NFPA 96 Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning — Toronto & GTA
Restaurant kitchen hoods, exhaust ducts, and rooftop fans cleaned to NFPA 96 standards. Cleaned to bare metal. Before-and-after photo documentation and compliance certificate provided with every service. Free on-site evaluation — we come to your kitchen before we quote.
Book Free On-Site Evaluation · Or call (647) 218-9969 — speak with the owner
Why restaurant operators in Toronto choose Azzo
You don't need another contractor explaining what hood cleaning is. You need someone who shows up, cleans properly, hands you the documentation your insurer needs, and doesn't disrupt your operation. That's it.
Here's what's different about how we work:
Free on-site evaluation before we quote
We don't price hood cleaning over the phone. We come to your kitchen, look at your system, and price the job based on what's actually there. No surprises, no upsells.
Cleaned to bare metal — NFPA 96 standard
The Toronto Fire Marshal, your insurer, and Section 11 of NFPA 96 all require "bare metal" cleaning. Most contractors leave residue. We don't.
Documentation your insurer will accept
Every job includes a written service certificate, before-and-after photos of the hood, ducts, and fan, and a record of cleaning date and technician — exactly what an insurance adjuster or fire inspector will ask for.
After-hours and overnight scheduling
We work around your service hours. Most jobs are completed between close and open. No revenue lost.
Owner-operated
You'll deal with Max, the owner — not a dispatcher or sales rep.
What NFPA 96 actually requires
NFPA 96 (the National Fire Protection Association code that governs commercial kitchen ventilation in Ontario) is what your insurer and the Toronto Fire Marshal reference when assessing your hood cleaning. The relevant points for a restaurant owner:
Cleaning frequency
Solid-fuel cooking (wood, charcoal): monthly. High-volume cooking (24-hour operations, charbroiling): quarterly. Moderate-volume cooking: semi-annually. Low-volume cooking: annually.
Bare metal standard
Chapter 11 of NFPA 96 specifies that hoods, ducts, and fans must be cleaned to bare metal with no visible grease, residue, or buildup remaining.
Documentation
The code requires a written record of every cleaning — date, scope, technician, and verification of compliance. If a fire occurs and you cannot produce this documentation, your insurance claim can be denied.
Full system scope
NFPA 96 doesn't just cover the hood. It includes hood, filters, plenums, ducts, fans, and rooftop containment. Cleaning the hood and skipping the duct is non-compliant — and a fire risk.
We follow all of it. Every job. Every time.
The Azzo hood cleaning process
1. Free on-site evaluation. We walk your kitchen, inspect your hood, ducts, fans, and rooftop containment, and identify what level of cleaning the system needs. You get an honest quote on the spot, no obligation.
2. Scheduled around your operation. We schedule the job after close — typically arriving between 11 PM and 1 AM — so cleaning is finished before your morning prep.
3. Full system protection. Floors, equipment, and cookline are masked and protected before any cleaning begins. We do not leave grease residue on your station or near food contact surfaces.
4. Cleaning to bare metal. Hood interior, filters, plenums, ducts, exhaust fan, and rooftop containment cleaned to NFPA 96 bare-metal standard using commercial degreasers and high-pressure hot water.
5. Photo documentation. Before-and-after photos of every accessible component. Filed digitally and emailed to you within 24 hours of service completion.
6. Compliance certificate. Written service certificate documenting date, scope, technician, and NFPA 96 compliance — ready to hand to your insurer or Toronto Fire Marshal on request.
7. Follow-up scheduling. We set your next cleaning date in our calendar based on NFPA 96 frequency requirements for your cooking volume — so you're never out of compliance.
Restaurants and operators we've worked with
Jack Astor's. Amsterdam Brewery. Hey Lucy. Gabby's. Irene. EAB Restaurant Concepts. Plus dozens of independent restaurants and chain locations across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, North York, and Etobicoke.
Service area
Toronto (downtown, midtown, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York). Mississauga. Brampton. Vaughan. Markham. Richmond Hill. Oakville. Burlington. Hamilton (select areas). Pickering. Ajax. Whitby. Oshawa.
Not sure if you're in our service area? Call (647) 218-9969 — we'll tell you in 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
How much does commercial hood cleaning cost in Toronto?
Hood cleaning pricing depends on the size of your system, how many fans and ducts you have, the cooking volume your kitchen runs, and how long it's been since the system was last cleaned. We don't quote over the phone because we won't quote anything we haven't physically seen. Book a free on-site evaluation and we'll give you an honest price in 15 minutes.
How often do I need to clean my restaurant hood?
NFPA 96 requires cleaning based on cooking volume: monthly for solid-fuel cooking, quarterly for high-volume/24-hour operations, semi-annually for moderate-volume kitchens, and annually for low-volume operations. We'll assess your system during the free evaluation and recommend the right frequency.
Do you provide documentation for my insurance company?
Yes. Every service includes before-and-after photos of the hood, ducts, and fan, plus a written compliance certificate documenting date, scope, technician, and NFPA 96 standard. Your insurer will accept this documentation in the event of a fire claim or routine compliance review.
Do you clean during business hours or after close?
Almost always after close. Most jobs are scheduled between 11 PM and 4 AM so cleaning is completed before your morning prep crew arrives. We can also work during business hours for kitchens that are closed during the day (catering operations, ghost kitchens, etc.).
What if my hood hasn't been cleaned in years?
We've cleaned systems that hadn't been touched in 5+ years. It takes longer and the first cleaning costs more, but it can be done. We'll show you exactly what we're dealing with during the free on-site evaluation and price the job honestly.
Are you insured?
Yes. Fully insured with commercial general liability coverage. We can provide our certificate of insurance on request before any work begins.
What's included in the "free on-site evaluation"?
We come to your kitchen at a time that works for you, inspect your hood, ducts, fans, and rooftop containment, identify what level of cleaning your system needs, and give you an honest written quote on the spot. No obligation, no pressure, no follow-up sales calls. You'll know exactly what your system needs and what it will cost — that's it.
Book Your Free Hood Cleaning Evaluation
We'll come to your kitchen, look at your hood and exhaust system, and price the job honestly. Most evaluations take 15 minutes. No pressure, no follow-up sales.