What Is AS 1851 and Why Do Insurers Ask for It?
If you run a commercial kitchen in Melbourne, you have probably been asked by your insurer, landlord or council for evidence that your kitchen exhaust system is maintained to AS 1851. But what exactly is AS 1851, and why does it matter so much?
What is AS 1851?
AS 1851 is the Australian Standard for the routine service of fire protection systems and equipment. It sets out how often fire safety systems — including kitchen exhaust and canopy systems — must be inspected, cleaned and maintained, and what records must be kept.
For commercial kitchens, the relevant part of the standard covers the build-up of grease in canopies, filters, ductwork and exhaust fans. Grease is highly flammable, and a fire that starts in a canopy can travel through the entire duct system in minutes. AS 1851 exists to make sure that never happens.
Why do insurers ask for it?
When a kitchen fire occurs, one of the first things an insurer checks is whether the exhaust system was maintained to AS 1851. If it wasn’t, a claim can be reduced or refused entirely. That is why insurers increasingly ask for:
- Regular cleaning records and service reports
- Before-and-after photos of the canopy and ductwork
- Evidence that cleaning intervals match the standard’s requirements for your cooking volume
Landlords and shopping centre managers are asking for the same documentation, and many councils expect it during health and fire safety inspections.
How often does cleaning need to happen?
The required frequency depends on how heavily the kitchen is used. A busy restaurant cooking with woks, chargrills or deep fryers for long hours will need far more frequent cleaning than a café with light cooking. As a general guide, high-volume kitchens are typically serviced monthly to quarterly, while lower-volume operations may be serviced six-monthly or annually. The key point is that the interval must be based on actual grease build-up — and documented.
What should a proper service include?
A compliant clean goes well beyond wiping down the visible canopy. It should cover:
- The canopy interior and exterior
- Grease filters (cleaned, exchanged or replaced)
- The full duct run, including horizontal sections
- The exhaust fan on the roof
- A written service report with photos for your records
That report is your proof. Keep every one — they are exactly what your insurer will ask for after an incident, and what a broker will want when renewing your policy.
The bottom line
AS 1851 compliance is not paperwork for the sake of it. It protects your staff, your customers, your building and your insurance cover. A kitchen exhaust fire in a non-compliant system can mean a refused claim at the worst possible moment.
Clean Air Filtration provides canopy and kitchen exhaust cleaning across Melbourne with full photo-documented service reports, plus scheduled grease filter exchange and commercial duct cleaning. Every service comes with the records your insurer wants to see.
Not sure if your current cleaning schedule meets the standard? Contact our team or call (03) 9303 9661 for a no-obligation assessment of your kitchen exhaust system.