NFPA 96 baseline
NFPA 96 (Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations) is the nationally adopted standard for kitchen exhaust cleaning. Every HoodStamp certificate references it.
Cleaning frequency by cooking volume
Solid fuel: monthly. High-volume cooking (24/7 operations, wok, char-broil): quarterly. Moderate volume: semi-annually. Low volume (seasonal, church, day camp): annually. Your local AHJ may require more frequent service.
Cleaning to bare metal
The entire exhaust system — hoods, filters, plenum, ducts, exhaust fan, and rooftop grease containment — should be cleaned to bare metal where accessible. Areas that cannot be cleaned to bare metal must be documented.
Documentation required
After each cleaning, the servicing contractor must provide a written report identifying the date, areas that were and were not cleaned, and any deficiencies. HoodStamp’s certificate template covers each of these fields.
Access panels & inspection points
NFPA 96 requires access panels at each change of direction and at 12-ft intervals along horizontal ducts. Missing access is a common finding — call it out under Deficiencies on the certificate.
Local requirements
Being verified with local AHJ
Dallas-specific requirements are being verified with the Dallas Fire-Rescue Fire Marshal’s office-specific requirements are on the way.
We won’t publish jurisdictional requirements we haven’t verified with the local fire authority. Until then, HoodStamp certificates use the NFPA 96 baseline above, which every US AHJ builds on.
This page is a starting point, not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (fire marshal or fire prevention office).

