Kitchen Duct Cleaning Don't Get Caught Out By Insurers

Why Now is a Good Time to set up a Kitchen Duct Cleaning Programme

After a serious fire, how long does it take for a commercial kitchen to recover? 1 month? 6 months? No-one can really tell, but what is certain, is that it will have an impact on business long after it is dealt with - higher insurance payments, cost of refurbishment and loss of customer confidence.

In cases where cooking is the core activity of a business, such as in a restaurant, a kitchen fire will have an immediate and severe impact. In businesses, such as pubs or clubs, where cooking is an integral, but not central, part of the business, a kitchen fire can easily spread, impacting on the more important areas.

Grease deposits are a Fire Hazard

During many cooking operations, hot oils evaporate. The grease fumes condense on plenums, kitchen extractor fans and inside extractor system ducts. Not only do these pose a health hazard by harbouring bacteria and attracting insects and other pests, they are a fire hazard unless they are cleaned thoroughly.

Cooking oils are designed for use at about 200^oC. When thermostat failure or human error occurs, oils can be inadvertently heated above their flashpoint and are easily ignited, creating a kitchen fire. Old and frequently used oils ignite at lower temperatures so kitchen operators trying to save money by using cooking oils for as long as possible are exposing their staff and business to an increased risk.

According to Richard Norman of the Building Engineering Services Association (Ref: Modern Building Services Magazine July 2014 issue), grease build up in extractor systems is a major hazard in commercial kitchens. He says that in ninety percent of instances of a kitchen fire, a subsequent grease fire in ducting has spread the fire more widely through the building. It is therefore imperative to carry out regular kitchen duct cleaning and kitchen extractor fan cleaning. This reduces the fire risk and increases kitchen hygiene too.

Changes to Best Practice

Many insurers demand that duct cleaning is carried out in accordance with the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) recommendations. A few insurers require a greater than recommended frequency of cleaning in order that a fire policy is valid so make sure that you have read your policy very carefully. Heavy use kitchens should have specialist duct cleaning at least once every quarter whilst light use kitchen ducts and extraction systems should be cleaned at least once per year.

The BESA recommendations are set out in publication TR/19. This is entitled 'Guide to Good Practice - Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems'. The second (and most recent) edition of TR/19 includes reference to the British and European Standard BS EN 15780 concerning the cleanliness of ventilation systems. This does not include kitchen extractor systems, nevertheless, BESA made changes to highlight the current best practice to minimise the risk of a grease fire in a kitchen duct.

It is section 7 that concerns commercial kitchens. The last round of changes to section 7 concern the frequency of cleaning. A new table has been drawn up showing how often kitchen duct cleaning should take place. Each kitchen has a unique set of circumstances. The new table approaches that issue by publishing figures based on cooking type and hours of cooking.

Certification

When hiring a commercial kitchen cleaning firm, always check beforehand that they will issue a valid certificate of duct cleaning as this is also a requirement of many insurance policies.

Responsibility

Commercial kitchen cleaning is a highly-specialised area requiring both expertise and an in-depth knowledge of both hygiene and fire regulations. Employing a non-specialist contractor could lead to a heavy fine for the owner or manager of the kitchen.

How come?

The Fire Safety Order of 2005 stipulates that the 'responsible person' must ensure that both the facilities and equipment are subjected to a suitable system of maintenance. All must be in good working order and repair. If it is shown that the fire was started or caused by negligence such as poor cleaning of a kitchen duct, then there will be at least a heavy fine. If anyone is killed in such a situation, they face prison.

Choosing your Kitchen Cleaning Contractor

Beware of commercial cleaning companies and individuals who undercut specialist businesses ... they are cheap for a reason! Make sure that you hire the best - call APT today on 0800 0723 773 for a free quote or advice without obligation. We have been at the forefront of the industry, offering one-off deep cleans and regular maintenance cleaning contracts for over 25 years. Our technicians are fully trained and qualified to carry out duct, plenum and extractor fan cleaning.

Is your school safe from hazardous chemicals?

 Is your school safe from hazardous chemicals?

Most of the waste chemicals resulting from science laboratory experiments are considered hazardous, so the generation, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes must be given special consideration in every experiment.

There are certain hazardous materials that should be considered in the management of waste that is generated from science education. Such as mercury, lead, asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls. These hazardous materials may pose potential concerns in laboratories as well as in other school environments.

Everyone associated with the school science laboratory shares the responsibility to minimise the amount of waste produced, and to dispose of wastes in a way that has the least impact on human health and the environment. Prior to generating and managing any wastes, carefully evaluate each experiment and confirm that your work environment and disposal methods are safe and in compliance with all applicable regulations.

