Why Regular Duct Inspections Matter: The Multibot Footage That Will Make You Itch

We recently conducted a post-fire inspection at a restaurant following a kitchen exhaust ignition. While the fire itself was a wake-up call, what we uncovered outside the fire zone was just as alarming.

When our team deployed Multibot to inspect the unaffected, standard AC ductwork, we found a heavily degraded, completely neglected system. The date of its last inspection or clean? Totally unknown.

Check out the video below to see what Multibot captured—a stark look at how quickly degraded internal materials can compromise a building's air quality.

Inside the Duct: Static and Airborne Respiratory Irritants

The camera didn't lie. The inspection revealed a hazardous buildup of airborne dust, torn foil, and heavily degraded fibreglass insulation.

When fibreglass breaks down inside your ventilation, those tiny glass particles enter the airflow. If you’ve ever handled insulation, you know exactly how it digs into your skin and makes you itch. You absolutely do not want those particles in your lungs. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) like this can:

The Hidden Risks of Degraded Insulation

It’s not just an air quality issue; it's a structural one. When internal insulation is damaged or missing, warm air hits the bare, cold metallic surfaces of the duct.

• Condensation & Leaks: This temperature differential causes the ducts to "sweat," leading to moisture dripping through ceilings.
• Corrosion: Persistent moisture causes rust and corrosion on expensive HVAC hardware, shortening the system's lifespan.
• The Ultimate Threat: As we saw at this very site, neglected systems (especially kitchen exhausts caked in grease) are prime targets for catastrophic grease fires.

Protect Your Property (And Insurance)

Ignoring your ductwork is a massive liability. If the worst happens, insurance companies require hard evidence of scheduled maintenance. Without proper kitchen exhaust cleaning certificates and detailed duct cleaning reports, a claim could be compromised.

Compliance Tip: This video is a critical reminder to have your commercial HVAC systems inspected regularly in strict accordance with AS3666 standards.

The Solution

You don't have to replace the entire system if you catch the damage early. Depending on what Multibot finds, remediation typically involves:

1. Methodical Cleaning: Removing decades of dust and debris safely.
2. Fibreglass Replacement: Swapping out degraded material before it becomes airborne. See Example 
3. Sealing and Encapsulation: Coating and sealing older insulation to lock particles down and restore thermal efficiency. See Example

Don't wait for a fire or a spike in irritated customers to look inside your vents.