TR19 Guidelines and the Role of Access Panel Installations
Access panel installations are a vital yet often overlooked part of regulatory compliance in commercial kitchens. This article explains why they matter, where they’re needed and how proper installation supports safe, thorough cleaning and long-term hygiene standards.
What Are TR19 Guidelines and Why Do They Matter?
TR19 is the established industry standard for the cleaning of commercial kitchen ductwork, developed by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). It provides practical guidance on how ventilation systems should be maintained to ensure cleanliness, safety and compliance with hygiene and fire regulations.
For commercial kitchens in restaurants, takeaway establishments, hotels, hospitals and schools, TR19 is more than best practice: it is the benchmark by which inspections, insurance claims and legal obligations are assessed. The guidance outlines how frequently different areas of the extraction system must be cleaned based on usage and what level of documentation is required to prove compliance.
Following TR19 is essential for meeting expectations from insurers, fire officers, environmental health officers (EHOs) and facilities managers. Non-compliance could result in invalidated insurance, fines or even kitchen closures. As part of TR19’s core recommendations, all ductwork must be accessible for cleaning, which is where access panel installations come into their own.
Access Panels: A Core Requirement for TR19 Compliance
To achieve a TR19-compliant clean, every part of the ductwork system must be reachable. Access panels are installed at intervals throughout duct systems specifically to allow internal access for cleaning and inspection. Without them, technicians are unable to effectively remove grease and contaminants from the inside of the ducting, leaving systems partially cleaned and out of compliance.
Many older systems were installed with minimal access points, making proper cleaning impossible without retrofitting panels. Even in newer systems, access panels may be missing from bends, changes in direction or key junctions, all places where grease is most likely to accumulate. TR19 states clearly that suitable access must be provided throughout the ductwork to facilitate cleaning and maintenance.
Professionals undertaking duct cleaning should always assess whether additional access panels are needed and recommend installation where appropriate. Failing to install them compromises not only cleanliness but also the validity of any certification or post-clean reporting issued.
Planning and Installing Access Panels Correctly
Installing access panels is not simply a case of cutting a hole and sealing it with a cover. TR19-compliant installation requires an understanding of the ductwork’s layout, airflow, material type and fire classification. Panels must be positioned with precision, ideally near bends, at regular intervals and in any location where grease build-up is likely to be significant.
Correct installation also depends on the system in question. In busy fast food restaurants, for instance, duct runs are often short but heavily used, requiring dense panel placement. In larger hotel or school kitchens, longer duct runs with multiple canopy feeds need more strategic spacing and multiple access points to allow for staged cleaning.
Importantly, access panels should be airtight, secure and durable enough to withstand repeated opening and resealing. Installers must ensure that panels don’t compromise duct performance or allow leakage of air or grease. Done properly, access panel installation enables thorough maintenance while preserving system efficiency.
Maintaining Fire Integrity With Fire-Rated Access Panels
In some commercial kitchens, especially those within hospitals, hotels or multi-storey properties, the extraction system may be fire-rated. This means the ductwork is built to contain fire and prevent it from spreading between compartments for a specified time, usually 30 or 60 minutes. When working on these systems, additional considerations are required.
Any modification to fire-rated ductwork, including the installation of access panels, must preserve its fire resistance. Using non-compliant or untested panels can compromise the entire system, potentially invalidating its fire classification and exposing the property to significant risk.
Specialist, fire-rated access panels are designed and tested for use in fire-resistant ductwork. They include intumescent materials, tested closures and correct sealing. A professional cleaning contractor should be able to identify fire-rated systems and ensure that all access panels installed within them meet the correct standard.
The ability to differentiate between and act appropriately according to standard and fire-rated ducting is a hallmark of a competent and fully insured contractor.
Assessing, Retrofitting and Documenting as Part of a Complete Clean
A TR19-compliant duct clean is never just about removing grease. It begins with a full assessment of the system layout, existing access and fire rating. Technicians should determine whether additional access panels are required to carry out a full internal clean. Where access is inadequate, these panels must be retrofitted as part of the cleaning process.
Once cleaning is complete, photographic evidence and detailed reports should be produced to confirm that the work was done to standard. These documents form the audit trail that EHOs, fire inspectors and insurers often request in the event of an incident or inspection. Without access panels, this level of documentation is unlikely to be achievable.
This approach is particularly valuable for facilities managers and compliance officers, who are responsible for multiple kitchen sites. A provider that can identify, install, clean and report in one visit adds efficiency, clarity and long-term value to a cleaning programme.
The Value of End-to-End TR19-Compliant Cleaning Services
Kitchens that take compliance seriously should seek cleaning partners who understand the full TR19 framework. This means going beyond mere surface cleaning, with a greater depth of knowledge concerning the system design, maintenance planning and paperwork requirements that underpin it. This includes assessing the current ductwork, identifying gaps in access, safely installing panels and completing post-clean documentation that meets legal and insurance expectations.
An end-to-end service that combines extraction cleaning, access panel installation, fire-rated system awareness and reporting is especially beneficial for high-use kitchens in schools, restaurants and healthcare environments. These operations cannot afford disruption, nor can they risk falling short on hygiene or fire safety standards.
Although access panels may appear to be a small detail, they are central to enabling safe, effective and verifiable duct maintenance. Without them, even the best cleaning teams cannot deliver a truly compliant service. By ensuring they are installed correctly, kitchens not only meet TR19 but also protect their staff, their customers and their long-term operational integrity.