BESA TR19 · Grease ·
TR19 certificate: what it proves, and how to get one
A TR19 certificate is the document a specialist contractor issues after cleaning a commercial kitchen extraction system to the BESA TR19 Grease standard. It records grease depth measurements before and after the clean, states exactly which parts of the system were cleaned, and sets the date the next clean is due.
Is a TR19 certificate a legal requirement?
No — and anyone telling you otherwise is wrong. TR19 is guidance published by the Building Engineering Services Association. It is not legislation and there is no statute that names it.
That distinction matters less than it sounds, because three separate obligations sit behind it and two of them are real:
The legal duty is real
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales — with equivalent regimes in Scotland and Northern Ireland — the responsible person must assess and manage fire risk on the premises. Grease accumulating inside extract ductwork is a well-recognised fire risk and a route for fire to spread between rooms. Workplace health and safety law separately requires effective ventilation. Those duties are not optional.
TR19 is how you evidence it
TR19 Grease is the recognised industry method for demonstrating that the duty has been discharged: measured, documented and repeatable. You are not obliged to use it, but if you do not, you still need to show how you are managing the risk.
Your policy may be stricter than the law
A commercial kitchen policy may carry a condition or endorsement about extract cleaning. That is a contractual obligation, and it may specify a frequency and a standard. Where your policy has one, it is the condition that binds you to hold a certificate — not the law. Read the wording, or ask your broker for it.
Why we can tell you this properly. Our principal surveyor holds the BESA Academy Grease Hygiene Technician (GHT3) and Grease Hygiene Operative (GHO3) qualifications and the CII Level 3 Certificate in Insurance. That means we can read the endorsement that triggered your enquiry and tell you what it actually asks for — not just clean the ductwork and hand you a certificate.
General information, not legal or insurance advice. Your own policy wording governs what you must do — read it, or ask us to look at it with you.
What a TR19 certificate must contain
A certificate is only worth what it evidences. A single page saying “TR19 compliant” with no measurements and no scope statement proves very little to an insurer or a fire officer. A useful one contains:
- Pre-clean and post-clean grease depth readings, in microns, taken at named points
- A plain statement of which parts of the system were cleaned
- A plain statement of anything that could not be reached, and why
- Photographs of the system before and after
- The technician's qualifications
- A recommended date and frequency for the next clean
- A unique reference that can be checked back to the contractor
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
Kitchen Extract Cleaning — BESA TR19 Standard
BlueTick Extraction Hygiene | 07840 992 246 | bluetickhygiene.co.uk
TR19 COMPLIANT — PASS
BESA TR19 Standard
Certificate No: Certificate number removed from this specimen
- Client / Business:
- Client name removed from this specimen
- Site Address:
- Site address removed from this specimen
- Postcode:
- Postcode removed from this specimen
- Date of Clean:
- Date removed from this specimen
- Grease Level (Pre-Clean):
- Measured reading removed from this specimen
- Grease Level (Post-Clean):
- Measured reading removed from this specimen
- Grease Category:
- Heavy
- Cleaning Standard:
- BESA TR19 Grease — Kitchen Ventilation Systems
- Recommended Frequency:
- Every 3 months
- Technician:
- Technician name removed from this specimen
- Certificate Issued:
- Date removed from this specimen
- Next Clean Due:
- Date removed from this specimen
- Systems Cleaned:
- Kitchen extract canopy, ductwork, extract fan, filters
Scope of Works
Full clean of the kitchen extract system: canopy and baffle filters, the horizontal duct run, the riser, the extract fan and the discharge point. Existing access panels were used throughout and two further panels were fitted before cleaning so the riser could be reached along its length.
Cleaning Outcome
Grease deposits were measured at named points before and after cleaning, and the recorded reduction is set out in the verification report issued with this certificate. Photographs of each section before and after are included.
Compliance Statement
This certificate confirms that the above kitchen extract system has been cleaned in accordance with BESA TR19 Grease — A Guide to Good Practice for the Design, Installation, Testing and Maintenance of Kitchen Ventilation Systems. The system is now TR19 compliant.
