Free tool · < 60 seconds
Find your required hood cleaning cadence in two clicks.
NFPA 96 Table 11.4 sets your required cleaning schedule based on what you cook and how much. Pick your cooking type and volume below; we'll return the cadence with the code citation and a free assessment offer.
Step 1 of 2 — Cooking type
What kind of cooking is happening on your line?
Step 2 of 2 — Cooking volume
How much cooking is happening, day to day?
Built from NFPA 96 Table 11.4. Results are a starting point — your AHJ may impose a different cadence based on specific grease-load conditions.
Reference
The full NFPA 96 Table 11.4 cadence reference
The calculator above encodes the same mapping the table below documents. AHJs in the DMV all reference Table 11.4 directly during inspection — the buckets are standardized; only the documentation format expectations vary by jurisdiction.
| Cooking category | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Solid-fuel cooking | Wood-fired ovens, char grills, hibachi, mesquite, charcoal | Monthly |
| High-volume cooking | 24-hour operations, charbroiling, fast food, wok kitchens, Korean BBQ | Quarterly |
| Moderate-volume cooking | Standard restaurant operations with mixed cooking equipment | Semi-annual |
| Low-volume cooking | Churches, day camps, seasonal kitchens, limited cooking | Annual |
FAQ
Common questions about NFPA 96 cadence
How is the NFPA 96 cleaning cadence determined?
NFPA 96 Table 11.4 groups commercial kitchens into four cadence buckets — monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually — based on cooking type and volume. Solid-fuel and 24-hour operations are always monthly. High-volume charbroil and wok kitchens are monthly. Most full-service restaurants land in quarterly. Moderate-volume conventional cooking is semi-annual. Low-volume oven-only operations are annual.
Is this calculator a substitute for an on-site assessment?
No. The calculator is a starting point — it encodes the practical NFPA 96 Table 11.4 mapping that an AHJ would use given your cooking type and volume. Your specific grease load, ductwork geometry, and AHJ history may shift the cadence one bucket either direction. A free 20-minute on-site assessment confirms the right schedule for your kitchen.
What happens if I clean less often than NFPA 96 requires?
You risk a correction order from your local AHJ (FCFRD, LCFR, ACFD, MCFRS, PGFD, HCDFRS, DC FEMS) at the next fire inspection. A repeat violation can escalate to a full shutdown until compliance is restored. Insurance carriers also use NFPA 96 documentation to bind property and liability coverage — missing records can complicate or deny a claim after an incident.
Does the cadence change if I switch cooking methods?
Yes. The cadence is set by the cooking you currently do, not the cooking the system was originally sized for. If your menu has shifted toward more charbroil or wok work since the last assessment, your bucket may have moved up. Operators who change menus and stay on the old cadence are the most common Table 11.4 non-compliance case in the DMV.
Is the result emailed to me?
Optional. After the calculator returns your cadence, an inline form lets you request a one-page summary with the NFPA 96 citation. We don't add you to a marketing list — one email with the recommendation and a free assessment offer.
From recommendation to scheduled service
Lock in the cadence with a free assessment
Twenty minutes on-site with one of our NFPA 96-trained technicians confirms your actual grease load and locks in the right schedule — including the AHJ-specific documentation format your local fire marshal expects.