Restaurant ventilation fire requirements: controls, tests and records

Kitchen extraction, general ventilation and fire-related ventilation controls have different functions. FSD publishes requirements for licensed premises; the team should identify which apply to the actual system and issued conditions.

Put fans, ducts, controls and fire-system connections into one coordinated schedule. Identify tenant and shared-building equipment early so access and responsibility can be agreed before installation.

The fire-control function concerns how ventilation equipment responds to the relevant signal. Appropriate contractors should test against the accepted design; normal fan operation alone does not demonstrate the fire-control function.

Before testing, agree the time, affected areas and reinstatement plan with management and both contractors. Explain any tenant coordination in advance and record who will verify that normal operation has resumed.

Before ceilings are closed, photograph key equipment, access panels and labels, and update the drawings. This gives future maintenance teams a usable record and helps avoid unnecessary opening-up work.

At handover, collect the fire and ventilation certificates, reports and maintenance information applicable to the project. If older records differ from the completed layout, resolve those differences and agree the updates needed.