METRO VANCOUVER CODE COMPLIANCE
Exhaust System Restoration and Code Compliance Cleaning
Bare-metal remediation for commercial kitchens facing fire marshal citations, insurance warnings, or ownership transitions. NFPA 96-compliant restoration with official compliance certificates across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, North Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Surrey.
Bare-metal Restoration
Fire Code Remediation
Mechanical Grease Removal
FOR NEGLECTED OR CITED SYSTEMS
Why Standard Pressure Washing Fails Non-compliant Exhaust Systems
Calcified grease that has baked onto hood canopies, ductwork, and fan assemblies over months or years of deferred maintenance cannot be dissolved by standard pressure washing or chemical spray-downs. Attempting a surface wash on a heavily neglected system leaves combustible fuel loads intact inside the duct network, and the next fire marshal inspection will produce the same citation. Bare-metal restoration is a fundamentally different process. TCS Commercial Exhaust Cleaning Inc. uses industrial-grade rotary scrapers, heated caustic degreasers, and manual scraping tools to strip every layer of hardened grease down to the metal substrate. The result is a system that passes fire and health audits on the first follow-up visit, backed by comprehensive before-and-after photo documentation and an official NFPA 96 compliance certificate ready for your fire marshal, insurer, or building owner.
SCRAPE, STRIP, VERIFY
How Total Commercial Exhaust Restores Your System to Code
Every restoration follows a structured remediation sequence designed to bring non-compliant exhaust systems back into strict alignment with NFPA 96 standards and local fire safety codes.
01
System Assessment and Deficiency Mapping
Technicians inspect the entire exhaust path from hood canopy through horizontal and vertical ductwork to the rooftop fan, identifying all areas of heavy grease accumulation and documenting existing code deficiencies.
02
Heavy Mechanical Scraping
Specialized rotary tools and manual scrapers remove calcified, baked-on grease layers that standard cleaning methods cannot address. Every hood surface, duct wall, and riser is scraped to expose the bare-metal substrate.
03
Industrial Chemical Stripping
Heated caustic degreasers dissolve remaining grease residue embedded in seams, joints, and structural elbows where mechanical tools alone cannot reach completely.
04
Before-and-after Photo Audit
Comprehensive digital photographs document the condition of every section of the exhaust system before and after restoration, creating an audit-ready portfolio for fire marshals, health inspectors, and insurance underwriters.
05
Official Compliance Certification
An NFPA 96 compliance certificate and tamper-evident inspection tag are issued upon completion, providing documented proof of remediation that satisfies fire code requirements.
BARE-METAL REMEDIATION
What Bare-metal Restoration Covers
01
Fire Code Remediation for Inspection Deficiencies
When a commercial kitchen exhaust system is neglected, grease accumulates into a thick, highly combustible fuel source that standard washdowns cannot remove. Our restoration service is an intensive, bare-metal remediation process engineered for facilities facing fire marshal citations, insurance warnings, or newly acquired restaurant takeovers. We resolve critical inspection deficiencies and bring your system back into strict alignment with local fire safety codes and NFPA 96 standards. Every restoration includes an official compliance certificate to present directly to fire marshals and building owners, clearing citations on the first follow-up visit.
02
Heavy Mechanical Scraping and Chemical Stripping
We use specialized rotary tools, scrapers, and industrial-grade degreasers to remove calcified and baked-on grease down to the bare metal substrate across all hood and duct surfaces. This goes beyond surface-level washing. Technicians use industrial-grade rotary scrapers, heated caustic degreasers, and manual scraping tools to strip grease across the entire hood canopy, duct network, and fan assembly. Hardened, highly combustible creosote and grease that cannot be dissolved by standard chemical washes are physically removed, eliminating heavy fuel loads from the system.
03
Photo Audit and Verification Certificate
Every restoration project includes a comprehensive digital before-and-after photo report alongside an official compliance certificate. This audit-ready documentation creates a clear record of the condition of the exhaust system before and after cleaning, demonstrating the remediation work to building owners, inspectors, insurers, and other relevant parties. Facility owners receive photo portfolios and official compliance certificates that prove immediate remediation was completed to NFPA 96 standards.
CITATIONS, TAKEOVERS, WARNINGS
Is Exhaust System Restoration Right for Your Facility?
Not every commercial kitchen needs a full restoration. Understanding when intensive bare-metal remediation is required versus routine maintenance helps you invest in the correct service.
Inspection Status
Has the system received a fire marshal citation, failed a health inspection, or triggered an insurance compliance warning?
Grease Condition
Is the grease hardened, calcified, or baked on to the point where standard pressure washing leaves visible residue on duct walls and hood surfaces?
Ownership History
Are you taking over a restaurant or facility with an unknown or inconsistent exhaust cleaning history from the previous operator?
Maintenance Gap Duration
Has the system gone more than one full NFPA 96 cleaning cycle without documented service, allowing grease to build beyond routine removal thresholds?
A Good Fit When
Your exhaust system has failed a fire or health inspection due to grease accumulation
You are acquiring a restaurant or commercial kitchen with no verifiable cleaning records from the previous owner
Standard pressure washing has already been attempted and the system still shows heavy grease deposits on duct walls, elbows, and fan components
Probably Not Needed When
Your system is on a current NFPA 96 preventive maintenance schedule and passes routine inspections. In this case, regular NFPA 96 exhaust cleaning is the appropriate service.
The issue is limited to a single clogged filter or minor surface grease. A standard cleaning visit or baffle filter exchange through our commercial kitchen safety & maintenance services may be sufficient.
If your exhaust system has accumulated grease beyond what standard cleaning can remove, bare-metal restoration using mechanical scraping and industrial degreasers is the correct remediation. Total Commercial Exhaust provides the audit-ready documentation to prove it to fire marshals, insurers, and building owners.
PHOTO AUDIT
See the Difference Our Cleaning Services Make
FAILED INSPECTIONS AND TAKEOVERS
Exhaust System Restoration FAQ
Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about our restoration services:
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE INCLUDED
Book Your Exhaust System Restoration Today
Every day a non-compliant exhaust system stays in service, the fire risk and liability exposure increase. Total Commercial Exhaust delivers bare-metal restoration with NFPA 96 compliance certificates and before-and-after photo audits that satisfy fire marshals, insurers, and building owners across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, North Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Surrey.
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Emergency services available 24/7.