What is the primary responsibility of the building owner regarding common exhaust ducts?

The primary responsibility of the building owner regarding common exhaust ducts is to ensure their protection. This involves implementing measures to safeguard these ducts from accumulation of flammable substances, fire hazards, and ensuring that they function safely and effectively. Common exhaust ducts play a crucial role in the overall fire safety and ventilation systems within a building, and safeguarding them helps to prevent potential fire hazards that could arise from improper maintenance or careless operation by tenants.

While installation of new ducts and maintenance of hoods are important aspects of overall building management, they do not specifically address the unique responsibility surrounding the common exhaust ducts. Inspection of tenant equipment is also significant but falls under the purview of ensuring that each tenant complies with safety standards, rather than the specific obligation of protecting shared infrastructure like common exhaust ducts. Hence, protecting these ducts directly supports the safety and well-being of all building occupants.