Kitchen Fire Suppression System

Kitchen Fire Suppression System

A kitchen fire suppression system is designed to protect kitchen appliances, hoods and ventilation ducts against grease fires. It is especially important in professional kitchens, where heat, grease and ventilation can cause a fire to spread quickly.

Tondi Tulekaitse provides the design, installation and maintenance of kitchen fire suppression systems.

Why are kitchen fires dangerous?

There are 5–10 reported kitchen fires in Estonia each year. The actual number is likely higher, as not all fires are officially recorded.

Kitchen fires often start in kitchen appliances, hoods or ventilation ducts due to the ignition of grease or cooking oil. A kitchen fire may also be caused by the spontaneous ignition of grease. A fire can start in a kitchen appliance and then spread to the hood, ventilation ductwork and other rooms.

During combustion, the temperature of grease rises quickly after ignition, and the fire is further fed by evaporating grease. Ventilation ducts may contain large amounts of deposited grease and oil residues, which can easily ignite in the event of a fire. These fires are not always detected quickly and can easily spread through the ventilation ductwork to other rooms.

Why may standard extinguishing equipment not be enough?

Grease fires can be extinguished by separating the oil from oxygen and cooling the oil below its auto-ignition temperature.

Standard fire extinguishing methods, such as a portable fire extinguisher or fire blanket, may not be sufficient in this situation and can even be dangerous. This is why it is advisable to use a dedicated kitchen fire suppression system that protects kitchen appliances, the hood and ventilation ductwork.

How does a kitchen fire suppression system work?

A kitchen fire suppression system is a fully automatic system that can be activated mechanically or electrically. It consists of fixed pipework and nozzles installed to protect kitchen appliances, the hood and ventilation ductwork.

The system uses a special chemical extinguishing agent that:

• extinguishes the fire quickly;

• cools the burning material and equipment;

• separates the burning material from oxygen;

• forms a soap-like layer on the surface of the burning material.

What does the system protect?

A kitchen fire suppression system helps protect:

• kitchen appliances;

• cookers, deep fryers and other heat-processing equipment;

• the kitchen hood;

• ventilation ductwork;

• areas that are difficult to access;

• the kitchen’s work process and the risk of business interruption.

Benefits of a kitchen fire suppression system

A kitchen fire suppression system:

• acts quickly;

• is on guard 24 hours a day;

• protects ventilation ductwork;

• automatically shuts down kitchen appliances;

• covers areas that are difficult to access;

• is fully automatic and independent of external power sources;

• is easier to clean after activation;

• helps reduce the risk of business interruption;

• blends into the kitchen interior.

Maintenance

A kitchen fire suppression system must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Regular maintenance helps ensure that the system is ready to operate when needed and protects the kitchen as intended.