Fire Kitchen Service in Van Nuys

Where Van Nuys kitchen questions go

Cooking under a hood on Van Nuys Boulevard, near the Government Center or anywhere between Roscoe and Oxnard? Then you're in Los Angeles. Van Nuys has been part of the City of Los Angeles since 1915, so your fire department is the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), which responds through its Valley Bureau from headquarters at Fire Station 115 on Sylvan Street. LA County Fire is a different agency.

Plan check questions and Fire & Life Safety Inspection Clearances for the Valley go to the LAFD Fire Prevention Bureau's Valley Public Safety Unit at 818-374-1110. Requests are filed through the FIMS Customer Portal at inspect.lafd.org. Want to talk in person? Fire Development Services has a Van Nuys office at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., 2nd Floor, by appointment only.

Planning a new hood line? Ask the Valley Public Safety Unit whether the job needs plan check before work starts. LAFD's fire code page still lists the 2023 Los Angeles Fire Code, and the City Council has a newer edition in progress, so confirm the current edition with LAFD before a remodel.

Does your hood have a UL 300 fire kitchen system?

UL 300 is the test standard for pre-engineered wet chemical systems that protect cooking appliances. Older dry chemical systems don't meet it. Not sure which you have? The manufacturer label on the agent cylinder usually names the agent, and our technician can confirm it on the next service visit if the label is worn or missing.

We install UL 300 wet chemical systems to replace older dry chemical ones. We also service existing hood systems.

The hood service visit, step by step

NFPA 96 and NFPA 17A put commercial cooking suppression systems on a semi-annual schedule: one inspection every six months. Here's what a technician checks:

• Nozzles: aimed at the right appliance, caps on, free of grease.
• Detection line and fusible links. Metal-alloy links are replaced at least every six months.
• Manual pull station: clear and working.
• Fuel shutoff: the gas or electric supply to the appliances under the hood should shut off when the system discharges, and the technician checks that connection.
• Agent cylinder: condition, pressure and dates.
• Tag: a new one with the service date.

Moved equipment since the last visit? Tell us. Nozzles are placed for specific appliances, so a fryer moved two feet down the line or a new griddle can end up outside the coverage the system was designed for.

The Class K extinguisher by the cook line

A kitchen with a hood suppression system also needs a Class K portable extinguisher, the class rated for cooking oils and fats. Class K units are wet chemical. They get annual maintenance by a certified technician and a hydrostatic test every 5 years.

Most of the Van Nuys calls we get are about extinguishers, so if you need more than the Class K unit serviced, our Van Nuys fire extinguisher service and annual extinguisher certification pages cover the rest of the building.

Who may work on your hood system

In California, 1 Pro Fire's work is done by Hedrick Fire Protection. Hedrick holds C-16 (fire protection) and C-10 (electrical) contractor licenses and is licensed by the California State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for extinguisher service and for water-based system inspection, testing and maintenance. Hedrick is also licensed to install and service commercial kitchen hood fire suppression systems.

To book hood service or price a UL 300 upgrade for a kitchen anywhere in Van Nuys, from the 91401 and 91405 ZIPs out to 91406 and 91411, call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com

More for Van Nuys: the Van Nuys fire protection hub, restaurant sprinkler inspections and extinguisher hydrostatic testing. Outside Van Nuys, see fire kitchen service in Los Angeles County or fire kitchen service in Orange County.

Van Nuys hood system questions

How often does a kitchen hood system need service?

Every six months. NFPA 96 and NFPA 17A set that semi-annual schedule, and metal-alloy fusible links are replaced at least that often.

Does an old dry chemical system meet UL 300?

No. UL 300 covers pre-engineered wet chemical systems, and older dry chemical systems don't meet it, so we'd install a UL 300 wet chemical system in its place if you decide to upgrade.

Who do I ask about plan check or a clearance in Van Nuys?

Call the LAFD Fire Prevention Bureau Valley Public Safety Unit at 818-374-1110. Requests go through the FIMS Customer Portal at inspect.lafd.org.

Do I still need an extinguisher if the hood has a system?

Yes. A kitchen with a hood suppression system also needs a Class K extinguisher, and it gets a hydrostatic test every 5 years.