Directory · Detroit
Detroit commercial kitchen hood cleaning
Research index for operators. Public rules we found, how to vet a cleaner, open listing slots. Not a ranked vendor list.
Who inspects Detroit kitchens
- Detroit Fire Marshal Division — Fire Prevention: life-safety inspections for assemblies, restaurants, and other occupied buildings under the Detroit Fire Prevention and Protection Code. Businesses need a current annual fire safety permit.
- Plans and Exams: fire-protection plan review (alarms, suppression, monitoring) for new construction, change of use, and major renovations — coordinates with BSEED and other city departments.
- Contact (public): Fire Marshal Division (313) 596-2954; schedule inspections via detroitmi.gov. January 2026 DFD guidance for bars and restaurants states cooking operations must be protected by approved hood and fire suppression systems that are routinely inspected and serviced.
- A “Detroit” mailing address in a suburb does not settle AHJ — confirm city vs township fire jurisdiction before you schedule vendors.
Inspection / cleaning cadence (NFPA 96 via Michigan Mechanical Code)
Michigan’s Mechanical Code requires commercial Type I kitchen exhaust systems (hood, ducts, exhaust equipment, makeup air) to comply with NFPA 96 as referenced in the state rules. Detroit’s mechanical code path follows the same Type I / NFPA 96 pattern. Secondary NFPA 96 Table 12.4 inspection-for-grease-buildup frequencies:
| Type or volume of cooking | Inspection frequency |
|---|---|
| Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations | Monthly |
| Systems serving high-volume cooking (24-hour, charbroiling, or wok) | Quarterly |
| Systems serving moderate-volume cooking operations | Semiannually |
| Systems serving low-volume cooking (churches, day camps, seasonal, senior centers) | Annually |
- If inspection finds grease contamination, contaminated portions are cleaned by a properly trained, qualified, and certified person acceptable to the AHJ (secondary NFPA 96 §12.6.1; ANSI/IKECA C10 is the common cleaning guide).
- Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes publishes a commercial kitchen hood smoke capture test procedure for new/altered systems (building pressure not to exceed about 0.02 in. w.c. negative; ventilation balance report before the test). That is a construction acceptance check — not a substitute for ongoing grease inspection.
- Changed the menu? The interval follows the cooking type. See changing your menu or equipment.
- Unknown on this page: a Detroit-only published fee schedule for hood reinspection separate from the annual fire permit — confirm with Fire Prevention when you book.
How to pick a cleaner in Detroit
- Ask who your AHJ accepts as “trained, qualified, and certified” for grease inspection/cleaning — IKECA or equivalent if they claim it, then verify
- Certificate of insurance before they arrive
- Photo report: plenum, ducts, rooftop fan — not only the canopy
- Full-system vs canopy wipe in writing; inaccessible areas listed
- Confirm suppression is a separate licensed contractor on a semiannual ITM (fusible links). See fusible links
- After-hours and roof access confirmed before the crew shows up
Three separate jobs in a Detroit kitchen
| Job | Rule we found | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Hood, duct, and fan inspection and cleaning | NFPA 96 Table 12.4 cadence via Michigan Mechanical Code Type I path; DFD expects hood + suppression routinely serviced | On-site inspection/cleaning reports; hood service label |
| Hood suppression service | Separate from grease cleaning; NFPA 17A / listing ITM (commonly semiannual) | Suppression service tag + fusible-link dates |
| Grease trap / interceptor (FOG) | Sewer / GLWA–DWSD wastewater rules — not the fire hood permit | Pump manifests (confirm your sewer authority). City-specific pumping interval on this page: Unknown — ask DWSD / your interceptor permit |
Hood wash water still drains toward the interceptor. See chemical runoff and combining trap service with hood day.
Open listing slots
Unverified until docs in — Slot 1
Unverified until docs in — Slot 2
Unverified until docs in — Slot 3
Unverified until docs in — Slot 4
We do not invent vendors. Listing here requires docs sent through our contact form.
Sources
- Detroit Fire Department — Fire Marshal (Fire Prevention + Plans and Exams overview; annual fire permit)
- Detroit Fire Marshal — Fire Prevention (life-safety inspections; annual fire permit)
- DFD — Bars and restaurants fire safety reminder (Jan 2026) (approved hood + suppression routinely inspected and serviced; (313) 596-2954)
- Michigan Mechanical Code 2021 — Chapter 5 Exhaust Systems (Type I commercial kitchen exhaust; NFPA 96 references in state mechanical rules)
- HoodFilters: NFPA 96 Table 12.4 (secondary inspection-frequency table)
- Michigan BCC — Commercial kitchen hood smoke test procedures (PDF)
- Detroit Fire Code (NFPA 1 2015) via UpCodes (city fire-code adoption path — confirm current edition with DFD)
Related guides
- How often to inspect
- Full-system vs canopy wipe
- Smoke not pulling into the hood
- Fusible links and detection devices
- Quote checklist
- Chicago · Philadelphia
Request a listing: company, metro, certs, insurance, service area, photo-report policy.