How Often Should a Commercial Kitchen Canopy Be Cleaned?
If you run a commercial kitchen in Melbourne, your canopy and exhaust system quietly collect grease every single day. Left too long, that build-up becomes a genuine fire risk — and it can also put you on the wrong side of your insurer and the Australian Standard AS 1851.
So how often should it be cleaned? The short answer: it depends on how hard your kitchen works.
What AS 1851 says
AS 1851 is the Australian Standard for the routine service of fire protection systems and equipment, and it sets out inspection and cleaning intervals for kitchen exhaust systems. In practice, the standard links cleaning frequency to cooking volume and the type of cooking you do:
- Heavy-use kitchens (charcoal, wok, deep frying, long trading hours) — typically every 3 months, sometimes more often.
- Moderate-use kitchens (most restaurants, cafés and pubs) — typically every 6 months.
- Light-use kitchens (low-volume or occasional cooking) — typically every 12 months.
These are guides, not guarantees. The real test is how much grease has built up in your canopy, ductwork and fan — which is why regular inspections matter.
Why it matters
Grease is fuel. A dirty canopy and duct can turn a small flare-up on the cookline into a fire that travels through the whole exhaust system. Beyond safety, there are two practical reasons to stay on schedule:
- Insurance. Many insurers ask for evidence that your exhaust system is maintained to AS 1851. If you can’t show it, a claim can become very difficult.
- Compliance and health. Councils and health inspectors expect a clean, well-maintained kitchen exhaust. A documented service history makes those visits painless.
Signs you’re overdue
- Visible grease on or around the canopy and filters
- Smoke or odours lingering longer than they used to
- The exhaust fan sounding strained or vibrating
- You can’t remember the last professional clean
What a proper clean includes
A professional canopy clean isn’t just wiping the visible surfaces. It covers the canopy itself, the grease filters, the full length of the ductwork and the exhaust fan — the parts you can’t see are usually the dirtiest. After every clean, we provide a photo report so you have a record for your insurer and your own peace of mind.
Most of our cleans are done after hours, so your kitchen keeps trading without interruption.
Not sure where you stand?
Clean Air Filtration has been servicing commercial kitchens across Melbourne and Geelong for over 30 years. If you’re not sure when your canopy was last cleaned — or whether your current schedule meets AS 1851 — we’re happy to take a look and give you straightforward advice.
Learn more about our canopy cleaning service or request a quote — or call us on (03) 9303 9661.