WoolGuard help for your kitchen
Quick answers for managers and crews using WoolGuard filters, including what to show an inspector.
Customer helpsupport@woolguard.com
An inspector is asking about our filters
Show them this section. Everything they usually need is here.
Yes, WoolGuard filters meet code
NFPA 96 section 6.1.2 requires removable grease filters to be listed to UL 1046. WoolGuard filters are ETL listed by Intertek to UL 1046 and ULC S649, and ETL Sanitation listed to NSF/ANSI 2. The International Fire Code (607.3.1) and International Mechanical Code (507.2.8) point to the same UL 1046 listing.
| What they may ask for | Answer |
|---|---|
| Brand and model | WoolGuard – Naturalsorb, model NaturalPanelWF |
| UL 1046 listing | Intertek report 100747001CRT-001, control no. 4005691 |
| NSF/ANSI 2 sanitation | Intertek report 100855352COL-001 |
| Fire suppression impact | None. Intertek report 103561224-CLST001 found the filters don't delay detection or block suppressant. |
| Fire and mechanical codes | Intertek report 103561224-CLST002: meets 2018 IBC, IFC and IMC |
| Verify it themselves | intertek.com/directories, ETL Listed Mark Directory, search “Kiwibond International” |
Also have ready: your hood cleaning certificate and tag, your fire-suppression service tag, and your filter change log. If the inspector wants a copy of a listing document, email support@woolguard.com.
Changing a filter pad
- Let the section coolTurn off the equipment under that hood section first.
- Lift out the frameRemove the WoolGuard frame the same way as a standard baffle.
- Swap the padOpen the frame, bag the used pad, and seat a new pad flat so it covers the whole opening.
- Reinstall and log itPut the frame back, make sure every slot in the row is filled, and write the date on your change log.
Watch the how-to video
How often to change pads
Go by what's cooking under each section. When in doubt, change it: a loaded pad is the most common cause of problems.
| Hood section | Equipment below | Change pad |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy | Fryers, charbroilers, busy griddles | Twice a week |
| Moderate | Mixed cooking line | Weekly |
| Light | Ovens, steamers, low-volume stations | Every other week |
| Minimal | End caps, rarely used positions | Every four weeks |
| All frames | — | Wash about once a month |
Fix it yourself
Most issues come down to a pad that's due for a change or a slot that isn't sealed.
Grease dripping from a frame
Change the pad now and move that section to a more frequent schedule.
Smoke rolling out of the hood
Check for loaded pads and change them. Make sure no slot is empty or gapped. If smoke continues with fresh pads, call your hood service company to check the fan.
Pad looks dark after a few days
That's normal. The wool is doing its job. Change it when it's saturated or on schedule, whichever comes first.
Gap around a frame
Reseat the frame and make sure the pad lies flat. All exhaust air has to go through the filters (NFPA 96 6.2.3.3).
Frames getting greasy
Wash frames monthly and check that pads cover the full opening.
Running low on pads
Contact your local WoolGuard provider for replacement pads or frames.
Common questions
Do we still need professional hood cleaning?
Yes. NFPA 96 requires a certified company to inspect your exhaust system for grease on a schedule set by cooking volume, usually every six months for most restaurants and quarterly for high-volume cooking. WoolGuard keeps grease out of the system, so inspections typically find less buildup. Your hood cleaning company decides when cleaning is needed.
Will the filters affect our fire suppression system?
No. The detectors sit above the filters and the wool doesn’t change the air temperature they sense. Suppression nozzles sit above and below the filters, so the chemical reaches both sides at once.
Is wool safe to use over cooking equipment?
Yes. The filters are listed to UL 1046, the standard NFPA 96 requires for grease filters, and are sanitation listed to NSF/ANSI 2.
Does the wool reduce airflow?
Only nominally, and it was tested for this. Wool’s natural crimp keeps open space between fibers, and grease soaks into the fiber instead of coating the surface.
How much grease does it catch?
About 98% of airborne grease, compared with roughly 18–30% for standard baffle filters.
How do we throw away used pads?
Bag them and dispose of them with your regular waste, following local rules. The pad is 100% wool.
Can we run the frames through the dish machine?
You don’t need to after every change. The wool keeps frames much cleaner, so wash them about once a month.
What records should we keep on site?
Your filter change log, the current hood cleaning certificate and tag, and the fire-suppression service tag (serviced at least every six months).
Where does the wool come from?
Responsible Wool Standard certified farms that are Ecological Outcome Verified through the Savory Institute. The filters are made in Oak Harbor, Ohio.
Still need help?
Replacement pads and frames
Contact your local WoolGuard provider.
WoolGuard Hood Filters · woolguard.com · support@woolguard.com
Summarizes manufacturer, testing-laboratory and code documents. The authority having jurisdiction makes final code determinations. Listings apply to WoolGuard filters installed in listed Type I hoods with a listed fire-suppression system, per NFPA 96. © 2026 Kiwibond International Inc. t/a WoolGuard®.