TR19 Cleaning for Schools & Universities
Meet your fire safety obligations, protect your insurance, and maintain compliant kitchen records. Scheduled during school holidays to avoid disruption to pupils and staff.
School Kitchens Have Specific Fire Safety Obligations
School kitchens are commercial kitchens in every sense — they operate at scale, use industrial cooking equipment, and are subject to the same fire safety and insurance obligations as any restaurant or hotel kitchen. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises, including schools, and requires the responsible person to manage fire risk in all areas of the building.
A kitchen extraction system that has not been cleaned to TR19 standard is a primary fire hazard. In a school environment, where hundreds of pupils and staff are present during the day, the consequences of a kitchen fire are particularly serious. Local fire authorities have the power to issue enforcement notices and, in serious cases, close the kitchen — disrupting catering provision for the entire school.
BlueTick Extraction Hygiene works with schools, academies, colleges, and universities across the East Midlands and East of England. We understand the specific operational requirements of educational settings — including the need to schedule work during school holidays — and we provide the compliance documentation that facilities managers, health and safety officers, and insurers require.
Compliance Requirements for School Kitchens
Fire Safety Order 2005
Requires the responsible person to manage fire risk in all areas of the school, including the kitchen. A dirty extraction system is a primary fire hazard.
Insurance Policy Conditions
School insurance policies typically require TR19-compliant cleaning at specified intervals. Failure to comply can void your claim following a kitchen fire.
Health & Safety Records
TR19 compliance certificates and post-clean verification reports provide documentary evidence for health and safety records, fire risk assessments, and inspection files.
School Kitchen TR19 Cleaning Service
Scheduled during school holidays, with full compliance documentation for your health and safety records.
Full TR19 Extraction System Clean
Complete clean of canopy, ductwork, risers, fans, and filters to BESA TR19 standard. Scheduled during school holidays to avoid disruption.
Compliance Documentation Pack
TR19 compliance certificate, post-clean verification report with photographic evidence, and grease deposit measurements — ready for your health and safety files.
Holiday Scheduling
We work with your facilities manager to schedule cleans during half-term, Easter, and summer holidays. The kitchen is ready for the start of term.
Annual Compliance Programme
We set up a rolling annual cleaning programme with advance reminders, ensuring your school never misses a TR19 cleaning interval.
Documentation That Satisfies Insurers and Inspectors
Our founder's CII qualifications and connection to Focus Insurance Services means we understand exactly what school and educational establishment insurers require. Our post-clean verification reports are structured to provide the specific evidence that underwriters need — not just a cleaning receipt.
We also understand the documentation requirements for health and safety records, fire risk assessments, and local authority or Ofsted inspection files. Our compliance packs are designed to be filed directly into your existing records system with no additional work required.
TR19 Cleaning for Schools — FAQ
Are school kitchens required to have TR19 cleaning?
Yes. School kitchens are subject to the same TR19 requirements as any other commercial kitchen. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires schools to manage fire risk in all areas of the premises, including the kitchen. The responsible person (typically the headteacher or facilities manager) must ensure that the extraction system is maintained to a recognised standard. BESA TR19 is the industry benchmark for kitchen extraction cleaning.
Who is responsible for TR19 compliance in a school?
In a maintained school, the responsible person under the Fire Safety Order is typically the headteacher or the governing body. In an academy or free school, it is the academy trust. In a local authority school, the local authority may retain responsibility for the building. Whoever is responsible for the building must ensure that the kitchen extraction system is maintained to TR19 standard and that compliance records are kept.
How often does a school kitchen need TR19 cleaning?
Most school kitchens operate during term time only, typically 5–6 hours per day. This classifies them as light to medium use under BESA TR19 guidelines, requiring cleaning every 6–12 months. However, schools with breakfast clubs, after-school catering, or holiday programmes may have higher usage and require more frequent cleaning. We assess your specific operation during the free site survey.
Can you work during school holidays to avoid disruption?
Yes. We routinely schedule school kitchen cleans during half-term, Easter, and summer holidays to avoid any disruption to pupils, staff, or catering operations. We will agree a specific time window with the facilities manager and ensure the kitchen is left clean and ready for the start of term.
Do you provide documentation for Ofsted or local authority inspections?
Our TR19 compliance certificates and post-clean verification reports are suitable for inclusion in your school's health and safety records, fire risk assessment documentation, and any inspection files. The reports include photographic evidence, grease deposit measurements, and a signed compliance declaration — demonstrating due diligence in kitchen fire safety management.