# After-cleaning certificates and stickers: keep the report

Ask for a clear record of the system, completed work, inaccessible parts and follow-up.

Updated 2026-11-10. Also on the [web page](https://greasecleaning.fyi/guides/after-cleaning-certificates-and-stickers).

A sticker is easy to see. A service report explains what happened. Ask for both the record the contractor provides and the documentation your fire authority expects. Do not accept a label as a substitute for the work record.

HoodFilters says contractor documentation may include photos, a service report, inaccessible areas and observed deficiencies. The source does not establish a universal sticker format. This guide therefore uses the following list as a purchasing checklist, not a claim about a nationwide legal form.

## Request a complete handover

Ask the contractor to identify the kitchen and the system serviced. Have it state when the work took place and who performed it. Ask for a list of hoods, duct sections and fans covered by the visit.

Match photos to named parts of the system. A close-up without a location is difficult to use later. Ask the contractor to explain what each image shows and whether any section remains uncleaned.

## Record exceptions clearly

Put inaccessible areas in a separate section. Ask why access was not possible, what remains to be done and which qualified person should evaluate it. Do not turn a cleaning report into an electrical or suppression repair approval.

Use a closeout note:

- Work accepted against the agreed scope: ____
- Missing or unclear documentation: ____
- Inaccessible areas: ____
- Observed defects referred for assessment: ____
- Person responsible for follow-up: ____
- Next inspection date confirmed with contractor: ____

## File related work separately

Keep hood cleaning, suppression service and grease trap pump-out records in the same maintenance folder, with separate sections. These services address different equipment. A completed cleaning report does not show that suppression equipment was tested or that wastewater was removed.

Before accepting a statement such as "fully compliant," ask what was inspected, against which requirements, and by whom. Confirm the evidence your authority needs. Preserve the full report when a sticker is replaced.

## Sources

- [HoodFilters, contractor selection, published October 4, 2026](https://blog.hoodfilters.com/2026/10/04/choose-right-hood-cleaning-company/). Fetched 2026-11-10.
- [HoodFilters, NFPA 96 summary](https://www.hoodfilters.com/nfpa/). Fetched 2026-11-10.

For information only. Confirm the current requirements with your local authority.

## Questions

### Does a cleaning sticker certify the whole kitchen?

Use the report to establish the scope. Confirm required documentation with the local authority.