Actions Required / Improvements Needed
1. Access panels, far duct run: the final three metres before the discharge point cannot be reached without two further panels. Fitting them would bring the whole run into scope at the next clean. [Medium]
Authorised Signatory — BlueTick Extraction Hygiene
Integrity Hash: Hash removed from this specimen
Verify online: bluetickhygiene.co.uk/verify/<certificate number>
Scan to verify
The two grease readings are redacted because they belong to one kitchen on one day. We do not publish a single figure as a pass mark: certificates have been issued as a pass above the number usually quoted online, so the reading only means anything alongside the scope, the measurement points and the recorded compliance wording. Ask any contractor for a sample certificate before you book — if the scope statement is missing, the certificate is thinner than it looks.
The scope statement is the part that matters. A certificate can be issued after a full clean or a partial one. If the fan was excluded, or there were no access panels and the ductwork could not be reached, that should be written down. A contractor who quietly certifies only what they could reach leaves you holding a document that does not cover your system.
Checking a certificate you already hold? Our free TR19 checklist sets out what a clean should cover and what the paperwork should show, and prints to PDF. Or answer a few questions in the certificate checker.
What is in a TR19 report?
The certificate says a clean happened. The report, usually called a post-clean verification report or PCVR, is the evidence behind it: where grease was measured, what the readings were before and after, what could and could not be reached, and what should happen before the next clean. An insurer or fire risk assessor who wants to know whether your system is actually clean will ask for the report, not the certificate.
When you receive one, check that it:
- Lists every reading by component and measurement point, before and after, not just an average
- Takes readings from the ductwork and the fan as well as the canopy
- Says how many access panels were used and whether more are needed to reach the whole run
- Records the system as found: filters, fan, fire suppression and gas interlock
- Gives recommendations with a priority, so you know what to fix first
- Names the chemicals used and holds their COSHH data sheets
Post-Clean Verification Report
BlueTick Extraction Hygiene | 07840 992 246 | bluetickhygiene.co.uk
TR19 COMPLIANT — PASS
BESA TR19 Grease — Kitchen Ventilation Cleaning Standard
Job Information
- Client / Business:
- Removed from this specimen
- Site Address:
- Removed from this specimen
- Postcode:
- Removed from this specimen
- Contact Name:
- Removed from this specimen
- Job Reference:
- Removed from this specimen
- Date of Clean:
- Removed from this specimen
- Arrival Time:
- Removed from this specimen
- Departure Time:
- Removed from this specimen
- Technician:
- Removed from this specimen
- PCVR Reference:
- Removed from this specimen
System Details
- Canopy Type:
- Wall canopy
- Canopy Material:
- Stainless steel
- Filter Type:
- Baffle
- Filter Condition:
- Fair
- UV System Fitted:
- No
- ESP Fitted:
- No
- Fire Suppression:
- Yes
- Fan Type:
- Centrifugal, roof-mounted
- Fan Condition:
- Good
- Duct Type:
- Galvanised rectangular
- Duct Condition:
- Good
- Gas Interlock Fitted:
- Yes
- Gas Interlock Operational:
- Yes
Grease Assessment Summary
- Grease Level Category:
- Heavy
- Pre-Clean Average:
- Measured reading removed from this specimen
- Post-Clean Average:
- Measured reading removed from this specimen
- Recommended Frequency:
- Every 3 months
Grease Deposit Thickness Readings (µm)
| # | Location / Component | Measurement Point | Pre-Clean | Post-Clean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canopy 1 | Left | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen |
| 2 | Canopy 1 | Centre | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen |
| 3 | Canopy 1 | Right | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen |
| 4 | Ductwork | Entry | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen |
| 5 | Ductwork | Mid | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen |
| 6 | Ductwork | Exit | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen |
| 7 | Fan | Housing | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen |
| 8 | Fan | Blades | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen |
| AVERAGE READINGS | Measured reading removed from this specimen | Measured reading removed from this specimen | ||
Access Panels
| Panel Type | Existing | Additional Required | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duct access panel | 4 | 2 | 6 |
COSHH — Chemical Products Used
- Product / Purpose:
- Alkaline degreaser — grease removal
- Manufacturer and COSHH Ref:
- Named on the issued report, data sheet held on file
Photographic Evidence
- Before Photographs:
- Photograph count removed from this specimen
- After Photographs:
- Photograph count removed from this specimen
Full photographic evidence is retained on file and available upon request.
Recommendations & Required Actions
1. Access panels, far duct run [Medium]
The final three metres before the discharge point cannot be reached without two further panels. Fitting them would bring the whole run into scope at the next clean.
2. Baffle filters [Low]
Filters were loaded on arrival. Washing them weekly between cleans keeps grease out of the plenum and the duct.
