Restaurant Kitchen Hood and Exhaust Cleaning Certification: Requirements by State and Country (2026)

Certification Requirements Vary Widely — Know Your Jurisdiction

Kitchen exhaust cleaning certification is not nationally standardized. Requirements vary from detailed state-level certification programs to jurisdictions where no formal certification exists at all. This guide maps the landscape so you know exactly what credentials you need before bidding your first restaurant job.

United States: State-by-State Requirements

State	Certification Required?	Authority	Key Requirements
California	No state certification, but local fire marshals often require	Local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)	Check city/county requirements; Los Angeles and San Francisco have specific vendor registration
Florida	No state certification	State Fire Marshal	NFPA 96 compliance documentation required; no specific cleaner certification
Texas	No state certification	State Fire Marshal	Insurance and NFPA 96 compliance are the primary requirements
New York	NYC-specific requirements	FDNY	NYC requires Certificate of Fitness for kitchen exhaust system servicing (F-64/W-64)
Illinois	No state certification	State Fire Marshal	Chicago has additional local requirements
Nevada	Clark County certification	Clark County Fire Department	Las Vegas metro area requires specific hood cleaning certification

National certifications that satisfy most jurisdictions: IKECA (International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association) Certified Exhaust Cleaning Specialist (CECS) and PWNA (Power Washers of North America) Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Certification are the two most widely recognized credentials.

Canada: Provincial Requirements

• Ontario: TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority) regulates kitchen exhaust cleaning. No specific cleaner certification, but cleaning must meet NFPA 96 and Ontario Fire Code.
• British Columbia: BC Fire Code (based on NFPA 96). No cleaner certification required but documentation standards are strict.
• Alberta: Alberta Fire Code. Municipal fire departments may have additional requirements in Calgary and Edmonton.
• Quebec: Regie du batiment du Quebec (RBQ). French-language documentation often required.

United Kingdom

• BESA (Building Engineering Services Association): TR/19 Guide to Good Practice for Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems is the definitive standard. BESA offers the Ventilation Hygiene Register (VHR) for certified contractors.
• Insurance requirements: Most UK restaurants require contractors to hold TR/19-compliant certification. Insurers frequently specify BESA VHR registration.
• Fire Risk Assessment: Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the restaurant responsible person must ensure exhaust systems are cleaned by a competent person. TR/19 compliance is the recognized demonstration of competence.

European Union

• Germany: VDI 6022 (Hygiene Requirements for Ventilation Systems) governs duct cleaning. DIN EN 15780 is the European standard for duct cleanliness.
• France: Arrete du 25 juin 1980 (Regulation for fire safety in establishments receiving the public). Cleaning frequency depends on establishment type and cooking volume.
• Netherlands: NEN-EN 15780 is the governing standard. Certification through recognized training institutes.

United Arab Emirates

• Dubai Civil Defence: Kitchen exhaust cleaning must comply with UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice. Contractors must be registered with Dubai Civil Defence.
• Abu Dhabi: ADCD (Abu Dhabi Civil Defence) approval required for kitchen exhaust cleaning contractors.
• NFPA 96: Widely referenced as the technical standard across all UAE emirates.

Australia

• AS 1851-2012: Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment. Kitchen exhaust hood cleaning falls under this standard.
• State variations: Each state/territory has its own building and fire safety regulations referencing AS 1851.
• Certification: No national cleaner certification; competence demonstrated through compliance with AS 1851 documentation requirements.

How Gaolijie Equipment Supports Certification Compliance

Regardless of jurisdiction, the common thread is documentation. Every certification authority and insurance provider wants to see proof that cleaning was performed thoroughly. Gaolijie robots provide:

• Timestamped 1080P HD video of the entire cleaning process — every inch of duct
• Before/after documentation that satisfies the most stringent fire marshal inspection
• GPS and time-stamped reporting confirming when and where cleaning occurred
• Digital records that can be shared with insurance companies, fire marshals, and restaurant owners

View Gaolijie duct cleaning robots with built-in HD video documentation — purpose-built for certified kitchen exhaust cleaning professionals.