INDUSTRY NEWS UPDATES
Kitchen exhaust cleaning industry news is virtually invisible unless that is, services are either not performed properly or at all. Every year, commercial kitchen fires that do make the news are the cause of millions of dollars of damage. What makes this industry so unique is that there can be a life and death difference. Kitchen duct cleaning is directly tied to fire, health and safety. If commercial kitchens are not properly and regularly maintained and serviced, the risk of a kitchen fire increases dramatically. A fire in the kitchen exhaust system can devastate a business through the loss of business, property and life.
The good news however, is that regulations for the industry are continuously evolving and kitchen duct cleaning technology is changing as well. The industry is finding itself at a turning point, with innovations like Shepherd Filters coming to the market and improving kitchen hood cleanliness in an environmentally friendly way as well as reducing the risk of fire. Read our news updates to find out the latest!
Cleaning Company Sued after Kitchen Fire
A commercial, domestic, residential and specialist cleaning company is being sued for more than £1.75m by the Red Grill House. How it could all be avoided with these two tips.
Wool – The Right Fibre for the Job
Wool’s flame-resistant properties make it an ideal fibre for kitchen grease filtration, helping to reduce the risk of fire spreading. Learn more!
Grease Buildup Cause of Restaurant Closure
The most probable cause of this fire is lack of cleaning in the ductwork to the outside of the building, according to the State Fire Marshal.
Shepherd Filters Commitment to Quality
At Shepherd Filters, we take pride in our commitment to excellence, and one key aspect of this commitment is our rigorous testing process, ensuring that our product is made from 100% wool.
A Proven Cycle Worth Adopting
A proven cycle, when one good thing starts happening, other good things naturally follow:
STOP GREASE – Easier
REDUCE RISK – Safer
SAVE MONEY – Profit
Top 10 Reasons to Make the Switch
Based on feedback we’ve received from our customers and the industry, here are the top 10 reasons to make the switch to Disposable Kitchen Grease Filters.
Kitchen Ducts and the Invisible Enemy
Whilst kitchen ducts may be out of sight, they should never be out of mind as grease build-up in commercial extraction systems is one of the most common causes of fire & other safety concerns within the foodservice industry.
Restaurant Oil Build-up Causes Raging Blaze on Ground Floor
A build-up of fats and oil in a restaurant’s kitchen caught alight causing a fire to spread throughout the ground and second floor.
Commercial Kitchen Grease Build-Up: Solving a Long-Term Issue
Despite compelling evidence that grease build-up in kitchen exhaust systems present serious fire hazards, the message isn’t getting through.
Macca’s First Fry-Thru for the FIFA Women’s World Cup
A pop-up Macca’s shaped like a five-metre-tall packet of fries hit Sydney for the Women’s World Cup and Shepherd Filters support the initiative all the way!
Popular Burger Drive-in Spot Closed Until Further Notice
A popular burger drive-in spot in Cedar City, may be closed until further notice as it recovers from a grease fire.
Fact – Wool is Naturally Flame Resistant!
Still don’t believe wool is a great material to use in commercial kitchens for grease filtration management? You are about to change your mind…
Kitchen Extraction System Completely Alight
The restaurant kitchen extraction system from the ground floor to the roof of the building was completely alight.
Insurer Sues Fire Suppression Company Over 5 Million Dollar Kitchen Fire
A summer camp’s insurer sued a range hood cleaning company to recover the nearly $5 million it paid to the camp for damage from a 2020 fire.
Restaurant Kitchen Fire – Third Incident Within Week
The fire was caused due to a fire in the pizza oven that spread to the kitchen duct and the cellar of the restaurant.
Supporting People with Disability – Part of our Ethos
Supporting Australian farmers is part of our business’ ethos. So is supporting people with disability, something we have always done.
Kitchen Exhaust Ventilation Grease Causes $100k in Damages
The fire was found to have travelled from the kitchen exhaust ventilation area to the roof vent.
Kitchen Exhaust Maintenance Costs should be Relative To Sales!
An American study on over two million businesses revealed that they spend around US$100 billion on repairs and maintenance (R&M) annually. What’s more, $20 billion of that is unnecessary.
Prolong the Life of your Commercial Kitchen Exhaust System
Prolong the life of your commercial kitchen exhaust system by performing these five simple steps as part of your daily, weekly and monthly routines.
Routine Kitchen Extraction System Checks Pay Dividends
Still not 100% convinced that the Shepherd Filters solution is the right fit for your commercial kitchen? Let’s take a look at how we compare!
Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Tips for Owners
Not only can a dirty kitchen exhaust system compromise food safety and hygiene requirements, it can be a potentially devastating fire hazard. Here are some tips to keep in mind!
Two Millimetres of Kitchen Grease Build-Up is all it Takes
It only takes two millimetres of kitchen grease build-up in your extraction system to pose a severe fire risk, and a grease fire can burn through a typical fast-food style restaurant in as little as five minutes.