Compliance Statement
This Post-Clean Verification Report has been prepared in accordance with BESA TR19 Grease — A Guide to Good Practice for the Design, Installation, Testing and Maintenance of Kitchen Ventilation Systems.
Client Acknowledgement
I confirm that the above works have been carried out to my satisfaction:
Client Signature
Date
On the issued report the reading table carries a figure in every cell, the photographs are counted and held on file, and the client signs the acknowledgement. We redact the readings here for the same reason as on the certificate: they belong to one kitchen on one day, and we do not publish a single figure as a pass mark.
How often do you need one?
TR19 sets cleaning frequency by how hard the kitchen works, not by the calendar. BESA guidance gives three bands:
| Usage level | Typical operating hours | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy use | 12–16 hours per day | Every 3 months |
| Moderate use | 6–12 hours per day | Every 6 months |
| Light use | 2–6 hours per day | Every 12 months |
Hours of cooking a day are the rule. As typical examples, a takeaway or busy pub kitchen cooking twelve hours or more a day falls in the heavy band, a café serving breakfasts and lunches is usually moderate, and a school, church hall or office kitchen used for a few hours is usually light. Where a policy sets its own interval, treat it as the minimum: if your hours put you in a shorter band, cleaning to that band meets both.
How do I get a TR19 certificate?
Book a TR19 clean with a specialist kitchen extract cleaning contractor: the certificate is issued at the end of that clean, together with the verification report, once the same points have been measured again after cleaning. It is never bought on its own, so a certificate offered without a clean and before-and-after readings proves nothing about the state of your extract system.
- 1
Survey
A contractor inspects the system and records its type, size, condition and access points. This is where missing access panels get identified — they decide how much of the ductwork can actually be cleaned.
- 2
Pre-clean measurement
Grease depth is measured at named points across the canopy, filters and duct run, and recorded in microns.
- 3
Clean
The accessible system is cleaned to the TR19 Grease standard. On a working kitchen this is usually done overnight or after service so you do not lose trading hours.
- 4
Post-clean verification
The same points are measured again. The before and after readings are what turn a clean into evidence.
- 5
Certificate and report
You receive the certificate, the verification report, photographs and a recommended next clean date.
How much does a TR19 certificate cost in the UK?
You cannot buy a TR19 certificate on its own: it is issued at the end of a clean, so its cost is the cost of the clean. That price is set by the size of the system, access to the ductwork, how much grease has built up and whether the work has to be done out of hours, and it is given in writing after a free site survey.
A single wall-mounted canopy with no ductwork sits at the lower end; a multi-canopy system with a long duct run sits considerably higher.
What drives the cost
- Size of the system. The number of canopies, the length of the duct run, and how many fans and risers it has.
- Access. Whether access panels are already fitted. Where they are not, panels may need installing before the ductwork can be cleaned at all.
- Grease loading. A system that has gone a long time between cleans, or serves fryers or a charcoal grill, takes longer to bring back.
- Where the fan and discharge are. Roof-level fans and high-level ductwork need more access equipment and more time than a fan at canopy level.
- When the kitchen can close. Early-morning, evening and overnight cleans let the kitchen keep trading, and are planned around your service.
- Scope. Canopy and filters alone cost less than the whole system, but only a full clean gives you a certificate that covers the whole system.
If the survey finds the system does not need cleaning yet, we will say so rather than sell you a clean you do not need. For the full breakdown, and what a written quote should itemise, see What drives the cost of a TR19 clean.
Common questions
What is a TR19 certificate?
A TR19 certificate, sometimes called TR19 certification, is the record a specialist contractor issues after cleaning a commercial kitchen extraction system to BESA's TR19 Grease specification. It names the standard, the site and the date of the clean, gives grease depth readings taken at recorded points before and after cleaning, states which parts of the system were and were not cleaned, and sets the date the next clean is due. It is backed by a post-clean verification report with photographs. It is evidence of one clean on one date, not a licence or a standing qualification held by the kitchen.
Is a TR19 certificate a legal requirement?
No. TR19 is industry guidance published by BESA, not legislation. However the fire safety duty it helps you discharge is a legal one, and your insurer may make TR19 cleaning a condition of your policy — which is a contractual obligation that can be stricter than the law.
Do I need a TR19 certificate?
If your insurance policy carries a kitchen extract cleaning condition, a TR19 certificate is the usual way to show you have met it. Without such a condition you still have to manage the fire risk from grease in your extract system under fire safety law, and a certificate from a TR19 clean is the most straightforward record that you have done so.
