Once again, there has been another devastating fire in a UK restaurant that has demonstrated the importance of regular and thorough extractor hood cleaning. Back in late January, a fire broke out at Bayley Lane Kitchen in the early morning, which started as a relatively minor extractor hood blaze and quickly escalated to become a disastrous incident. Not only did the fire engulf the restaurant’s kitchen, but also spread to other floors of the building and offices belonging to other brands and businesses.
Miraculously, nobody was killed in the blaze and the total damage to the building was recorded at approximately 10%. Nevertheless, the interior of the entire building was severely damaged due to fire and smoke.
As has been the case with so many similar incidents, West Midlands Fire Service suggested after the blaze had been extinguished that it could have been avoided entirely, had the extractor hood been sufficiently cleaned. The biggest problem with extractor fans and related systems in general is the way in which while they are doing their job efficiently, they tend to fade into the background and go unnoticed. They are taken for granted, given the way in which they carry out their job effectively and efficiently, with little to no input required.
Over time however, they accumulate the kind of grease and grime that can represent an extremely dangerous fire hazard. It often isn’t until things reach crisis point that an extraction system will give any kind of warning that things are not as they should be – precisely why they need to be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.
It’s not only a case of minimising fire hazards, either. Every day, extractor fans and systems accumulate more grease, grime and debris as they carry out their job. The more dirt and grime that accumulate in the system, the more difficult it becomes for the system to do its job. When this happens, it becomes considerably less efficient, utilises more energy to operate and renders the facility as a whole significantly less hygienic. Not only this, but to allow grease and dirt to accumulate on or in an extraction system is to shorten the overall life of the system and its various components. Overlooking the importance of regular cleaning is a sure-fire recipe for excessive repair and replacement bills, further down the line.
If you do not have the time, the knowledge or the specialist equipment required to clean your extraction systems properly, it is highly advisable to speak to the professionals and organise expert cleaning services. By simply having the professionals visit your premises on a regular basis and carry out a quick yet comprehensive cleaning job, you can both extend the life of your extraction system significantly and minimise the likelihood of dangerous incidents occurring.
For more information on any of our professional cleaning services, get in touch with the Absolutely Gleaming team today.