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Facilities managers in Texas typically partner with a kitchen exhaust cleaning company that can handle multi-site schedules, after-hours access, and consistent documentation. Facilitec Southwest services Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and surrounding markets with recurring programs aligned to NFPA 96 frequency requirements. Each visit includes full-system cleaning (hood, ducts, fan, and rooftop discharge where applicable), service tags, and before/after photo reports you can keep on file for fire marshal and insurance inspections. The goal is predictable compliance without last-minute surprises.
In Texas, hospitals and large commercial kitchens hire licensed, insured exhaust cleaning contractors who clean the entire system to NFPA 96 expectations—hood, ducts, fan, and rooftop discharge. Most companies do not certify a kitchen; they document compliant service you can show a fire marshal or safety officer. Facilitec Southwest provides full-system cleaning across major Texas markets with after-hours scheduling, service tags, and before/after photo reports so your maintenance file stays inspection-ready across shifts and sites.
Grease fires usually start when cooking vapors collect as flammable buildup on filters, inside the hood, and in ductwork—then a high-heat event such as a flare-up, burner roll-out, or equipment malfunction ignites that grease. Once it ignites, the fire can travel quickly through the duct and up to the fan and roofline. In Texas, fire marshals commonly cite heavy grease accumulation, missing tags, or overdue cleanings after an incident or failed inspection. That is why cleaning the full fire path, not just visible areas, is important.
Yes. Proper commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning should cover the entire exhaust system, not just the hood canopy and filters. Under NFPA 96, the system includes the hood interior, ductwork (horizontal and vertical), the exhaust fan, and the rooftop discharge area when present. Facilitec Southwest crews clean the full fire path from top to bottom and document itwith before and after photos and service tags. This helps Texas kitchens pass fire marshal inspections and avoid violations related to hidden grease above the ceiling or on the roof.
Hood cleaning is required because grease buildup in the hood, ducts, and fan becomes fuel for fires. NFPA 96 and local Texas fire codes expect the exhaust system to be cleaned on schedule and maintained in a grease-free condition where accessible. During inspections, fire marshals look for current service tags and proof the system is being cleaned to standard rather than simply wiped down. Facilitec Southwest provides full-system cleanings along with before and after photo reports and service documentation so there is clear evidence of compliance.
Fire inspectors and the fire marshal generally check three main things: visible grease accumulation in the hood, filters, ducts, and fan; whether the cleaning schedule matches NFPA 96 frequency guidelines based on cooking volume; and documentation such as service tags and cleaning reports. They may also check access panels, fan condition, and rooftop discharge buildup. In Texas, incomplete paperwork or outdated tags can trigger a deficiency even when parts appear clean.
Hood cleaning cannot eliminate every risk in a kitchen, but it removes the primary fuel source that allows a flare-up to become a duct fire. When grease is removed from the hood, ducts, fan, and rooftop discharge, fire has less to ignite and fewer pathways to spread. This is the purpose of NFPA 96 standards and why Texas fire marshals enforce cleaning schedules and service tags. Keeping the exhaust system clean and documented helps prevent small incidents from becoming major shutdowns.
For Dallas restaurants, it is important to work with a company that performs full-system exhaust cleaning to NFPA 96 expectations and provides inspection-ready documentation. Facilitec Southwest services Dallas and the broader DFW area with scheduled programs and after-hours cleanings designed to reduce downtime. The service covers the complete fire path including hood, ducts, fan, and rooftop discharge where applicable, and includes service tags and before and after photo reports for inspectors or insurance audits.
Statewide coverage is important for organizations operating multiple kitchens across Texas. Facilitec Southwest supports multi-location programs across major metropolitan areas including DFW, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, along with surrounding regions. Schedules are coordinated so each location stays aligned with NFPA 96 cleaning frequency requirements. Every service includes service tags and before and after photo reports to keep documentation ready for fire marshal inspections, insurance reviews, and internal compliance audits.
Yes. To satisfy fire marshals, building inspectors, and code officials, and to meet NFPA 96 and IMC requirements, the GLS testing was observed by the nationally recognized Intertek ETL laboratory. The Intertek/ETLlisting report is recorded under ETLControl Number 3190996. The Grease Lock System was tested to the UL 1046 Flame-tunnel Test and UL710 abnormal flare-uptest, thereby qualifying the GLS as a “Recognized Component” that”Conforms to UL Std 1046 & ULC-S649-06 Canadian equivalent of UL Std1046″ when installed in front of a UL 1046 / ULC 649 metal baffle.
No, the GLF will not catch on fire. The grease in the filter catches fire as it burns off but the filter itself only chars. The flames from burning grease do not move to other filters, staying contained. When the source of the flame is extinguished, so is any flame on the filter.
Because the Grease Lock filters are disposable, NSF certification does not apply because it only includes reusable products.
Replacing filters depends on the cooking device under the filter. If your cooking methods and foods use a high amount of grease, thus causing more grease particulates in the air, then the filters will need to be changed more often. Facilitec West provides an initial filter change schedule based on your needs so you aren’t guessing. Grease Lock filters do not need to be changed until they are fully utilize
Changing filters is completely safe, and were designed to be so. With the Grease Lock mounting tool, the filters are easy to install and to remove, so you won’t need to stand on equipment to change them because of how the mounting devise is constructed. Grease Lock filters are non-toxic and perfectly safe to handle yourself. Ellis Fibre recommends that the filters be changed in the morning before the cook line is heated to keep the filters from coming in contact with hot equipment.
No, the Grease Lock System does not interfere with airflow through the filters. Because of this, installation does not include replacing your current fan motor with a high capacity motor.
Yes. In fact, the GLS is designed to significantly reduce grease buildup inside the kitchen’s hood and ducts, and on your roof, saving you considerable cleaning and maintenance costs.
In some areas, kitchen duct cleaning is determined by local regulations, so check with your AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) before scheduling regular cleanings. However, NFPA requires cleaning once there is over 1/8” of buildup in any section of the exhaust system. In general, your ductwork and extractor should be cleaned whenever buildup of grease is evident. With the Grease Lock System in place, you should notice fewer necessary cleanings.
Yes. The GLF fibers are biodegradable with significant benefits accruing from returning it to the earth as a fertilizer, rich in nitrogen and sulfur.(Source: Wool as a Technical Fiber, J.Text. Inst., 2003, 94 Part 3, Textile Institute) Spent filters can safely be disposed of in your regular trash receptacle.
No. The Grease Gutter is made of polymers that are meant to withstand harsh and varying weather conditions, and even the occasional abuse by service people. Omni has sold thousands of Grease Gutter systems over the past 10 years and has received ZERO complaints.
The Grease Gutter is made from the finest polymers available. Omni has sold thousands of Grease Gutter systems over the past 10 years and has received ZERO complaints.
Over time, fan parts can loosen due to normal cleaning and maintenance, leaving gaps where grease can leak. A 360-degree gutter catches grease wherever it comes from, protecting your roof on all sides.
As long as the fan is the same size and the curb is not changed, then no,you won’t need to replace the Grease Gutter because it mounts to the curb and not the fan.
