Hood cleaning Pennsylvania kitchens need is not a filter wipe-down. Grease builds in the canopy, plenum, duct, and rooftop fan — and that is what Pennsylvania Fire Code 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 Pennsylvania fire code actually requires
Pennsylvania commercial kitchens are governed by the Pennsylvania Fire Code (34 Pa. Code, Chapter 403), which adopts NFPA 96. 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) — the municipal fire code official or third-party agency — decides what clears an inspection. Digital certificates and photos 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 local PA 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 a common reason PA certificates get rejected.
Rooftop fan
Blades, housing, and grease basin cleaned every visit — grease-fouled fans fail Pennsylvania inspections often.
Proof for the inspector
Same-night digital certificate, dated hood sticker, and before-and-after photos for your fire official file and insurance binder.
Where PA inspectors focus
Southeastern and south-central Pennsylvania — the corridors we service most:
| Area | Typical coverage | Usually checks |
|---|---|---|
| Chester County | Oxford, West Chester, Exton corridor | Certificate, sticker, suppression tag |
| York County | York, Red Lion, Hanover area | NFPA 96 record, hood sticker, tag |
| Lancaster County | Lancaster, Lititz, Ephrata | Cleaning certificate, suppression tag |
| Philadelphia suburbs | Delaware / Montgomery / Bucks counties | Certificate, photos when asked, tag |
| PA–MD border | Southern Chester & York | Same NFPA 96 docs both sides of the line |
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
Southeastern and south-central Pennsylvania with strong coverage near the Maryland line — York County, Oxford / Chester County, Lancaster, Philadelphia suburbs, and statewide accounts.
Restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, cafeterias, and food trucks — scheduled around your close-of-business window.
Common questions
What do Pennsylvania 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. Some municipalities also ask for photos.
Can we clean the hood ourselves?
No. PA 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 southeastern PA, we typically schedule within 24–48 hours. Call (800) 200-2134 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 Pennsylvania.
Need a certificate before your inspection?
Tell us the date and county. We will get bare-metal cleaning and paperwork on the calendar.