Many new materials have been classed as hazardous. The rules and regulations regarding disposal of hazardous waste are extensive and are updated regularly therefore we highly recommend that you use a professional hazardous waste disposal company.

Why Is Soda Blast Cleaning So Effective?

Why Is Soda Blast Cleaning So Effective?

Blasting soda is an extremely friable and soft material that undergoes micro fragmentation on impact, taking away surface materials without damaging the fabric of your building or surface.  Soda particles fracture on impact thus providing the energy for a thorough cleaning action while softening the impact on the substrate.

specialised soda blasting technique is fast becoming the preferred method for cleaning and restoring many heritage and architectural buildings, monuments, commercial buildings, industrial and engineering works, refineries, food processing, transport and marine structures.

It is an environmentally friendly, non-destructive, non-abrasive blasting process using specially formulated granules of natural bicarbonate of soda and controlled amounts of compressed air. No harmful conventional chemical cleaning products are used.

Soda blasting is by far the quickest, safest and most cost effective method to clean and remove decades of pollution, residues, micro-organisms and coatings from virtually any surface without damaging the substrate.

It Is A Proven, Highly Versatile Process With Many Applications In Cleaning, Renovation And Restoration Including:

• paint stripping
• graffiti removal
• molecular steel passivation against rust
• oil removal by saponification and translocation
• paint removal from delicate fibreglass
• industrial equipment maintenance

The Soda Blast cleaning process…

We operate with blast pressures from as low as 0.5 bar using the New Vortex II Spin Head Nozzle which allows for greater accuracy for very sensitive services.

soda blast cleaning equipment is a unique design combined with the latest technology that complies with European Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC, also known as the PED.

It is a self contained system that includes a blast generator, high pressure compressed air, moisture decontamination system, blast hose with remote controls, and a blast nozzle that is capable of handling dry or wet blasting material.

Some Of The Benefits Of Soda Blasting – For Full List Click On Major Benefits.

• Environmentally friendly – no dangerous solvents, chemicals or harmful abrasives are used. These can seriously damage the fabric of your building and create disposal issues
• Gentle – mild and non-abrasive, will not damage the material of your building
• Quick – cleans in a fraction of time compared to traditional cleaning methods, saving you costs while reducing any disturbance to your business
• Rapid clean up – little or nothing needs to be spent to clean up following soda blasting
• Highly versatile – can be used on a multitude of surfaces to remove a multitude of coatings, debris and pollution
• Low pressure system safety – using the unique Vortex II spin head nozzle
• Non-flammable & non-sparking

• Where can soda blasting be used?

• Aviation
• Architectural,  historical & period properties
• Engineering & components
• Swimming pools
• Canals
• Medical waste
• Food processing facilities
• Industrial kitchens
• Fire damage
• Flood damage
• Commercial buildings
• Transport
• Marine – including anti fouling & hulls
• Monument restoration
• Rail – stations, carriages & tracks
• Remedial works
• Residential properties
  
  For more information go to: http://aptsodablasting.co.uk/

Algae & Moss Removal

Specialist Algae & Moss Removal Services

The removal of algae and moss from any surface, whether it is a building, road, footpath or outdoor sporting facility, needs consideration and attention in order to get the job done properly, effectively and quickly.

- See more at: http://www.apt-icc.co.uk/algae-removal#sthash.bsNixym6.dpuf

To ensure you treat algae and moss in the most appropriate way for the long term stability of the structure it’s worth understanding how these plants thrive and why it is important to remove them.

Algae is a derivative form of seaweed, and is liable to grow on any surface that is wet, or has been exposed to damp or humid conditions. It can grow extremely quickly, in some cases in a matter of hours, and unlike land plants, algae does not have any leaves or roots, which means that it can grow and spread on almost any surface including bridge structures, stone and masonry, fascia, cladding, pathways, road signs and a whole host of outdoor sporting venues.

- See more at: http://www.apt-icc.co.uk/algae-removal#sthash.bsNixym6.dpuf

Moss is very similar to algae in that is it lacks true roots, growing in damp habitats and spreading by means of spores released from stalked capsules.  

The fact that these plants can grow virtually anywhere makes the challenge of cleaning it off all the more important as a technique that is suitable for one surface may not be suitable for another.

Algae and moss growth will produce a ‘slimy’ texture, which on pavements or walkways can be dangerous and cause a number of slips, but on buildings and other structures it is not necessarily damaging if treated as soon as possible.

