, with certification
Fire SafetyGrease removal across canopy, filters, duct & fan
DocumentedRecords for compliance and insurance
A commercial kitchen exhaust clean covers the whole system — canopy, grease filters, ductwork and fan — because flammable grease accumulates throughout, not just on the filters.
Why Canopy Cleaning Is Critical
Every time a commercial kitchen cooks, grease-laden vapour is drawn up into the exhaust canopy and through the system. Over time it coats the filters, the inside of the canopy, the ductwork and the fan with flammable grease. Left uncleaned, this is both a serious fire hazard and a breach of the maintenance the standards and insurers require. Canopy cleaning removes that grease, keeping the kitchen fire-safe, compliant and able to ventilate properly — which is why it is non-negotiable for any commercial kitchen.
The Grease Fire Risk
Grease is flammable, and a commercial exhaust system that has not been cleaned becomes lined with it — filters, canopy, ducts and fan. A cooktop flare-up can ignite this grease, and because it coats the ductwork, fire can travel rapidly through the exhaust system and into the building structure. Commercial kitchen fires commonly originate or spread this way. Regular thorough cleaning removes the fuel from the system, which is the single most effective measure against exhaust-system fires — and the reason insurers insist on it.
AS 1851 & Compliance
Commercial kitchen exhaust falls under Australian Standard AS 1851, the standard for routine service of fire protection systems and equipment, which covers the cleaning and maintenance of kitchen exhaust. It requires the system to be cleaned to a defined standard at a frequency based on usage, with records kept. Compliance with this standard is typically tied to your building’s obligations and your insurance — an uncleaned, undocumented system can jeopardise both. We clean to the standard and provide the certification and records that demonstrate compliance.
Cleaning Frequency
AS 1851 sets cleaning frequency by how much grease the kitchen produces — heavier use means more frequent cleaning. Indicative categories:
Kitchen use
Examples
Indicative frequency
Heavy use
High-volume, char-grill, deep frying, 12+ hrs/day
Frequent (e.g. monthly–quarterly)
Moderate use
Standard restaurant / café cooking
Periodic (e.g. quarterly–6-monthly)
Light use
Low-grease, reheating, occasional cooking
Less frequent (e.g. 6-monthly–annual)
We assess your kitchen’s usage and recommend the correct interval, then schedule it so you stay compliant without having to track it. Frequencies are indicative — the standard and your specific situation govern the actual requirement.
What the Service Includes
A full canopy clean covers the canopy/hood, the grease filters (cleaned or replaced), the accessible exhaust ductwork, and the exhaust fan — degreasing the system thoroughly. We then provide the documentation and certification appropriate to AS 1851, recording the work and the system condition. The combination of a genuinely clean, fire-safe system and the compliance records is what your kitchen needs — and what we deliver.
Getting a Quote
Kitchen canopy cleaning is quoted to the kitchen after assessing the system size, usage and access. For ongoing compliance, we schedule the cleaning at the correct AS 1851 frequency as a recurring service, so it is never missed and your records stay current. Call 0431 918 137 or request a site assessment. See our restaurant & café guide and fire damper guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is kitchen canopy exhaust cleaning a legal requirement?
Commercial kitchen exhaust systems are covered by Australian Standard AS 1851, which sets out the maintenance and cleaning of fire protection and exhaust systems — and clean kitchen exhaust is also typically a condition of building and insurance compliance. Accumulated grease in a canopy, filters and ductwork is a serious fire hazard, so the standard requires regular cleaning to a defined level with records kept. In practice, commercial kitchens must keep their exhaust clean and documented to meet compliance and insurance obligations. We deliver the cleaning and the certification.
How often must a commercial kitchen canopy be cleaned?
Under AS 1851, the cleaning frequency depends on how heavily the kitchen is used — the volume and type of cooking, especially how much grease is produced. Heavy-use kitchens (high-volume, char-grilling, frying) need frequent cleaning, while light-use kitchens need it less often. The standard sets frequencies by usage category, ranging from monthly or quarterly for the heaviest use to longer intervals for light use. We assess your kitchen’s usage, recommend the correct frequency, and schedule the cleaning to keep you compliant. See the frequency guide below.
What does kitchen canopy cleaning involve?
A full commercial kitchen exhaust clean covers the canopy (hood), the grease filters, the exhaust ductwork as far as accessible, and the exhaust fan — removing the accumulated grease that builds up through cooking. The filters are cleaned or replaced, the canopy and accessible duct surfaces are degreased, and the fan is cleaned. After cleaning, we provide the documentation and certification required for AS 1851 compliance and your insurer. The aim is both a genuinely clean, fire-safe system and the records that prove it.
Why is grease in a kitchen exhaust a fire risk?
Grease from cooking is flammable, and it accumulates throughout the exhaust system — on the filters, inside the canopy, along the ductwork and on the fan. A flare-up on the cooktop can ignite this accumulated grease, and because it lines the ductwork, a fire can spread rapidly through the exhaust system and into the building. Commercial kitchen fires frequently start this way. Regular, thorough cleaning removes the fuel, which is why it is both a safety and a compliance priority — and why insurers require it.
Do you provide a compliance certificate after canopy cleaning?
Yes — after cleaning we provide the documentation and certification appropriate to AS 1851, recording the work performed and the condition of the system. This is what your building compliance and insurer require as evidence the exhaust system is being maintained to standard. Keeping these records is as important as the cleaning itself, because without them you cannot demonstrate compliance. We deliver both the clean and the paperwork so your kitchen stays compliant.
Commercial or Strata Property? Request a Site Assessment
Scoped, scheduled and documented — across Melbourne. Call or request a quote.
