What we have been up to lately

[Phil Ackland]

On March 12th, along with Bernard Besal and Don Stewart, I put on a training seminar in St. Augustine, (Jacksonville) Florida. The subject was "How to Inspect Kitchen Exhaust Systems."

There were 90 in attendance, primarily fire prevention officers, but also building officials, restaurant chain engineers and service providers. (see second picture below)

One of the main purposes of these training seminars is to emphasis the fact that "If you remove the fuel - the Fire goes out." Meaning that, if exhaust cleaners do their job right, the fire community does not have to worry about these systems so much. Think about it.

A large part of this Program was sponsored by Daryl Mirza of Commercial Services (past president of PWNA), as well as Bernard Besal and Jim Roberts, both from the Board of Directors for IKECA. This goes to show that when an issue as important as improving the image of this cleaning industry is involved, people can work together. (see first picture below)

We have had calls from all over North America to provide this one-day seminar to Fire Officials. We are making arrangements now for New York, New Mexico and Texas. Stay tuned.

 

[David Saulque]

Thanks Phil that was most informative.

One issue that I would like to see addressed is the center of most of our problems and that being the lack of accountability with many AHJ's. Not a week goes by when a issue of code violations, stupidity, and just incompetence with the AHJ's. Last week a AHJ told a new construction that the system must be cleaned before start up. Now this is a new system and they are requiring it to be cleaned-I saw the paperwork. New constructions with doors on the bottom. Fan's unable to be cleaned because of roof and design. WWe could go on and on about thing that THEY have signed off on.

All I am saying is that the AHJ's should be more accountable in the wording of NFPA 96, regarding construction and Fire Inspections.

David



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03-23-2003 12:20 AM



Phil Ackland
Member

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 15
Dave
I need you to hold that thought for about two weeks then I will be able to tell youa whole lot more about what I propose for this industry.
Bug me again at that time.
P.




Phil

It would seem that some AHJ's need to look at their image regarding code building violations along with other issues. The cleaner can't be the blame for all the problems as some would suggest.

David

 

[Phil Ackland]

Certificaiton of AHJ's

To finally answer Dave's questions of 3/23

I just returned from Alberta Canada where I held a two-day course for Fire Prevention Officers. We had 20 in attendance (the max for this sort of course - more on that later).

The course consists of one day of classroom where we go over many of the pitfalls of the installation, construction and maintenance of both the exhaust and suppression system.

The second day is site tours. We take them out and see actual systems -- they get to see reality! This one, in Alberta, was no different that all the others. They came away with a better understanding of the problems these systems have and some of the difficulties service providers encounter.

Considerable emphasis is placed on "If you remove the Fuel -- The Fire goes out." Guess who is "supposed" to do that?

We also reviewed my new Cleaners Certification Protocol with them and it is coming up "aces." It is what they want -- Proof that the cleaner has some training and qualification. This in turn means that they are supposed to know what needs to be done and are responsible.

At the end of the course we now administer a test. ( a nasty open book little job -- using my Inspectors Manual and the NFPA 96)

This course is now ready for Prime Time. We will be offering it where ever there is interest. There are more details and we can instruct any number (don't let the 20 minimum stop your interest).

Where we do offer it I am going to try to invite cleaners from that location to meet with these people. That way both sides can discuss the problems, open lines of communications and generally try to improve this service with more understanding.

On Certification
I will be posting a Certification Protocol on this site in a couple hours (when someone shows me how to post an attachment). Watch for it and please respond.

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Who are these Boys Phil?

On March 12th, along with Bernard Besal and Don Stewart, I put on a training seminar in St. Augustine, (Jacksonville) Florida. The subject was "How to Inspect Kitchen Exhaust Systems."

There were 90 in attendance, primarily fire prevention officers, but also building officials, restaurant chain engineers and service providers. (see second picture below)

One of the main purposes of these training seminars is to emphasis the fact that "If you remove the fuel - the Fire goes out." Meaning that, if exhaust cleaners do their job right, the fire community does not have to worry about these systems so much. Think about it.

A large part of this Program was sponsored by Daryl Mirza of Commercial Services (past president of PWNA), as well as Bernard Besal and Jim Roberts, both from the Board of Directors for IKECA. This goes to show that when an issue as important as improving the image of this cleaning industry is involved, people can work together. (see first picture below)

We have had calls from all over North America to provide this one-day seminar to Fire Officials. We are making arrangements now for New York, New Mexico and Texas. Stay tuned.