What are TR19 standards used for?
TR19 is BESA's specification for keeping ventilation systems internally clean. The part that applies to commercial kitchens, TR19 Grease, sets out how an extract system should be inspected, how grease deposits are measured, how the system is cleaned and verified, and how often cleaning should happen. Contractors, insurers and fire risk assessors use it as a common yardstick for whether an extract system is being kept clean.
How do I get a TR19 certificate?
Book a TR19 clean with a specialist contractor. They survey the system, measure grease depth at recorded points, clean the accessible system, measure the same points again, and issue the certificate with a verification report, photographs and a recommended next clean date. The certificate is the record of that clean; it is not bought on its own.
What are the requirements for TR19 cleaning?
The whole extract system should be in scope — canopy, filters, ductwork, fan and discharge — with access panels fitted where ductwork cannot otherwise be reached. Grease depth is measured before and after at recorded points and assessed against the standard's cleanliness criteria, anything that could not be cleaned is written down, and the clean is repeated as often as the kitchen's usage calls for.
How often should TR19 cleaning be performed?
BESA TR19 Grease sets the frequency by how many hours a day the kitchen cooks: every 3 months for heavy use (12–16 hours a day), every 6 months for moderate use (6–12 hours a day) and every 12 months for light use (2–6 hours a day). Your insurance policy may set its own interval, and where it does, that is the one to follow.
How long is a TR19 certificate valid for?
A certificate records the condition of the system on the day it was cleaned; it does not expire on a fixed date. What matters is your next due clean, which depends on how heavily the kitchen is used — every 3, 6 or 12 months under BESA's guidance.
What should a TR19 certificate contain?
Pre and post-clean grease depth readings, a clear statement of what was and was not cleaned, photographs, the areas that could not be accessed, the technician's qualifications, and a recommended next clean date. A certificate with no measurements and no scope statement evidences very little.
How much does a TR19 certificate cost in the UK?
You cannot buy a TR19 certificate on its own: it is issued at the end of a clean, so its cost is the cost of the clean. That price is set by the size of the system, access to the ductwork, how much grease has built up and whether the work has to be done out of hours, and it is given in writing after a free site survey. A single-canopy kitchen with no ductwork is at the lower end; a multi-canopy system with a long duct run is considerably more.
What is the difference between a full clean and a partial clean?
A full clean covers the entire system — canopy, filters, ductwork, fan and discharge point. A partial clean covers only what could be reached. Both can produce a certificate, so the scope statement matters more than the certificate itself.
Can my insurance be affected if I do not have one?
It depends entirely on your policy wording. Where kitchen extract cleaning is a condition or endorsement, failing to meet it can affect how the insurer responds to a fire claim. Read the endorsement, or ask someone who can read it for you.
Where can I get a copy of the TR19 standard?
From BESA, which publishes TR19 Grease and sells it through its website; it is free to BESA members. It is a technical specification written for contractors, so most kitchen operators do not need their own copy — they need a certificate and report from a contractor who works to it. Free PDFs found in a search are usually copies of the general TR/19 guide or unofficial uploads, not TR19 Grease; our free TR19 checklist prints to PDF instead.
What does a TR19 certificate look like?
It is a document of two or three pages, headed as a certificate of compliance and naming the standard it was cleaned to. The front page carries a unique certificate number, the client and site, the date of the clean, the grease readings recorded before and after, the systems cleaned, the technician and the next clean due date. Below that sit the scope of works, the cleaning outcome, the compliance statement and any actions required, followed by an authorised signature and a way to verify the certificate back to the contractor. There is a specimen of ours on this page.
What is in a TR19 report?
A TR19 report, also called a post-clean verification report, is the evidence behind the certificate. Ours sets out the job and the system surveyed (canopy, filters, fan, ductwork, fire suppression and gas interlock); grease depth readings taken at named points on the canopy, ductwork and fan before and after cleaning, with their averages; the access panels used and any more that are needed; the chemicals used, with COSHH references; the photographs taken; recommendations ranked by priority; the compliance statement; and the client's signed acknowledgement. There is a specimen of ours on this page.
Need a certificate, or a second opinion on the one you have?
Send us your current certificate and we will tell you what it actually covers. If your system is fine, we will say so. Free site survey across Peterborough and everywhere within 70 miles, including Cambridge, Leicester, Nottingham, Northampton and Lincoln.