Failing a kitchen hood inspection right before a busy weekend is stressful. Whether you operate a restaurant, hospital, school, hotel, or another commercial kitchen, your first priority is figuring out exactly why the inspection failed.
Sometimes it’s something simple, like missing documentation or an improperly completed inspection tag. Other times, the inspector has identified a fire safety issue that needs to be corrected before your kitchen can continue operating.
The good news is that every failed inspection has a next step. Here’s where to start.
What to Do If You Fail a Kitchen Hood Inspection
1. Call the Hood Cleaning Company That Last Serviced Your System
Your first call should be to the commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning company that most recently serviced your kitchen exhaust system. Their inspection sticker should be on the hood with their company name and phone number.
Let them know your kitchen failed its hood inspection. They should be ready to help you understand what caused the failure, what needs to be corrected, and what the next steps are. From that first phone call, they should be part of helping you get your commercial kitchen back into compliance.
2. Find Out How Serious the Issue Is
Not every failed kitchen hood inspection results in the same outcome.
Some issues can be corrected the same day. Others require additional kitchen exhaust cleaning, repairs, replacement parts, or coordination with another contractor.
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), often your local fire marshal, will determine whether the issue must be corrected immediately or whether there’s time to complete the necessary work before reinspection.
Once you know the scope of the problem, you can make a plan to get your commercial kitchen back into compliance.
3. If Your Hood Cleaning Company Can’t Help, Find One That Can
If your current hood cleaning company isn’t answering the phone during an emergency, don’t wait.
When you’ve failed a kitchen hood inspection, you need answers quickly.
Look for a qualified commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning company that offers emergency service and has experience working with restaurant owners and fire officials. Questions to Ask When You Hire A Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning Company
At Bare Metal Standard, we have teams working 24/7. If you’ve failed a kitchen hood inspection, we’ll help you understand the issue, determine what needs to happen next, and work with you and the AHJ to develop a plan to get your kitchen back into compliance as quickly and safely as possible.
Can You Stay Open After Failing a Kitchen Hood Inspection?
It depends on why the inspection failed.
Some failures involve paperwork or minor deficiencies that can be corrected quickly. Others involve excessive grease buildup, damaged equipment, or other fire hazards that require immediate corrective action.
The final decision always rests with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Common Reasons Kitchen Hood Inspections Fail
Commercial kitchen hood inspections can fail for a variety of reasons, including:
- Excessive grease buildup
- Incomplete kitchen exhaust cleaning
- Missing or incorrect inspection documentation
- Damaged or missing system components
- Fire suppression deficiencies
- Inaccessible ductwork
- Other fire safety issues that prevent the system from meeting code
Your inspection report should identify the specific issue that needs to be corrected before reinspection.
How to Prevent a Failed Kitchen Hood Inspection
The easiest failed inspection to deal with is the one that never happens.
Here are a few ways to reduce the risk of future inspection failures:
- Schedule kitchen exhaust cleaning according to NFPA 96 requirements. How Often Should a Commercial Kitchen Hood Be Cleaned?
- Review your service reports after every cleaning.
- Address maintenance issues before your next inspection.
- Keep cleaning reports and inspection documentation organized and readily available.
- Work with a qualified kitchen exhaust cleaning company that cleans the entire exhaust system—not just the hood.
Preventive maintenance is almost always less disruptive and less expensive than responding to an emergency inspection failure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after failing a kitchen hood inspection?
Contact the hood cleaning company that most recently serviced your system. They can explain why the inspection failed and what corrective action is needed.
Can my restaurant stay open after failing a hood inspection?
Sometimes. It depends on the reason for the failure and whether the Authority Having Jurisdiction determines the kitchen can safely continue operating while corrections are being made.
Can another hood cleaning company help if my current provider won’t respond?
Yes. Many commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning companies offer emergency service and can assess your system, perform additional cleaning when appropriate, and help develop a plan to return your kitchen to compliance.
How long does it take to fix a failed kitchen hood inspection?
That depends on why the inspection failed. Some issues can be corrected the same day, while others require additional cleaning, repairs, replacement parts, or coordination with other contractors.
What causes a commercial kitchen hood inspection to fail?
Common causes include excessive grease buildup, incomplete cleaning, damaged components, missing documentation, inaccessible ductwork, fire suppression deficiencies, and other conditions that prevent the kitchen exhaust system from meeting fire safety requirements.
Need Emergency Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning?
If you’ve failed a kitchen hood inspection, don’t wait.
Bare Metal Standard provides 24/7 emergency commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning and works with restaurant owners, facility managers, and fire officials to help commercial kitchens return to compliance as quickly and safely as possible.
Whether you need emergency cleaning, help understanding an inspection report, or a plan to get back into compliance, we’re here to help.
Need emergency service? Contact Bare Metal Standard today.