The Certification Protocol and corresponding Training Courses define these competency and instruction requirements. The Protocol will assist jurisdictions in recognizing the requirements a cleaning company and/or person (Crew Leader) should have to be considered 'acceptable' for the NFPA 96 definition of 'Trained, Qualified and Certified.'

For commercial kitchen exhaust cleaners also known as restaurant hood cleaners, or kitchen hood and duct cleaners. Hood and duct cleaning is an act of kitchen fire safety. The remove of combustibles reduces the risk of grease fires. Fire inspectors and fire code officials understand the need to remove the fuel from areas of risk in restaurant kitchen hoods and ducts. This service is one of both fire protection and fire safety.

Phil Ackland Training qualified commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning companies and their crew leaders understand their responsibility to kitchen fire safety and fire protection. NFPA 96 requires that vent cleaning companies and crew leaders be trained, qualified and certified. This fire code is imperative to improving kitchen fire safety.

Phil Ackland Training exhaust cleaner's certification protocol provides fire code officials with a balanced process to ensure that kitchen hood cleaners know what their responsibilities are. This program will assist fire inspectors and code official implement the requirement of NFPA 96.

Compliance rests most heavily on the cleaning companies involved. They are to be Registered and be responsible for their Crew Leaders. Conversely, the Crew Leaders Certification is tied to a Registered Company. The Protocol therein provides a balance of responsible documentation and consistent training that is not overly burdensome on either the companies or individuals, yet is useful to the AHJ to determine overall competency.

This service is offered to fire officials at no charge.