Accreditations and certificates

BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member

We’re a BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease. The Vent Hygiene Elite scheme is run by BESCA (Building Engineering Services Certification Authority), and BESA describes it as the UK’s largest independently audited scheme for kitchen extract cleaning. BESA now runs the scheme as the Vent Hygiene Register.

BESA writes the TR19® specification; it doesn’t certify cleaning firms. So be wary of any contractor who says they are “certified by BESA”. What matters is membership of an audited scheme, and a certificate for each clean.

Certificates for every clean

When we clean a kitchen extract system to TR19® Grease, the post-clean certificate is issued through the BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite portal. With it you get a photo report showing the system before and after, the grease readings where taken, any parts that couldn’t be reached, and the date the next clean is due. Keep them together: they’re what your insurer, fire officer or environmental health officer will ask for. More about TR19 certificates.

How to check a contractor

You can search the register yourself on BESA’s find a contractor page. Ask any contractor for their membership details, insurance and an example certificate and report before you book.

Our other accreditations

• CHAS: health and safety pre-qualification for contractors
• SafeContractor: contractor safety accreditation
• ISO 9001: quality management
• Fully insured: details supplied with every quote on request

TR19® and the law

TR19® isn’t law. It’s BESA’s specification and the benchmark insurers, fire officers and EHOs look to. The law is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which makes the responsible person assess and reduce fire risk. GOV.UK explains the responsible person’s duties.