The length of time the plants have been left to grow, and the surface area they cover, can greatly vary the time and method needed to properly clean the facade.

Adherence to any surface, and quick regrowth, means that algae and moss can be very troublesome to eliminate effectively, leaving behind stains and, if not treated properly, will simply grow back time and again.

At APT-ICC we a have track record in cleaning algae and moss from a huge range of different surfaces.  Using our specialist teams and our very own, purposely, specifically, and uniquely developed cleaning product, we offer an exceptional guarantee to customers that all surfaces will be treated appropriately, reducing the risk of re-growth wherever possible.

- See more at: http://www.apt-icc.co.uk/algae-removal#sthash.bsNixym6.dpuf

Please do not hesitate to contact our experts, who will offer advice and even visit your site to consult about algae removal. Call our free phone no 0800 072 3773.

Visit - http://www.apt-icc.co.uk/algae-removal

Kitchen Cleaning Tips

In this blog, we will be giving tips and advice on little things you can do to make cleaning the kitchen of your company/business easier.


Most business premises have a kitchen or food-preparation area. It could be a canteen area with dedicated kitchen staff, or just a small area with a sink, some cupboards and a kettle. No matter how big or small your company’s kitchen may be, it still needs cleaning from time to time. Big companies will no doubt have their own cleaner, but smaller businesses with just a few staff might not have that luxury and will have to clean the kitchen themselves whilst trying to juggle their own work tasks.

The company kitchen can get dirty and unclean quicker than the average kitchen
(Image source - myturnstone.com)

That’s why we've decided to put together some useful tips to help make the annoying task of cleaning the company kitchen easier and quicker for you.



Cleaning the microwave

Pretty much every company with a small kitchen area will have a microwave. Not everyone has the option of going out for food every lunch time, and a lot of people will get bored of cold sandwiches, so having the option of sticking some pasta or ready meal in the microwave for a few minutes is great. However, with the entire workforce constantly using it, it’s going to get dirty after a while, and who wants to be the one having to scrub down someone else’s mess?

To make it easier for you, try putting some wet paper towels in there and turn it on for a few minutes. The steam from the water will loosen the stains and dried on dirt and then, once they have cooled down, you can use the same paper towels to simply wipe off the dirt.



Cleaning the kettle

Another fixture in nearly every kitchen is the kettle. Everyone likes a cuppa whist they work, meaning the kettle is going to be used a lot, which is how limescale builds up. Kettles aren’t exactly the easiest of things to clean with a scrubber or hand cloth, so the best way to clean it is by putting some standard vinegar mixed with water in and boiling it. This will loosen and remove the built-up limescale, letting you simply pour it out with the liquid to get rid of it.



Unblock the sink

The kitchen sink is often the root of many arguments in the workplace, as some people will clean their plates and cutlery straight after using them, whilst others will just leave plates still covered in food in the sink for someone else to find. Leaving things still on the plate is one of the causes of sink blockages, as the little bits of food and crumbs left on the plates will build up over time and will eventually cause a blockage if left unchecked. 

Your company could just buy some supermarket brand bleach and unblocker, but these aren’t always that effective and are quite expensive. To save money, a simple method is to pour half a cup of salt along with a cup of baking soda down the drain and leave it overnight. The next day, the first person in for work can boil the kettle and pour the hot water down the drain, which will clear the blockage.



These are just a few tips to solve everyday issues that can arise in the kitchen. We will be back in a few weeks with more helpful tips like these, so keep up-to-date with this blog to make sure you don’t miss them.

If you feel your business’ kitchen needs a professional clean, please click here to go to our website or call 01495 308048 to hire our expert team.

Kitchen Cleaning Services

In this blog, we continue with our series of profiles of our commercial cleaning services, focusing on our kitchen cleaning service.


Hygiene in food-preparation areas is the single most important aspect of running a food-service business. We’ve all seen countless horror stories of restaurants and takeaways being shut down due to dirt, damp, mould and vermin being found not only on site, but in areas were the food is directly stored and prepared.

Although this is so important to a food business, it’s easy to understand how a kitchen could become dirty. How many times have you made a nice, filling dinner and just haven’t had the energy to clean the dishes right away? Now imagine preparing hundreds of meals, then having hundreds of things to clean at the end of the day. Not just the plates and cooking equipment, but the floors and walls as well, which can, over time, get covered with grease and dirt. In a large kitchen it almost impossible for cleaners to make sure ever single inch of the place is spotless. That’s where we can help.

