Blog.
Operator-facing articles on TR19 compliance, EHO inspection patterns, kitchen porter economics and the documentation that survives an insurer's audit.
What is TR19? The kitchen extract cleaning standard explained
TR19 is the BESA grease specification for kitchen extract cleaning. Insurers reference it, EHOs accept it, and your fire risk assessment depends on it.
What a TR19 certificate must contain — full checklist
A TR19 certificate that omits any of these items is unlikely to satisfy your insurer after a kitchen fire. Here is the full checklist.
Does kitchen insurance actually require TR19 cleaning?
Most commercial kitchen insurance policies reference TR19 compliance directly. Without a current certificate, claims for kitchen fire damage are routinely reduced or refused.
Kitchen extract duct cleaning — the UK regulatory picture
The UK regulatory picture for kitchen extract duct cleaning sits across three documents: the Fire Safety Order 2005, the Workplace Regulations 1992, and BESA TR19. Here is how they fit together.
What does an EHO inspector actually look for?
EHO inspectors score across three areas — hygiene, structure, and confidence in management. Here is exactly what they check at each.
How much does a commercial kitchen deep clean actually cost?
A periodic commercial kitchen deep clean ranges from £450 to £2,800 in 2026. Here is how the price is built and what drives the variation.
Commercial kitchen deep cleaning checklist — printable
A full deep clean covers every surface and every piece of equipment in the kitchen. Use this checklist as a printable.
Kitchen porter hourly rate UK 2026 — the real numbers
Kitchen porter hourly rates in the UK in 2026 range from £12.71 (National Living Wage) to £24+ (agency, evening cover). Here is the full breakdown.
BESA and TR19 — who they are and why they matter
BESA publishes TR19. Here is the relationship and why both names matter for evidencing compliance.
TR19 Grease — measurement, microns, and what 200μm means
TR19 measures kitchen extract compliance in microns of grease film. Here is what the 200μm threshold means and how it is measured.
How often should commercial kitchen ducts be cleaned?
TR19 sets duct cleaning frequency by usage hours. Here is the schedule and how to classify your kitchen correctly.
The Fire Safety Order 2005 and your kitchen
The Fire Safety Order 2005 places a legal duty on commercial kitchen operators to assess and manage fire risk. Here is what that means in practice.
Kitchen porter agency vs in-house — when each makes sense
Agency vs in-house KPs — when each makes sense and the real all-in cost comparison once you include recruitment, no-shows and vetting.
Are agency kitchen porters entitled to holiday pay?
Yes — agency kitchen porters are entitled to statutory holiday pay. Here is how it works and what to look for on your invoice.
Dark kitchen / ghost kitchen cleaning requirements
Dark kitchens carry the same EHO and TR19 compliance as restaurants — but operate differently. Here is the cleaning playbook.
NLW April 2026 — the £12.71 rate and what it does to kitchen staffing
The April 2026 NLW rose to £12.71 (21+). Here is what this means for kitchen porter pay, agency rates and the direct-vs-agency calculus.
TR19 certificate cost — what you should expect to pay
A standalone TR19 certificate is £180–£450 in 2026. Included free with a TR19 clean. Here is the price breakdown.
TR19 grease regulations summary PDF (free download)
A 4-page summary PDF of the TR19 Grease specification. Useful for compliance files and insurer queries. Free download.
Kitchen extract cleaning regulations — the UK picture
Kitchen extract cleaning sits across four documents: Fire Safety Order, Workplace Regulations, insurer policy, TR19. Here is the picture.
TR19 standards explained — what each edition changed
TR19 has been published in multiple editions since 1998. Here is what each edition changed and why TR19 Grease (2019) is the current standard.
Wet film thickness testing — how it works in practice
Wet film thickness testing is the measurement methodology underlying TR19 compliance. Here is how it is done in practice.
Kitchen porter certifications — what UK KPs should hold
UK kitchen porters should hold Level 2 Food Safety, RTW verification, and depending on site Allergens. Here are the full credentials.