Commercial kitchens are the powerhouse behind many hospitality businesses, yet amidst the chaotic rhythm of service, ensuring that these spaces remain pristine often slips down the priority list. When grease and grime quietly accumulate, they can do more than compromise hygiene by inviting fire!
According to government statistics, there were 2,764 fires in hospitality premises alone in England during the 2020/21 financial year. These fires do more than destroy property, as they can be the death knell for businesses. Of the estimated £12 billion in annual fire damage costs in the UK, £3.2 billion is attributed to the aftermath, and shockingly, around 80% of hospitality businesses affected by a severe fire never recover.
This stark reality underscores the importance of regular deep cleaning to help reduce fire risks and knowing how to effectively clean up after a fire to prevent secondary damage as you strive to rebuild.
Why is Deep Cleaning Important for Fire Prevention?
In a busy hospitality setting, kitchen ductwork, extraction systems, and storage spaces can quickly become breeding grounds for grease and other flammable debris and, if left unchecked, these hidden dangers pose a serious fire risk. Regular deep cleaning not only eliminates these hazards but ensures compliance with TR19 standards, often leading to reduced insurance premiums.
Professional deep cleans of commercial kitchens do more than mitigate fire risks, they also help you stay compliant with health and safety regulations, improve hygiene standards, and optimise the efficiency of your kitchen equipment. Cleanliness, in this case, is truly next to safety.
Fire damage restoration
But what happens when prevention falls short, the unthinkable occurs and fire breaks out? In such moments of devastation, how can you ensure that the damage is properly assessed and that restoration is carried out effectively?
Fire damage doesn’t just leave visible scars on your property; it leaves behind invisible threats. Porous surfaces swell and absorb soot and odours, while residual smoke and ash can cause respiratory issues for staff and customers alike. Stridor, dyspnoea, and respiratory distress can become unwanted guests in the aftermath of a fire. As such, it’s crucial to have professionals assess the damage and begin the clean up as soon as it is safe to do so.
Rentokil Specialist Hygiene’s fire damage restoration team has the expertise to determine what’s needed to stop further damage to your building and equipment. Their EcoBlasting service, for example, uses compressed air and abrasives to gently remove carbon and soot without further harming your surfaces. This environmentally friendly technique ensures that your property is restored as carefully as possible while erasing the haunting signs of fire.Fires also leave behind stubborn odours due to smoke infiltration and the chemical breakdown of organic matter. Without intervention, these odours can cling to upholstery and furnishings, growing stronger and more difficult to remove over time. Odour removal services like ozone treatment naturally clean the air and eliminate these malodours, restoring the freshness of your space.
Restore swiftly with expert fire damage cleanup
A commercial kitchen fire doesn’t just threaten property, it also threatens livelihoods. Beyond the physical destruction, the reputational damage and financial strain of extended closures can be devastating. Whether through regular deep cleans to help prevent a fire from ocurring or through expert clean up services to restore your business after a blaze, Rentokil Specialist Hygiene offers the specialised support needed to safeguard your business. Your kitchen is the heart of your operation, so ensure it remains a source of nourishment, not destruction.