Flame Gard Fire Rated Duct Access Doors Information Sheet · As regards access openings, NFPA #96 generally states: • Access openings are required every 12 feet ... Flame Gard Fire

FLAME GARDFire Rated Grease Duct Access Doors

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* LISTED * UL LISTED 1978 ** UNIQUE PATENTED DESIGN — U.S. PATENT #5165189 *

* EASY INSTALLATION * NO WELDING REQUIRED *• 2,300degreegasket–firetightseal

• Gasketishigh-tempbondedtofrontpanel

• Gasketstaysondoor–willnotscrapeoff

• Positiveboltpatternensuresfire-safeclosure

• Backframereinforcesductcutout

• Grease duct access door constructed of 16gaugesteel

http://www.hoodfilters.com/hood-accessories/duct-access-doors/flame-gard-access-doors.html?type=18

FLAME GARDFire Rated Grease Duct Access Doors CONTINUED


A commercial kitchen exhaust system is generallycomposed of three main parts, hood, duct and fan. Theduct work in these systems is constructed to be, quiteliterally,outofsightandoutofmind.However, if thereisno means to examine the interiors of these ventilationsystemsaseriouscalamitycantakeplace.

Kitchenexhaust systemsare designed to pull greasevapors and cooking residues out of the kitchen andinto theatmosphere.As thisoccurs, someof thegreasewill condense on the interior of the duct system andover a surprisingly short period of time, especially withcertainformsofcooking,enoughgreasewillaccumulatetocreate a very serious fire hazard. Ignition of oils on thecooking surfaces can send volatile flames up into the

exhaust system, setting fire to this grease build-up.These fires burn extremely hot (2300°F+) and can ignitesurroundingareasandbuildingmaterials.Seriousfireswillreachtheroofandburntheentirebuildingdown.

To prevent fire, proper inspection and grease removalmust be performed. The only way these systems canadequately be inspected is if proper access openingsare installed strategically throughout the length of theductingsystem.

This well known concern is behind the attempts toentrench proper access provisions into theNational FireProtection Association (NFPA) #96 Standard and othercodebodiesandultimately,intojurisdictionlegislation.

Access OpeningsSection1-3.1.3oftheNFPA#96(1994ed.)states:

“Allinteriorsurfacesoftheexhaustsystemshallbereasonablyaccessibleforcleaningandinspectionpurposes.”

ThisparticularNFPAclauseisprobablyoneofthemostimportantstatementsintheStandardbecausethevastmajorityofsystemsarenotfullyaccessible.

Asregardsaccessopenings,NFPA#96generallystates:

•Accessopeningsarerequiredevery12feet(3.7m) andateverychangeindirectionofhorizontal ductwork,unlesstheductislargeenoughfor personnelentry(approximately24”x24”).

•Openingsarerequiredwithin18inches(457.2mm) ofhoodscontainingdamperswhichblocktheopening oftheduct(whichincludesmostwater-washtypehoods).

•Openingsinverticalductsaretobeoneveryfloororon thetopoftheverticalriserifpersonnelentryispossible.

•Exhaustfanswithductworkconnectedtobothsidesmust haveaccesswithin3feet(0.92m)oneachsideofthefan.

Access Panels (Doors)Properlyconstructedandinstalledaccessdoorsorpanelsareobligatorytocovertheseopenings.ThisisbestachievedbyrequiringthatonlyFlameGard ListedAccesspanels(Doors)beused.

NFPA#964-3.4.4states:

“Listedgreaseductaccessdoorassemblies(accesspanels)shallbeinstalledinaccordancewiththetermsofthelistingandthemanufacturer’sinstructions.”

Theconstructionrequirementsofthese Listedaccesspanelsmustbeasfollows:

•Samethicknessastheduct(No.16MSGcarbonsteel or18MSGstainlesssteel)

•Gasketsealantsmustberatedforatleast1500°F(815.6°C)

•Mustbegreasetight

•Fastenersshallbeofcarbonsteelorstainlesssteel

•Doorfastenersmustnotpenetratetheductwalls

•Doormountingsshallensureaproper,securefitting overopenings

ArchitectsandconsultantsshouldspecifyFlameGardListedaccesspanelsonnewconstructionandrenovationplandrawings.

Bymaintainingtheaboveconditionsforthelocationofopeningsandthequalityofaccesspanels,maintenanceengineersandpropertyownerscanbeassuredofadequatesupervisionofgreasebuild-upandcleaning,ThequalityofFlameGard ListedGreaseDuctAccessDoorensuresaproperairtight,greasetightandfiretightfittotheductwork.

The Need for Proper Access in Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems

N.F.P.A. #96

“If you can’t see it...you can’t inspect it!”





Installation of Grease Duct Access Door with Zero Clearance Fire Rated Insulation

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Flame Gard Fire Rated Duct Access Doors Information Sheet · As regards access openings, NFPA #96 generally states: • Access openings are required every 12 feet ... Flame Gard Fire