Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression
Inspection Services
Bi-annual kitchen hood fire suppression system inspection performed by a licensed fire protection contractor. NFPA 96-compliant, fully documented, and reported to your local authority. Serving Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach & Monroe County.
What Is a Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression System Inspection?
A kitchen hood fire suppression system inspection is a bi-annual service required by NFPA 96 for all commercial kitchens. A licensed fire protection contractor tests the entire suppression system, replaces consumable components, verifies the gas and electrical shutoffs activate correctly, and certifies the system with the local fire authority. It must be done every six months without exception.
Most restaurant owners and kitchen managers know they need the inspection, but many are surprised to learn it needs to happen twice a year, not just once. NFPA 96, the standard for ventilation control and fire protection of commercial cooking operations, sets the six-month requirement, and local fire marshals in South Florida enforce it during routine inspections.
As a licensed fire protection contractor serving South Florida, we perform kitchen hood fire suppression inspections for restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, food trucks, ghost kitchens, and any commercial cooking operation across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe County. Every inspection is fully documented and reported to your local fire authority. Ready to get scheduled?
NFPA 96 requires kitchen hood fire suppression systems to be inspected every six months by a licensed fire protection company. The inspection must include functional testing of the system, replacement of fusible links, and verification that gas and electrical shutoffs activate on system discharge. Results must be reported to your local fire authority and a service tag must be affixed to the system.
Get Your Inspection Scheduled →Florida Fire Solutions holds active license #FPC25-000017. Every kitchen hood inspection is performed by a trained technician, documented in a written service report, and tagged on the system as proof of service for the fire marshal.
What Does a Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression Inspection Include?
A proper kitchen hood inspection is not a visual check. The technician functionally tests the suppression system, replaces all fusible links and nozzle caps, verifies gas and electrical shutoffs operate on discharge, and services the system so it is ready to respond to a real fire event. Here is what every inspection covers.
- All nozzles inspected for grease buildup and blockage, nozzle caps replaced, and extinguishing agent lines cleared to confirm full discharge capability
- Manual pull station tested and pressure gauges verified for proper PSI to confirm the suppression agent cartridge is within operational range
- Gas shutoff valve, microswitch, and electrical shutoff tested to confirm both cut off immediately on system activation
- Fusible links cut to simulate heat activation and verify the system responds correctly, then replaced with new date-stamped links as proof of service
- Exhaust fans, hood condition, and system compatibility verified to confirm the correct cartridge type and nozzle configuration for your cooking equipment
- System tagged with current certification date and inspection report filed with the local fire authority; written service report left on-site for your records
If we identify deficiencies during the inspection, we document them in the service report and can coordinate the repair needed to bring the system back into compliance. We carry common replacement parts and can often resolve straightforward issues during the same visit.
How Often Does a Kitchen Hood System Need to Be Inspected?
NFPA 96 requires a minimum of two certified kitchen hood fire suppression inspections every year, scheduled roughly six months apart. Some high-volume operations may require more frequent service depending on cooking load and grease accumulation. Here is how the requirement breaks down.
Every 6 Months
Applies to all commercial kitchens using cooking equipment under a hood with a fire suppression system installed
- Standard requirement for restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, hospitals, and institutional kitchens
- Inspection must be performed by a licensed fire protection company
- Fusible links replaced at every inspection, not just annually
- System tag and service report required as proof of service for the fire marshal
- Results submitted to local fire authority after each inspection
More Frequent Service
Recommended for high-volume cooking operations with heavy grease accumulation
- Fast food operations, 24-hour diners, and high-volume fryer operations may need quarterly inspections
- Heavy grease buildup can block nozzles between the standard six-month visits
- Monthly visual inspections by kitchen staff are recommended regardless of inspection frequency
- Staff should check nozzle caps and extinguishing lines for visible grease accumulation
- We can assess your cooking volume and recommend the right service interval for your operation
Where We Perform Kitchen Hood Inspections in South Florida
We serve commercial kitchens, restaurants, hotels, and food service operations across four South Florida counties. If your kitchen is in any of the areas below, we can schedule your bi-annual kitchen hood fire suppression inspection, perform the certified service, and handle reporting to your local fire authority.
