The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word BEDSTEADS
B
E
D
S
T
E
A
D
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "frame for kippers" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case frame for kippers = bedsteads.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BEDSTEADS mean?
BEDSTEADS noun- The framework that supports a bed.