Non-Compliance is Risky for Catering

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15 January 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

The National Association of Air Duct-Cleaners UK (NAADUK) has published a technical guidance document outlining how businesses must comply with regulations.

Every year numerous prohibition notices are slapped on sites for violation of the relevant regulation EC852. Of the 24,000 accidental fires per year in commercial properties, approximately 6,000 are attributed to cooking and extraction systems and more than 80% f kitchen extract ducts in the UK are never cleaned.

NAADUK believes that following the advice in its technical guidance note NAAD1: 2015, businesses involved in food production from farms to restaurants:

• Could avoid the costly retrofit of panels/post-build work to provide access.

• Reduce the number of inaccessible sections of ductwork.

• Avoid the replacement of inaccessible ductwork.

• Reduce the need for more expensive cleaning methods and specialist access equipment.

• Avoid unsafe cleaning methods and work practices and reduce the likelihood of fires and fines.

Under Regulation EC852/2004 which affects organisations operating in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and became effective on 1 January 2006, there must be:

• Suitable and sufficient means of natural or mechanical ventilation.

• Mechanical airflow from a contaminated area to a clean area must be avoided.

• Ventilation systems must be constructed so as to enable filters and other parts requiring cleaning or replacement to be readily accessible.

NAADUK’s guidance note provides advice on the practicalities behind the term ‘readily accessible’ which includes 17 examples of constraints to access, their considered resolutions and the associated implications.

For further information visit the website: www.naaduk.co.uk

Picture: Commercial catering businesses may be failing in compliance of new regulations for ductwork – like the example shown – that came into effect this month

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 15 January 2016

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