Commercial Kitchen Protection Against Fires Spreading
Fires in restaurants and cafés represent 42 per cent of all fires within the foodservice industry. So, what can designers do to help prevent and protect against fire spreading?
Disposable Kitchen Grease Filters Get Results
Methods for managing and removing grease from hood systems have remained essentially the same for well over 100 years. Rapid grease build-up is a fundamental characteristic in commercial kitchen hood and exhaust systems. Until only recently it’s been all but inescapable.
Fire Safety is Just the Beginning for Disposable Hood Filters
There are plenty of benefits to using disposable wool kitchen grease filters, yet there are two in particular that deserve more attention.
Grease Fire Rips through Restaurant Serious Repairs Needed
Fire statistics from Australia, the UK and the USA show that the ignition of cooking materials accounts for almost half of all commercial kitchen fires and almost all these fires (more than 90%) get into the kitchen exhaust system.
Burger King Fire Considered Total Loss
Madison Fire District says the fire started in a roof vent stack and spread to the kitchen hood ductwork.
How we Compare – The Choice is Yours
Still not 100% convinced that the Shepherd Filters solution is the right fit for your commercial kitchen? Let’s take a look at how we compare!
Kitchens Going Green – An Increasing Trend
New innovations are now providing commercial kitchens with a greener alternative – wool. Here are the facts!
Grease Hood Filters – Design, Purpose & Compliance
Honeycomb grease hood filters are still commonly found in some commercial kitchens, yet baffle is the only design that meets stringent standards & codes!
Kitchen Exhaust Maintenance – Crunching the Numbers
Your routine duct cleaning appointment is fast approaching. It may require someone to be on-site earlier and/or later than usual on the chosen day or in some cases, the restaurant may need to remain closed. Is there a better way? Yes!
Kitchen Exhaust Grease Fire in London Shop
A fire that seems to have been caused by the ignition of grease within the kitchen exhaust system needed 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters at a shop with flats above on Uxbridge Road in Shepherd’s Bush.
Third Strike for Restaurant Over 11 Years
Ten people eating dinner at the restaurant were forced to flee to the street to escape the fire, which started in the chimney. This is not the first time a fire has broken out at the restaurant.
Major fuel stop closes indefinitely after serious kitchen fire
Emergency services were called to the roadhouse, 200km east of Tennant Creek, following reports of a structure fire in the kitchen.
Disposable Hood Grease Filters Results
Our disposable hood grease filters capture up to a near-perfect 98% of airborne grease before it reaches the kitchen exhaust system. We’d like to share some photos to show you just how effective Shepherd Filters can be are reducing both your routine cleaning costs and
Comparing Hood Filters – Metal or Disposable? You Decide!
Are metal hood filters are better than disposable ones? The former has been the face of kitchen exhaust systems since day one. But just because something has been around for as long as we can remember, can we automatically assume it’s also still the best
We Celebrate International Chefs Day
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Chefs all over the world for the dedication to their craft, for making mealtimes an adventure, and for nourishing and educating future generations!
London Shop Blaze with Flats Above Doused by 70 Firefighters
Part of a ground-floor shop and a five-roomed flat on the first floor of the building were alight. The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the ignition of grease within the the extraction system.
Popular Burger Chain Case Study
This case study of a popular burger chain, that was experiencing problems with extreme levels of grease build-up in their kitchen exhaust system.
Hotel Case Study
This hotel was experiencing poor quality and incomplete cleans by their chosen kitchen exhaust cleaning contractors.
One Person in Hospital after Coffee Shop Fire
“The fire involved the kitchen exhaust ducting of a coffee shop on the first floor of the building”, SCDF said in response to a CNA query.
Should your Commercial Kitchen Ductwork be Leaking?
Unavoidable fact – airborne grease collected by metal kitchen grease filters eventually gets extracted further into system components such as the hood, ductwork, and fan.
Belfast Hotel Fire Causes Serious Damage to Rooftop Bar
Conall Wolsey, from owners Beannchor Group, said the kitchen and plant room, at the rooftop bar of the hotel, have been destroyed. “There is severe smoke and water damage to the building,” he said.
Coffee Shop Fire Spreads to Exhaust Duct Causing Damage to 3 Stalls
About 15 people self-evacuated from the premises and some helped to fight the blaze and preliminary investigations indicate that the fire had originated from overheated cooking at one of the fire-affected stalls according to The Straits Times.
Michelin Star Restaurant Hood Under Fire
A fire that escaped the Single Thread restaurant’s hood system and was visible from the roof was quickly extinguished by the staff and Healdsburg fire crews Friday night.
Insurer Seeks To Recoup $3m From Restaurant Duct Fire Coverage
Ohio Security Insurance is seeking $3 million from a North Carolina duct cleaning company after allegedly failing to properly clean the ducts.
Restaurant Damaged After Deep Fat Fryer Fire
“We’d like to remind restaurant and takeaway owners to ensure they don’t have dirty ducting. If you don’t clean the ducting in your extraction system regularly, you’re at a greater risk of duct fires.”
