In 1994, Underwriters Laboratories released "Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishing Systems for Protection of Restaurant Cooking Areas," also known as UL 300. The standard outlines specific guidelines that fire protection equipment manufacturers must meet for systems to receive a UL 300 label.
Today, 30 years after the implementation of UL 300 suppression systems, there is still resistance in the restaurant industry to upgrading suppression systems that will suppress commercial kitchen fires. Studies show that seventy percent of restaurants that have a kitchen fire never recover. For this reason, we are implementing an inspection and compliance program.
Beginning January 1, 2025, the Skamania County Fire Marshals Office will be implementing an inspection and education process on all existing fire suppression systems protecting cooking appliances in commercial kitchens to bring all Skamania County restaurants into compliance.
Our process will consist of an initial inspection of the kitchen and the fire hood. This inspection will not be a pass/fail inspection but an inspection to educate the restaurant’s owner as to what is required for fire protection and working together to facilitate a plan to achieve compliance.
We understand that the cost of new hood can be very costly to the business and put a financial burden on the owner. This is the reason we are taking an education first approach, so restaurant owners have time to budget for the new suppression hoods that are required for their kitchen.
Please call or email the Fire Marshals office and schedule your initial inspection so we may get the process started.
Resources:
Commercial Cooking Info Handout