Think cleaning your kitchen is hard? Imagine cleaning this

We offer a kitchen deep clean service, with our trained and experienced cleaning teams efficiently eliminating the progressive build up of grease, oils and grime on walls, floors and worktops, as well as on less accessible surfaces such as canopies, light fittings and walls behind equipment and ceilings. These cleans can be performed as a one-off or as regular six-month visits in the form of a contract cleaning service.

But that’s not all we offer. It’s all well and good to make sure the surfaces in the kitchen are clean, but what about the extractor fans? These remove the steam and air-borne vapour that cause grease and dirt to be left of walls. But over time, the filters of these fans will get blocked with all that grease themselves, which can result in steam and vapour being trapped in the kitchen; a very hazardous situation. Our kitchen duct cleaning service deep cleans your extraction systems, from extraction hood through to external fans, and will replace old filters for new ones if required.

Clean air ducts and ventilation systems are vital for a clean kitchen

For more information or to book our kitchen cleaning service, please call us on 01495 308048 or visit our website by clicking the APT logo below.

High Level Cleaning

In this blog, we will be looking at our specialist high level cleaning services.


Since the dawn of civilization, there have been buildings. In the Middle Ages, there were buildings. When the Industrial Revolution began, there were more buildings. Right now, there are so many buildings. Buildings everywhere. Supermarkets, cinemas, factories, offices; these are all buildings. And like everything else, buildings need to be cleaned. But cleaning a building isn’t like cleaning the dishes; it can be complex, different for every individual building and can be very dangerous when they start going up and up. Cleaning buildings isn’t exactly something that’s thought about very often by most people, but it is with APT.

We’ve been cleaning high level buildings for over 20 years, so we’re confident that we know what we’re doing by now. And as you can probably guess, cleaning a building isn’t just going at it with a bucket and cloth; it takes careful planning and a professionally-trained team using specialist equipment. Luckily we have all of those things, meaning we can provide excellent high level cleaning services.

Our specialist teams are highly trained to use equipment such as this
(Image source - APT-ICC)

But what are those services? What does cleaning a building actually involve? Well, there are three main types of cleaning jobs involved with high level building cleaning, which are:-



1. Exterior Cleaning

This is a very important part of building cleaning in terms of visual aesthetics. Over time, a warehouse, factory or office block is going to get dirtier, which can make them seem older and run-down; definitely not a good look if you are trying to sell yourselves as a company or present the company to potential business partners. Dirty buildings can even have a negative impact on a workforce, as having to go to a run-down, grimy building every day can start to make them feel run-down as well.

Our exterior cleaning service covers cladding cleaning, restoration and protection, graffiti removal, paint removal, general maintenance and awkward access areas including rope access cleaning. Our cleaning processes safely remove carbon, dirt, scale, micro-organisms, pollutants and UV light damage, which can help bring your building back to its original condition. Our services can be provided as a one-off job or as a regular six-month cleaning contract.



2. Roof Cleaning

Whilst the average person is not going to see the roof of a building from street level, it is still important to make sure they are cleaned. If a roof is left without maintenance, moss and algae can develop. If these organisms are left unchecked, they can block gutters, damage ventilation systems and attract insects. They can even begin to eat through the roof itself if left long enough. In the cold, winter months, the algae and moss can freeze solid, which can cause major problems due to the increased weight on the roof.

Our canopy cleaning and roof cleaning services will prevent this damage by removing all traces of moss and algae. As a professional commercial roof cleaning company we hold a waste carriers license and therefore we will dispose of any moss and dirt that is removed at our designated waste disposal sites. 

Regular roof maintenance is vital to ensure your building is clean and safe
(Image source - APT-ICC)

3. Gutter Cleaning

A lot of people have experience with blocked gutters. Usually during autumn with its falling leaves, the guttering of homes can get blocked, which most often gets sorted with a broom being poked from a bedroom window. But that method doesn’t quite work for large, commercial buildings. Blocked drains stop water from running off the roof and into drains at street level. If there is a heavy period of rain, this can lead to flooding, something that would be very damaging for a business. Did you know that 64% of flooding is caused by blocked drains, and that insurance companies can use this to blame you and deny a claim?

We offer both high level gutter cleaning and commercial gutter cleaning services as a one-off clean or at regular intervals to ensure your property doesn't suffer water damage for something so easily remedied. Gutter cleaning can be dangerous due to the height and sometimes difficult to reach position of the gutters and should therefore always be left to professional companies offering high level gutter cleaning services.


If you require any of these services, visit our website by clicking on our logo below, or ring us on 01495 308048 for a free, no-obligation quote and advice on what service would be best of your needs.