Verify duct access panel placement and spacing along a grease exhaust duct run
domain: commercial-kitchen-hood-exhaust · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
Sampled — shipped under file-level sampling, not individually fact-checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Steps
Confirm access openings exist at the sides or top of the duct and at every change in direction
Confirm hoods with dampers have a dedicated access panel for cleaning/inspection, and that fans with ductwork on both sides have an access panel within a few feet of each side of the fan
Check horizontal duct runs for access panels at regular intervals commonly cited around every 12 feet, sized large enough (commonly cited around 20 in. x 20 in.) to allow personnel entry for inspection and cleaning — confirm exact figures against the locally adopted NFPA 96 edition since manufacturer/summary sources vary
Confirm each access panel is grease-tight, uses a high-temperature-rated gasket, is built from the same material and thickness as the duct, and is labeled 'ACCESS PANEL — DO NOT OBSTRUCT'
Flag any inaccessible duct segments (behind finished walls, above unreachable ceilings) as a compliance gap requiring either a retrofit access panel or documented AHJ acceptance
Known gotchas
Exact spacing and panel-size figures are commonly cited by industry summaries but should be confirmed against the specific NFPA 96 edition adopted locally before being treated as a fixed universal number — do not present them as unchangeable across all editions/jurisdictions
An access panel that isn't actually grease-tight (damaged gasket, warped panel) creates both a fire-spread path and a code violation even though a panel is physically present
Panels installed at the wrong duct material/thickness (mismatched to the duct itself) can compromise the duct's fire-resistance rating, not just its grease-tightness
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