Hood cleaning Maryland kitchens need is not a filter wipe-down. Grease builds in the canopy, plenum, duct, and rooftop fan — and that is what COMAR inspectors and insurers care about. We clean to bare metal, photograph the work, sticker the hood, and leave you with an NFPA 96 certificate the same night.
What Maryland fire code actually requires
Maryland adopts NFPA 96 through the State Fire Prevention Code (COMAR 29.06.01). If your kitchen produces grease-laden vapors, you must clean the exhaust system on the NFPA schedule and keep proof ready for inspection.
Enforcement is local. Your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) — usually the county or city fire marshal — decides what clears an inspection. Recent updates most Maryland AHJs are applying: digital certificates are widely accepted, new suppression installs must be UL 300, and access panels get closer scrutiny on major modifications.
Need the suppression tag current too? Pair this visit with kitchen fire system or Ansul system service.
How often you need service
Frequency follows cooking volume — not what is convenient for the schedule:
| Cooking type | Examples | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Solid fuel | Wood-fired, charcoal, mesquite | Monthly |
| High volume | 24-hour, charbroil, wok, fast food | Quarterly |
| Moderate volume | Typical full-service / casual | Semi-annual |
| Low volume | Seasonal, limited menus | Annually |
Your AHJ can require a stricter interval based on grease load on site.
What we clean on every visit
Hood & filters
Canopy, baffles, troughs, and plenum cleaned to bare metal. Missing or damaged filters flagged before your next inspection.
Grease duct
Access panels opened; horizontal and vertical runs scraped and washed. Incomplete duct work is the most common reason certificates get rejected.
Rooftop fan
Blades, housing, and grease basin cleaned every visit — grease-fouled fans fail Maryland inspections often.
Proof for the inspector
Same-night digital certificate, dated hood sticker, and before-and-after photos for your fire marshal file and insurance binder.
Who inspects you in Maryland
Match your location to the office that reviews your certificate:
| Jurisdiction | AHJ | Usually checks |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | MCFRS | Certificate, sticker, suppression tag |
| Prince George’s | PG Fire/EMS | Cleaning record, hood certificate, tag |
| Baltimore City | BCFD | Record, photos, sticker, suppression tag |
| Baltimore County | BCoFD | Logs, certificate, tag |
| Howard County | Howard DFR | Compliance certificate, log, tag |
| Anne Arundel | AACFD | Logs, certificate, tag |
| Frederick County | Frederick DFRS | NFPA 96 record, hood certificate, tag |
Before the inspector walks in
- Current NFPA 96 certificate matching this kitchen address
- Dated service sticker on the hood
- Before-and-after photos ready if asked
- Current semi-annual suppression tag (Ansul or equivalent)
- Access panels present; missing panels noted in the report
- Filters seated; Class K extinguisher tagged and accessible
Where we work
Statewide coverage with the densest schedule in the Baltimore–Washington corridor — Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Laurel, College Park, Baltimore, Columbia, Annapolis, and Frederick.
Restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, cafeterias, and food trucks — scheduled around your close-of-business window.
Common questions
What do Maryland inspectors look for?
Usually four things: a current certificate for this address, a dated hood sticker, visible bare-metal cleanliness in hood/duct/fan, and a current suppression tag. Baltimore City and Montgomery often ask for photos.
Can we clean the hood ourselves?
No. Maryland AHJs expect contractor documentation. Surface wipe-downs miss the duct and fan where fires start, and insurers typically require professional records for grease-fire claims.
How fast can you come for an emergency?
For upcoming inspections or correction orders in the Baltimore–Washington metro, we typically schedule within 24–48 hours. Call (240) 771-3473 and mention your inspection date.
Can you bundle Ansul inspection the same night?
Yes — and you should. Caps come off for cleaning, then suppression inspection and tag renewal finish in one visit. See Ansul system Maryland.
Need a certificate before your inspection?
Tell us the date and county. We will get bare-metal cleaning and paperwork on the calendar.