The cleaning visit is booked for after closing. The kitchen team knows the date. But who has the roof access key, and will someone still be there to let the cleaners in?
Those details are easy to miss when you are busy running a restaurant. A little preparation helps the cleaning team get to the agreed areas and gives your closing staff a clear plan. Here is what to arrange before a commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning visit in Singapore.
Confirm exactly what is being cleaned
Check the written scope before the appointment. Does it cover the hood and grease filters only, or also the ductwork and exhaust fan? If your system has an electrostatic air cleaner, confirm whether servicing it is included.
Ask the contractor to identify any areas that cannot be reached through the existing access panels. It is better to discuss these before the visit than discover an unplanned access problem after the kitchen has shut down. For an overview of the equipment involved, see Skylane’s kitchen exhaust cleaning services.
Send useful site information
A few clear photographs can make the initial discussion much easier. Take them from places your staff can safely reach: the front of the hood, the cooking line beneath it and the surrounding workspace. There is no need to climb onto equipment or open plant enclosures to get a picture.
If you have them, share the exhaust layout, the previous cleaning report and the approximate hood dimensions. Tell the contractor where the fan is located and whether another tenant shares any part of the system. If you are unsure, say so; building management may be able to help.
Mention practical restrictions too. A narrow service corridor, a loading bay that closes early or a kitchen on an upper floor can affect how equipment is brought in.
Arrange building access before the day
For a restaurant in a mall, hotel or managed building, check the arrangements with the facilities team. Ask whether the work needs advance approval, a permit, contractor registration or a particular access window.
Confirm who can unlock any roof, plant room or service area included in the job. Book the service lift if needed, and give the contractor the name and telephone number of the person who will be on site. That person should know the agreed scope and have permission to resolve access questions.
If the building operates a shared exhaust system, agree which parts belong to the restaurant’s maintenance scope and which are managed by the landlord. Do not assume a booking for your kitchen covers neighbouring units or communal equipment.
Plan the shutdown and clear the work area
Give the cleaning team two times: when cooking will finish and when preparation must restart. Agree a realistic work window, including the time needed for the equipment to cool and for the area to be handed back.
Before the visit, remove food, loose utensils and movable items from the agreed work area. Discuss who will protect fixed appliances and nearby surfaces. Keep access routes clear, and let the contractor know about anything that cannot be moved.
Any shutdown, isolation or restart of equipment should be coordinated with the authorised people responsible for it. Your kitchen staff should not be left guessing which switches or systems they need to handle.
Agree what you need at handover
Ask what documentation will be provided and who will receive it. A useful record identifies the service date, the equipment and areas cleaned, any inaccessible sections, and any follow-up work recommended. Before-and-after photographs can help show the condition of the areas that were accessible.
SCDF’s Fire Code, clause 7.1.13(d), requires kitchen exhaust cleaning to be carried out by a specialist and the owner or operator to keep maintenance records. Keep the report somewhere the person responsible for the premises can retrieve it. A cleaning report should describe the work performed; it is not, by itself, proof that every part of the installation complies with the Fire Code.
A checklist for the person closing up
- Written scope checked, including any access limitations.
- Building approvals, keys and lift arrangements confirmed where needed.
- On-site contact available throughout the agreed work window.
- Food and loose items cleared from the work area.
- Shutdown and restart responsibilities agreed with authorised personnel.
- Handover arrangements and report recipient confirmed.
Planning a kitchen exhaust cleaning visit?
Send Skylane your premises location, a few accessible photographs and your preferred work window. We can discuss the scope and access arrangements before preparing a quotation. Contact Skylane to arrange your commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning.