Each county and municipality across South Florida has its own fire marshal office and inspection record requirements. We handle the certification tag, service report, and local authority reporting on your behalf after every inspection. You receive a copy of the completed service report for your own records and for the fire marshal during routine restaurant inspections.
Call us directly at (305) 707-3473 and we'll confirm coverage for your property, review your last inspection date, and get you scheduled before your next fire marshal visit.
What Makes Us the Right Kitchen Hood Inspection Company for Your South Florida Restaurant?
A lot of companies will hang a tag and call it done. We go further. Every kitchen hood inspection we perform is backed by a licensed fire protection company with real accountability, proper documentation, and the ability to fix problems when we find them.
Why Kitchen Hood Inspections Matter More in South Florida
South Florida's restaurant density, climate, and active fire code enforcement make staying current on kitchen hood inspections especially important for commercial kitchen operators in the region.
Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County fire marshals conduct routine restaurant inspections and routinely check for a current kitchen hood suppression system certification tag. A missing or expired tag is a citable violation that can result in a notice of non-compliance or a required re-inspection. We have worked with restaurant operators who discovered their system was overdue only after a fire marshal flagged it during a routine visit.
South Florida's heat and humidity accelerate grease accumulation inside kitchen hoods, particularly for high-volume operations. Grease builds up on nozzles faster than it would in a cooler, drier climate. That is one reason NFPA 96's six-month requirement exists, and it is the right interval for most commercial kitchens in this region.
If you are looking for a kitchen hood inspection company near me across any of the four South Florida counties we serve, reach out directly and we'll confirm your system type, review your last service date, and get you on the schedule before your next fire marshal visit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression Inspections
NFPA 96 requires kitchen hood fire suppression systems to be inspected every six months by a licensed fire protection company. That means twice per year at a minimum. High-volume operations with heavy grease accumulation may need more frequent service. Monthly visual checks by kitchen staff are also recommended between inspections to catch any obvious issues with nozzle caps or extinguishing lines.
Yes. The cooking equipment must be cool and not in use during the inspection. The inspector will also temporarily take the fire alarm out of service during the test. For this reason, we recommend scheduling the inspection during off-hours, on a day the kitchen is closed, or during a slow period with minimal staff on-site. Planning ahead keeps disruption to your operation to a minimum.
If we find a deficiency, we document it in the service report and identify the cause. Depending on the issue, we may be able to correct it during the same visit. If parts need to be ordered or more significant work is required, we will coordinate the repair and schedule a follow-up to verify the fix before certifying the system. The fire authority is typically notified of the deficiency and the corrective action taken.
Yes. After every inspection we complete a Commercial Cooking System Service and Inspection Report, affix a dated certification tag to the system, and report to the local fire authority. You receive a copy of the service report for your own records, which you can present to the fire marshal during routine restaurant inspections. We know the reporting requirements for each county we serve and handle the process correctly the first time.
Yes, it can. If you have added, removed, or repositioned cooking equipment under the hood, the suppression system coverage may need to be updated. Nozzle placement, coverage areas, and agent requirements are specific to the cooking equipment in the hood. We check for compatibility during every inspection and will flag any changes that require a system update to maintain proper fire protection over your cooking line.
Call us as soon as possible. Fire marshal notices typically include a deadline for correcting the violation. We will get you scheduled quickly, perform the certified inspection, and provide the documentation you need to clear the notice. If you are not sure what the notice is specifically requesting, we can review it with you and make sure the work we perform satisfies the requirement.
Ready to Schedule Your Kitchen Hood Inspection?
Reach out directly and we will confirm your system type, review your last inspection date, and get you on the schedule fast. No runaround. Just a licensed contractor who knows South Florida kitchens and gets the work done right.