NFPA 96 Hood Cleaning Certificates & Fire-Marshal-Ready Documentation
“The fire marshal asked for my hood cleaning certificate.” If that's you, this is the page you need. Every cleaning we perform ends with the full NFPA 96 (2025 edition) documentation package — a dated kitchen label, service tags at each access panel, a written report of any inaccessible areas, a certificate for your on-premises records, and timestamped before/after photos. We retain everything for three years and re-issue lost paperwork the same day.
What's Included
- Dated kitchen label with company name and service date
- Service tags at every access panel
- Written report of any inaccessible areas
- On-premises NFPA 96 cleaning certificate
- Timestamped before/after photos (2025-edition requirement)
- 3-year record retention with same-day re-issue
What the Fire Marshal Actually Asks For
During a kitchen inspection, the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) typically checks the date on your hood label and service tags, asks for the cleaning certificate and reports, looks at filter condition and fit, and shines a light past the filters into the plenum for grease buildup. If your paperwork says “cleaned” but the plenum tells a different story, expect a correction notice.
The Full NFPA 96 (2025) Documentation Package
The current standard requires more than a sticker. You should walk away with: a dated label posted in the kitchen, a service tag at each access panel, a written report listing any areas that couldn't be cleaned, a certificate kept on premises, and timestamped photos. We produce all five on every job — and explain each one so you know what you're holding.
Timestamped Photo Proof — The Requirement Most Companies Skip
The 2025 edition made timestamped photos part of the record — paper stickers alone no longer satisfy it. Photos show the plenum, duct, and fan before and after, with a timestamp that ties the proof to the service date. It's the single fastest way to demonstrate a real cleaning, and the item cut-rate crews leave out.
The Inaccessible-Areas Report — Why Honesty Protects You
No exhaust system is 100% reachable — long horizontal runs without access panels, welded joints, or landlord-controlled chases can block full cleaning. NFPA 96 requires a written report identifying those areas so you and the AHJ know exactly where risk remains and can add access panels. A company that never reports an inaccessible area on an older building isn't looking.
Who Your AHJ Is Across Arizona
Your AHJ is usually the local fire prevention division: Phoenix Fire Department, Tucson Fire, and the fire prevention offices in Mesa, Scottsdale, Flagstaff, and beyond, plus county fire districts in unincorporated areas. Health inspectors — Maricopa County Environmental Services, Pima County Health — cite greasy hoods too. We produce paperwork that satisfies both.
Lost Paperwork? Failed an Inspection? We Fast-Track It
If we cleaned your system, call us — we keep every certificate, report, and photo set on file for three years and re-issue same day. Got a correction notice with a deadline? We prioritize those jobs, clean to bare metal, and deliver the certificate and photo package by morning so you can respond to the AHJ inside your window.
Compliance Certificates — Common Questions
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