What is TR19?
TR19 Grease is the specification published by BESA (the Building Engineering Services Association) for the internal cleanliness of kitchen extract ventilation systems. It sets out how extract systems should be inspected, cleaned, measured and documented to reduce the risk of grease fires.
Why it matters
- Fire safety. Grease built up in canopies, filters and ductwork is highly flammable and can spread fire through a building.
- Insurance. Most commercial property and business interruption policies for food businesses require extraction to be cleaned in line with TR19. If it is not, a claim may be refused.
- Enforcement. Fire and environmental health officers can take action where there is visible grease build-up or no evidence of cleaning.
How often should kitchen extraction be cleaned?
TR19 sets minimum cleaning intervals by how heavily a kitchen is used. Heavy-use kitchens, such as those operating 12–16 hours a day or using woks, chargrills, solid-top ranges or high-volume deep fat fryers, should be cleaned at least every three months. Medium-use kitchens are typically cleaned every six months and light-use kitchens annually. Always confirm the interval against the current BESA document and your insurer’s wording.
TR19 also sets a maximum grease deposit threshold, measured with a wet film thickness test. If deposits exceed the limit, a clean is needed regardless of the calendar.
What a TR19 clean includes
- Pre-clean inspection and grease measurements
- Canopy, filter and plenum degreasing
- Ductwork cleaning through access panels
- Fan and fan-housing cleaning
- Post-clean measurements, photographs and a written report
Keeping evidence
Keep every post-clean report and certificate on file. They are the evidence your insurer, landlord and inspectors will ask to see. Missing access panels should be reported, as uncleanable sections of duct are a common gap.
How Prestige FM can help
We deep clean commercial kitchens and coordinate TR19 extract cleaning with documented reports, scheduled around service so you lose as little trading time as possible. See commercial kitchen cleaning or request a quote.
