NFPA 96 Compliance Inspection

NFPA 96 is the National Fire Protection Association standard for ventilation control and fire protection of commercial cooking operations. It's adopted by reference in most state and local fire codes, and it's what fire marshals and insurance inspectors use as the benchmark. If your system isn't compliant, you can be red-tagged and shut down until it's fixed.

A compliance inspection is a walkthrough of your entire exhaust system — hood, ductwork, fan, and rooftop grease containment if you have it. We measure grease depth in accessible areas of the duct, check for proper clearances around the hood, verify that access panels are present and code-compliant, inspect the fan for damage or excessive grease, and document any deficiencies. We're looking at the same things the fire marshal looks at, but we're doing it before they show up so you know what needs to be addressed.

“We measure grease depth, check clearances, verify access panels, and document any deficiencies — you get a written report that lists what's compliant and what's not.”

You get a written report that lists what's compliant and what's not. If there are issues — missing access panels, ductwork that's damaged or pulling apart, a fan that's caked in grease, grease depth that exceeds NFPA 96 limits — we note them and provide recommendations. Some deficiencies are immediate fire hazards that need to be corrected before you can operate; others are maintenance items that should be addressed at the next cleaning or during a scheduled downtime.

This inspection is separate from the cleaning itself. Some customers schedule it before a fire marshal visit to know what they're walking into. Others use it when they're buying a restaurant and want to know the condition of the exhaust system before they close on the property. Insurance carriers sometimes require a compliance inspection after a claim or as a condition of coverage renewal.

If we find that the system needs cleaning, we can schedule that separately. If access panels need to be installed or ductwork needs repair, we'll provide a quote for that work. The inspection itself usually takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on the size of the system. Kendall & Nicole handle the inspection personally and walks you through the findings on-site. You get the written report within 24 to 48 hours.

We serve customers across central and northeast South Dakota. If you're facing a fire marshal visit or you need documentation for an insurance carrier, call (903) 571-6744 and we'll get you scheduled.