What a hood cleaning sticker is for
A service sticker is the first thing a fire inspector, an insurance adjuster or a new kitchen manager looks at. It answers two questions in a few seconds: who cleaned this exhaust system, and is it still inside its cleaning interval.
It does not replace the written report. The sticker is the summary on the hood; the cleaning certificate is the record that lists each component, the areas that were not cleaned and any deficiencies.
What goes on the sticker
- Cleaned by
- The company name as it appears on your certificate and invoice.
- Phone
- So the restaurant, or an inspector, can reach you about this service.
- Technician
- The person who did the work and can answer for it.
- Date cleaned
- The day of the service, not the day the invoice went out.
- Next cleaning due
- Counted from the date cleaned using the interval for the cooking type.
- Frequency
- Monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual, so anyone reading the sticker can check the due date.
- Areas not cleaned
- Tick None, or point to the cleaning report when part of the system could not be reached.
Working out the next due date
NFPA 96 sets the minimum interval by how the kitchen cooks. Your local authority can ask for more frequent service, so treat these as floors.
| Cooking type | Tick on the sticker |
|---|---|
| Solid fuel (wood, charcoal) | Monthly |
| High volume (24/7, wok, char-broil) | Quarterly |
| Moderate volume | Semi-annual |
| Low volume (seasonal, church, day camp) | Annual |
Printing and placing it
- Print at 100% scale on full-sheet adhesive label stock, US Letter.
- Use a heat and grease resistant stock (polyester or vinyl). Plain paper labels lift and smear above a cook line.
- Cut along the dashed lines. One sheet gives six stickers.
- Fill it in with a permanent marker before you peel it.
- Stick it on a clean, dry face of the hood where it can be read without moving equipment, and cover or remove the previous one.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hood cleaning sticker required?+
NFPA 96 calls for a written record of every cleaning, kept on the premises. Whether a sticker on the hood is also required, and what it has to show, is decided by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction. Many fire inspectors look for one first, so most crews leave a sticker after every service. Ask your fire marshal what they expect to see on it.
What should a hood cleaning sticker say?+
At minimum: the company that did the cleaning, the date it was cleaned, and when the next cleaning is due. This template also has room for the technician, a phone number, the cleaning frequency and a line that points to the cleaning report when part of the system could not be cleaned.
Where does the sticker go?+
On the hood itself, where an inspector can read it without moving equipment: usually the front or side face of the canopy, away from direct heat and away from surfaces that get degreased. Put the new sticker over or next to the old one so there is a single current date.
Does the sticker replace the cleaning certificate?+
No. The sticker is a summary at a glance. The certificate or service report is the record: it lists each component, the areas that were not cleaned and any deficiencies. Leave the sticker on the hood and the certificate with the manager.
What do I print it on?+
Full-sheet adhesive label stock for laser or inkjet printers, US Letter size, then cut along the dashed lines. For a kitchen, pick a heat and grease resistant stock such as polyester or vinyl rather than plain paper labels.