Golf Club Case Study
This golf club was experiencing incomplete cleans due to lack of access and the fan access points were out of their inspection date.
Sustainable Shepherd Filters Named State Finalist
As an innovative and sustainable product, Shepherd Filters has been named a State Finalist in the 2022 Telstra Best of Business Awards.
Kitchen Exhaust Duct Fire at Seafood Restaurant
A kitchen fire broke out at a North Bridge Road seafood restaurant in Singapore and the blaze involved the kitchen exhaust duct.
Aged Care College Case Study
This case study found that aged care, college, and university facilities were wasting their money and being left with an increased fire risk and a non-compliant system.
Iconic Pub Evacuated after Commercial Kitchen Fire
Staff and diners have been forced to flee from a hotel built in the 1850s after a fire broke out in its commercial kitchen.
Grease – One of the Leading Causes of Fires Still Today
Fires caused by grease build-up within kitchen exhaust systems continue to be the leading cause of restaurant fires, but they don’t have to be. With a proper understanding of this important system’s needs, both lives and businesses can be saved.
Pub Fire Causes $5 Million Damage Bill as Investigations Continue
The out-of-control blaze that ripped through the CY O’Connor Village Pub in Piara Waters has left a $5 million damage bill.
The Damage of Flare-Ups Near Exhaust Ventilation Systems
It’s been determined a kitchen appliance sparked the blaze that has amassed an estimated damage bill of $250,000.
Motel evacuated, buildings destroyed in Apollo Bay Restaurant Fire
Emergency services were called to the town’s main street at 3:17am following reports that a restaurant had caught fire.
Fire at Iconic Restaurant Forces Closure for at Least a Year
The Goose Beach Bar and Kitchen, next to the Busselton Jetty, is barely recognisable after the fire, which has razed the roof, leaving huge scorch marks over its trademark blue cladding.
Kitchen Ventilation Design – Get Your “Ducts” in a Row
It would be easy to just leave the entire design and commissioning of the kitchen ventilation system to the engineer and contractor. After all, they do this for a living. DON’T….get involved and stay involved throughout the process. Why? Find out here.
Hospital Kitchen Shut Down After Exhaust System Report Findings
A state fire marshal inspection found unsafe conditions to do with the kitchen exhaust system in a Hospital, leading to a partial shut down.
Kitchen Exhaust Duct Fire at Coffee Shop in Tiong Bahru
As this story highlights, kitchen exhaust duct systems continue to feature prominently in commercial building fire events.
Commercial Kitchen Range Hood Fire Leaves Restaurant Closed
The quick actions of staff and members of the public in extinguishing a fire in a commercial kitchen range hood have been praised.
Kitchen Extraction System Lessons that COVID has Highlighted
Covid has taught and reminded us all of the importance of hygiene across the board, especially within our kitchens.
Kitchen Ventilation System Fire at Rivers Casino Hugo’s Frog Bar
Not having your kitchen ventilation system cleaned regularly allows grease to build up, increasing your risk of fire. Like in this story.
McDonald’s Australia’s 1000th Restaurant a Sustainability Flagship
This first-ever sustainability flagship McDonald’s features a stack of environmentally friendly elements including Shepherd Filters.
Ventilation Systems Hygiene More Vital Than Ever
BESA urges businesses and facility managers to look after ventilation systems hygiene even more so in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shepherd Filters Wins Emerging Micro Business Award
Shepherd Filters is truly honoured to win the Emerging and Micro Business Award category at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards.
Kitchen Exhaust Maintenance Costs – Flattening the Curve
In short, if you don’t properly maintain your kitchen exhaust system, it will impact not only your employees but also your revenues.
Wool in the Kitchen – Useful Facts Worth Considering
There has been a lot of research in recent years with regards to indoor air quality and the benefits of healthy workspaces. As a result, wool is re-emerging as the preferred choice for many insulation and commercial use applications, including the kitchen!
Kitchen Grease Filters Win Product Of The Year
Shepherd Filters won PRODUCT OF THE YEAR at the 2019 AIRAH awards ceremony for its revolutionary disposable kitchen grease filters.
Brisbane’s Port Office Hotel Closed Indefinitely after Kitchen Fire
“The fire on the grill went up through the kitchen exhaust vent and the radiated heat spread to the air conditioning unit.”
Making a Difference in our Community with CIVIC
Shepherd Filters are delighted to have worked with CIVIC, who support an otherwise socially-isolated group of capable individuals.
Shepherd Filters Wins Service & Maintenance Initiative Award
Shepherd Filters UK has won the Service and Maintenance Initiative of the Year award. This is awarded to a company seen to have taken significant steps to improve standards in the area of after sales service.
Shepherd Filters Wool Facts
Shepherd Filters are proudly made of 100% pure wool. Not only is it bio-degradable, but also naturally flame resistant, hygienic, and more!
Kitchen Grease Filters and Restaurant Fire Safety
The fire was caused due to a fire in the pizza oven that spread to the kitchen duct and the cellar of the restaurant.