National Fire Protection Association
NFPA 96 & 17A
NFPA 96 governs the commercial kitchen exhaust system — the hood, the grease-bearing duct and the clearances that keep a grease fire from reaching combustibles — and NFPA 17A governs the wet-chemical system that suppresses a fire at the cooking line. The field role is to observe and document the install; the licensed contractor tests and tags the suppression side.
Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
What it covers
- Exhaust hoods and their capture over the cooking appliances below
- Grease-bearing ducts, their continuous welds and access for cleaning
- Clearance from grease duct to combustible construction
- Wet-chemical nozzle selection and coverage aimed at each appliance and plenum
- Detection links and the manual pull that trip the suppression system
What the evidence looks like
- Photograph the hood over its appliance line so capture and overhang can be read from the image, not taken on faith.
- Duct access doors and clearances to combustibles documented; an enclosed run is photographed before it is closed in.
- Each nozzle captured with its aim at the appliance or plenum it protects, and the appliance layout noted so coverage matches the line as built.
- Fusible links and the manual pull station photographed as observed, with the discharge test and tag left to the licensed contractor.
- Any appliance moved or swapped after the system was aimed flagged, since coverage follows the cooking line it was designed around.
Checklists that verify work against NFPA 96 & 17A
4 free checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Commercial kitchen exhaust hood QuarterlyCommercial kitchen exhaust hood quarterly maintenance checklistBaffle filters, drip cup, capture at the line and the rooftop fan caught on the quarterly round4 items6 photosCommercial kitchen exhaust hood AnnualCommercial kitchen exhaust hood annual maintenance checklistFull degrease to bare metal, duct access panels, fan hinge-kit service and the suppression interface documented5 items10 photosKitchen hood fire suppression QuarterlyKitchen hood fire suppression quarterly maintenance checklistNozzles aimed and capped, appliances lined up under coverage, pull station clear, checked each quarter6 items8 photosKitchen hood fire suppression AnnualKitchen hood fire suppression annual maintenance checklistSemiannual/annual service by the licensed contractor, observed and recorded, with links renewed and the line re-checked against the design4 items6 photos
Common questions
- What is NFPA 96 & 17A?
- Commercial kitchen exhaust and its wet-chemical suppression: hoods, grease ducts, nozzles and links. It is published by the National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 96 governs the commercial kitchen exhaust system — the hood, the grease-bearing duct and the clearances that keep a grease fire from reaching combustibles — and NFPA 17A governs the wet-chemical system that suppresses a fire at the cooking line. The field role is to observe and document the install; the licensed contractor tests and tags the suppression side.
- What does NFPA 96 & 17A cover?
- Exhaust hoods and their capture over the cooking appliances below; Grease-bearing ducts, their continuous welds and access for cleaning; Clearance from grease duct to combustible construction; Wet-chemical nozzle selection and coverage aimed at each appliance and plenum; Detection links and the manual pull that trip the suppression system.
- What does a field inspection against NFPA 96 & 17A look at?
- Photograph the hood over its appliance line so capture and overhang can be read from the image, not taken on faith. Duct access doors and clearances to combustibles documented; an enclosed run is photographed before it is closed in. Each nozzle captured with its aim at the appliance or plenum it protects, and the appliance layout noted so coverage matches the line as built. Fusible links and the manual pull station photographed as observed, with the discharge test and tag left to the licensed contractor. Any appliance moved or swapped after the system was aimed flagged, since coverage follows the cooking line it was designed around.
- Which edition of NFPA 96 & 17A applies to my project?
- Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
- Which checklists verify work against NFPA 96 & 17A?
- 4 free checklists in the RTI library reference this family. Each is listed on this page with the photo evidence every item needs before it can be submitted.
A standard is only met if the evidence exists
RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.