Types of Fire Protection Systems Required for Vancouver Commercial Kitchens

What kinds of fire protection systems are required in a commercial kitchen in Vancouver depend on a number of variables. There is the size of the kitchen, what is cooked there, and how and when it was built. In today’s blog article, we are going to discuss fire protection in Vancouver (BC) commercial kitchens.

Kitchens, in general, are a serious fire source. Roughly half of all residential fires start in the kitchen, and in restaurants, about 60 percent of fires start in the kitchen. For this reason, there are a number of regulations in place promoting fire safety in commercial kitchens.

Fire protection systems in a commercial kitchen in BC are discussed within the BC Building Code (Part 6) and the BC Fire Code (Part 2.6.1.9). And whatever fire protection systems a commercial kitchen has will have to conform to National Fire Protection Association guidelines, NFPA 96.

Commercial kitchens risk fire because of the continual use of high heat, and especially grease, and vaporized grease which is very flammable. So, the more a kitchen produces grease fumes, the more fire protection that kitchen needs.

Construction

Part of the fire protection equation for commercial kitchens is that the kitchen is built in accordance with local building codes and is ventilated properly, especially if lots of grease fumes are being produced. Size-appropriate ventilation is dictated by the size of the cooking surface and size of the kitchen and is described in the building code.

Fire Suppression Systems

Then there are built-in, fire suppression systems which can be wet or dry. These also depend on the size of the kitchen, and they have to be inspected, monitored, and tested regularly.

Fire Extinguishers

Usually one or more fire extinguishers (properly sized) will also be required in a commercial kitchen. Extinguishers also need to be inspected for pressure on a regular basis.

The lives of your employees and customers depend on your fire protection systems and plans. This is why most businesses hire professionals to design them. If you need help with your Vancouver fire protection system or plan for a restaurant or commercial kitchen, then call us at (604) 232-3473.