TR19 Cleaning for Care Homes
Support your CQC compliance, meet fire safety obligations, and protect your insurance policy. Our insurer-grade TR19 reports demonstrate due diligence to regulators, inspectors, and underwriters.
Three Reasons Care Homes Cannot Ignore TR19 Compliance
Care homes face a unique combination of regulatory, safety, and insurance obligations that make TR19 compliance particularly critical. Unlike a restaurant that can close temporarily following a fire, a care home cannot simply evacuate its residents — making fire prevention an absolute priority.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) assesses care homes against Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, which requires premises to be maintained in a safe and suitable condition. A kitchen extraction system that has not been cleaned to TR19 standard represents a fire hazard that CQC inspectors may identify as a breach of this regulation — potentially affecting your registration status.
Additionally, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires care homes to carry out fire risk assessments and implement appropriate fire safety measures. A dirty extraction system is a primary fire risk that must be addressed in any competent fire risk assessment. Local fire authorities have the power to issue enforcement notices and prohibit the use of non-compliant kitchens.
Three Compliance Pillars for Care Home Kitchens
CQC Regulation 15
Demonstrates that premises are maintained in a safe condition. A TR19 certificate provides documentary evidence of proactive fire risk management in the kitchen.
Fire Safety Order 2005
Satisfies the requirement to manage fire risk in the kitchen. A dirty extraction system is a primary fire hazard that must be addressed in your fire risk assessment.
Insurance Policy Conditions
Protects your insurance cover. Most care home insurance policies require TR19-compliant cleaning at specified intervals — failure to comply can void your claim.
Care Home TR19 Cleaning Service
Designed around the specific operational requirements of care homes — minimal disruption, maximum compliance documentation.
Full TR19 Extraction System Clean
Complete clean of canopy, ductwork, risers, fans, and filters to BESA TR19 standard. Scheduled around meal times and resident routines.
CQC-Ready Compliance Documentation
Full post-clean verification report with photographic evidence, grease measurements, and signed compliance certificate — ready for CQC inspection files.
Fire Risk Assessment Support
Our reports are structured to support your fire risk assessment, providing documentary evidence that the extraction system has been professionally maintained.
Scheduled Compliance Programme
We can set up a rolling cleaning programme with advance reminders, ensuring your care home never misses a TR19 cleaning interval.
Care Home Insurance Requires TR19 Compliance
Care home insurance policies typically include specific conditions relating to fire safety and kitchen maintenance. These conditions are not always clearly communicated at the point of sale — many care home operators are unaware that their policy requires TR19-compliant cleaning at specified intervals until a claim is made.
Our founder's CII qualifications and connection to Focus Insurance Services means we can review your specific policy wording and confirm exactly what documentation your insurer requires. We then provide that documentation as a standard part of every clean.
Care Home Insurance from Focus Insurance
Focus Insurance Services provides commercial insurance for care homes and healthcare businesses. If you need to review your current policy, check your TR19 compliance conditions, or get a competitive quote for your care home insurance, we can help.
Getting the right insurance and the right cleaning schedule together is the most effective way to protect your care home and the residents in your care.
TR19 Cleaning for Care Homes — FAQ
Does the CQC inspect kitchen extraction cleaning in care homes?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) assesses care homes against the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Under Regulation 15 (Premises and Equipment), care homes must maintain their premises in a safe condition. A dirty extraction system represents a fire hazard and a potential hygiene risk — both of which CQC inspectors may flag. While CQC does not specifically audit TR19 certificates, having one demonstrates that the care home is proactively managing fire safety in the kitchen.
How often does a care home kitchen need TR19 cleaning?
Most care home kitchens operate 12–16 hours per day, seven days a week, which classifies them as heavy-use under BESA TR19 guidelines. This requires cleaning every 3–6 months depending on cooking methods. Care homes that cook primarily by boiling and steaming may qualify for 6-monthly cleaning, while those using deep fryers or high-fat cooking methods require quarterly cleaning. We assess your specific cooking volume and methods during the free site survey.
What are the fire safety obligations for care home kitchens?
Care homes are subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires the responsible person (typically the registered manager or owner) to carry out a fire risk assessment and implement appropriate fire safety measures. A kitchen extraction system that has not been cleaned to TR19 standard is a significant fire risk and would be flagged in any competent fire risk assessment. Local fire authorities can issue enforcement notices and, in serious cases, prohibit the use of the kitchen.
Will our care home insurance require TR19 certificates?
Yes. Commercial property and liability insurance policies for care homes almost universally include conditions relating to fire safety and kitchen maintenance. Failure to produce a valid TR19 certificate following a kitchen fire can result in the insurer declining the claim or reducing the settlement. Our CII-qualified founder can review your specific policy wording and advise on the documentation required.
Can you work around care home meal times and resident routines?
Absolutely. We understand that care homes have fixed meal times and that disruption to the kitchen must be minimised. We will work with your catering manager to schedule the clean at the least disruptive time — typically early morning before breakfast service, or after the evening meal. We can also work overnight if required.