Kitchen exhaust duct baseline degrease
A full baseline clean of your kitchen exhaust system — canopy, ductwork and fan — before you open, so the system starts life certified clean rather than picking up an unknown amount of grease from the fit-out and commissioning period.
A full baseline clean of your kitchen exhaust system — canopy, ductwork and fan — before you open, so the system starts life certified clean rather than picking up an unknown amount of grease from the fit-out and commissioning period. Singapore does not name a single benchmark the way BESA's TR19 does in the UK: SCDF's own Fire Code accepts two grease-deposit thickness standards — the UK's TR19 Grease standard (200 microns) and the US NFPA 96 standard (2000 microns) — so either benchmark, properly certified, satisfies the requirement.
Grease buildup in ductwork is a leading cause of commercial kitchen fires, and it is checked as part of SFA's food-establishment inspection regime alongside your fire safety obligations. Starting with a certified baseline clean also gives you a clean reference point for the recurring 12-monthly degrease that goes on your Compliance Calendar once you are trading, instead of an unknown starting condition.
We don't yet have a vetted Singapore contractor directory — ask your landlord or trade association for a recommendation.
Who this is for
Any kitchen with a mechanical extract hood and ductwork installed as part of your fit-out.
Applies wherever an extract hood is fitted; venues without mechanical extraction (e.g. drinks-only bars) are out of scope.
What you’ll hold
- Baseline cleaning certificate, dated, stating the standard used (TR19 or NFPA 96) and the measured deposit thickness
- A note of the next due date, 12 months on
Watch out for
- Treating a canopy-and-filter wipe-down as a full baseline degrease. If the ductwork itself wasn't opened and cleaned, it doesn't satisfy either benchmark SCDF accepts.
- Skipping the baseline clean because the system is "new" — fit-out dust and initial commissioning can leave residue, and you want a certified, dated starting point, not an assumption.
- Assuming this is the same item as your grease trap. It isn't — the duct handles airborne grease, the trap handles waterborne grease from sinks and floor drains, and both need their own install and servicing schedule.
Sources
- SFA — Guidelines for Licensed Food Retail Premises checked 2026-09-08
See also
This is item 20 of 36 in the free Singapore Launch Checklist. See the whole list →