Commercial kitchens depend on systems that customers rarely see. Extraction ductwork carries away heat, smoke and airborne grease, while drainage systems handle wastewater from food preparation and washing. When grease is poorly managed, both can become sources of risk, with consequences ranging from fire and sewer blockages to environmental damage and business interruption.
Within Phenna Group's Certification & Compliance Division, Ventilate and ECAS provide specialist inspections, audits and compliance support to help customers identify these risks and address shortcomings. Their work connects practical site assessments with the requirements that matter to operators, property owners, insurers and water companies.
Inspecting extraction systems and fire risk controls
Ventilate works with landlords, property owners, insurers and property management teams, supporting commercial kitchen ventilation from design through to ongoing operation.
Its audit and compliance programmes assess fire risks from combustible grease deposits in extraction ductwork. The team also verifies that operators arrange effective cleaning and maintenance, helping clients understand where improvements are needed.
A frequent finding is inadequate access for cleaning. If sections of ductwork are inaccessible, grease can accumulate even when other parts of the system are cleaned. Inspections can also identify shortcomings in cleaning quality or frequency that leave risks insufficiently controlled.
This makes inspection valuable throughout a building's life. Design reviews help establish whether a system can be maintained effectively, while operational audits assess whether the arrangements in place remain suitable as kitchens and their usage change.
Understanding what compliance means
Kitchen ventilation requirements encompass statutory duties, industry specifications and site-specific customer or insurer conditions.
BESA's TR19® Grease specification provides an industry benchmark for managing fire risk from grease accumulation in kitchen extraction systems. It supports appropriate cleaning and maintenance arrangements but is distinct from legislation.
In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places duties on responsible persons to assess and manage fire risks. Insurers may also require particular protective measures, such as canopy fire suppression systems.
Ventilate's work helps clients identify gaps in these arrangements and prioritise improvements. For one global estate management company, the team surveyed more than 150 food service establishments across two London districts, examining existing fire risk controls.
The surveys identified missing canopy fire suppression systems required by the insurer. Ventilate subsequently managed an improvement programme that included installing 30 systems. Continuing audits and support for new tenant fit-outs help the client maintain oversight across its premises.
Inspecting grease management and protecting drainage
ECAS addresses another aspect of kitchen compliance: preventing fats, oils and grease, commonly known as FOG, from entering drains and sewers.
The team works with food service establishments, often in areas experiencing recurring blockages or where investigations have identified grease entering the network. Kitchen inspections review practices and whether grease-trapping equipment is sized and maintained properly.
These assessments regularly uncover a gap between installing equipment and keeping it effective. A grease trap that is too small for the operation, or not cleaned and maintained, may fail to provide the expected protection.
ECAS combines inspection findings with practical recommendations and staff training. This helps operators understand how their daily activities affect drainage systems and what needs to change.
In England and Wales, Section 111 of the Water Industry Act 1991 prohibits discharges liable to damage sewers or interfere with their free flow. Effective FOG management helps businesses meet these responsibilities and reduces the risk of blockages, flooding, and disruption.
From inspection findings to practical improvements
ECAS's work with Severn Trent and food businesses in Cheltenham illustrates this approach. Following problems with blocked toilets, investigations identified FOG accumulation in a town-centre sewer.
ECAS inspected kitchens, trained staff and helped businesses put suitable grease-trapping equipment in place. The team reports that Severn Trent subsequently declared the affected sewers fat free.
Simple practices supported these improvements, including dry-wiping plates and pans before washing, using sink strainers and keeping waste oil and food scraps out of drains. Combined with appropriate equipment and maintenance, these habits help turn recommendations into lasting operational changes.
Complementary expertise across Phenna Group
Ventilate and ECAS demonstrate inspection and compliance in practice: assessing conditions, identifying gaps against relevant requirements and supporting corrective action.
Their complementary capabilities give customers access to expertise covering both extraction systems and wastewater risks. When both services are needed, coordinated inspections help establish clearer priorities across the kitchen.
Through Phenna Group, property owners and operators can access support for more of their requirements, helping protect people and premises, maintain business continuity and reduce environmental harm.
Explore our Certification & Compliance Division to discover other specialist businesses and how their testing, inspection, certification and compliance expertise can support your operations.