Hood suppression every six months
A commercial kitchen hood suppression system sits over the fryers, griddles and ranges and waits for a fire. It has to work the first time. Under NFPA 96 and NFPA 17A, these systems get a full inspection every six months by a licensed technician, and the service tag on the system shows when that last happened and when the next visit is due.
San Clemente doesn't run its own fire department. The city contracts with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) for fire service and fire prevention, so OCFA is the agency your kitchen deals with on fire code questions.
What the technician checks
- Nozzles: aimed at the right appliance, caps in place, free of grease.
- Fusible links: metal-alloy links replaced at least every six months.
- Detection line and manual pull station: tested for operation.
- Fuel shutoff: confirmed to cut gas or power to the cooking line when the system trips.
- Agent cylinder: checked for charge.
- Class K portable extinguisher: on hand near the line, since kitchens with suppression systems need one (see our San Clemente fire extinguisher service).
Then the tag gets updated.
UL 300 fire kitchen system upgrades
UL 300 is the test standard for pre-engineered wet chemical systems that protect cooking appliances. Older dry chemical systems don't meet it. If your hood still uses a dry chemical system, the usual path is a replacement with a UL 300 wet chemical system laid out for the appliances you cook on today, including any you've added since the original install. Moved a fryer? Nozzle coverage may need to change too.
OCFA plan review for new or changed hoods
Hood plans for San Clemente projects go to OCFA's Community Risk Reduction department, which handles fire plan review and inspections. Plans are submitted online. San Clemente is one of the cities that also requires a USB copy of the plans, delivered to OCFA within two working days of the online submittal. Build that into your schedule. Confirm the current submittal rules with OCFA before you start.
Who does the work
California work for 1 Pro Fire is done by Hedrick Fire Protection. Hedrick holds C-16 and C-10 contractor licenses, is licensed by the California State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for extinguisher and water-based system service, and is licensed to install and service commercial kitchen hood suppression systems.
Our technicians come to your kitchen.
To book a semi-annual inspection or get a quote, call (949) 558-2201 or email socal@1profire.com
Our services include
San Clemente hood suppression questions
Is there a company in San Clemente that services kitchen hood suppression systems?
Yes. San Clemente is in our service area, and Hedrick can handle semi-annual inspections, repairs and new installs. When you call, tell us what's under the hood (fryers, griddles, ranges) and what kind of system you have, so we can plan the visit.
Who do I contact at OCFA about a kitchen inspection?
The city's fire services page lists OCFA's South County Inspection Office at 949-347-2240. Start there.
Is a hood suppression system the same as the fire sprinklers?
No. The hood system protects the cooking line, while the building's sprinklers are a separate water-based system inspected on their own schedule under NFPA 25. See our restaurant sprinkler inspections in San Clemente.
Related links
More for San Clemente: the San Clemente fire protection hub, annual fire extinguisher certification and fire alarm service. Nearby: kitchen hood suppression service in Orange County and kitchen hood suppression service in San Diego County.