Do I Need Access Hatches in My Kitchen Ductwork?
Why a quote mentions fitting access panels, what they cost, and why they make every future clean cheaper.
If your extract cleaning quote includes "fitting access panels", it is not padding. A duct that cannot be reached cannot be cleaned, and a clean that skips the unreachable sections cannot honestly be certificated. Here is what the hatches are for and why they are a one-off cost.
What TR19 expects
TR19 is clear that the whole extract system must be cleanable, and that access should be provided at intervals along the duct, at changes of direction, and either side of the fan. Older kitchens and long runs through ceiling voids were often installed with none at all. The first clean on a system like that is where the hatches get fitted.
What a hatch is
A cut section of duct with a sealed, grease-tight, removable panel — usually stainless or galvanised — sized so the section either side can be cleaned by hand or with rotary equipment. They are fitted during the clean, not as a separate job, and the duct is not weakened by them when done properly.
What they cost, and why once
Typical UK contractor pricing is £60–£150 per hatch, depending on duct size and where it is. A long run might need three or four. That is a one-off: on every later clean the provider opens the panels rather than cutting in, which is why the recurring price on a system with good access is lower than the first clean. Compare recurring quotes, not first-visit quotes.
Whose cost is it?
In a leased kitchen, hatches are sometimes treated as an improvement to the landlord's building rather than tenant maintenance. It is worth asking in writing — see landlord or tenant. Either way, the fire risk assessor and the insurer will want the duct cleaned in full, and that means access.
The alternative is not cleaning it
A "clean" that reaches a metre either side of the canopy and stops is what a cheap quote usually means. The grease that starts a duct fire is in the middle of the run. Ask any quote whether it covers the full run to the discharge point and what access it assumes. We arrange quotes that do — request a free quote.
Related: Ductwork cleaning · What a clean costs · How long it takes
Frequently Asked Questions
Are access panels a legal requirement?
Not by statute, but TR19 — the standard insurers and assessors judge against — requires the system to be cleanable in full, which in practice means access along the run. A certificate covering an unreachable duct is not worth having.
How much does an access hatch cost?
Typical UK pricing is £60–£150 per hatch fitted during the clean. It is a one-off; later cleans reuse them.
Can the hatches be fitted on a separate visit?
They are normally fitted during the first clean, because that is when the provider can see exactly where the duct needs opening.
Get a Free Swansea Kitchen Extract Cleaning Quote
Send us your kitchen details and we'll arrange a tailored, no-obligation quote — usually the same day.