Are we in the fire prevention business

Are exhaust cleaners in the fire prevention business?

  • Yes

    Votes: 22 57.9%

  • No

    Votes: 16 42.1%
  • Total voters
    38
The Master said, (the good man) does not grieve that other people do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs.
"Confucious"
 
Interesting, I suppose the fuel thing could reduce damage. so poorly cleaned ducts could be liable for more damage. (but not responsible for starting)
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Ron states not responsible for starting(prevention)

THEN--
its funny, cleaners think they are not in prevention? WOW
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THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SAY HMMMMM!!
 
I put it in signature Ron.
Is there a way to change user name??
 
RJ,
I am always calm.
 
We can take the gloves off if you want. We are in an odd situation in that we are in the same city and you are my toughest competitor. You probably do 10 times the amount of work we do and the name we run in to when we are trying to get new business is yours at least 70% of the time. I think I have been very discreet in my postings and very careful not to name names, the only guys that know what I am talking about sometimes are you and me. Its up to you.
 
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My gloves are off, Bryan Exhaust rules!! I wish I worked for them.
 
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As the old saying goes you get what you pay for. I think that most people understand that.


My gloves, however, are always on while I use my college degree in photography to take all those photos of the grease.
 
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Ok Grant/ Matt this is starting to get out of hand, don't make me come over there. LOL Although a trip to the west coast would be nice. I have not seen above freezing temps in two weeks.
Seriously this is a good thread that will only fall by the way side if you two go at it.

The question was, are we in fire prevention? I think we only can reduce the risk or severity, not eliminate them. The funny thing is you can do everything right, clean to bare metal, prove with pictures, document deficiencies with customer signatures and still get sued for reason stated earlier. Everybody who had anything to do with the restaurant gets sued
 
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Bryan said a mouthful. I would add one thing further which I have learned in this business - there is no friendship nor loyalty accorded the lowly flue cleaner. Your most loyal client will viscerate you in court and leave you a crumpled heap.

I agree with Matt about high-school dropouts not being disadvantaged. I was kicked out of his local high school (Burbank High) at age 15, and look at me now! Today everyone I encounter is either a fawning admirer or a jealous competitor!

Richard
 
15 votes and 12 different people replied, what gives? Did someone vote more than once or is someone lurking and not saying anything?
 
Go Bulldogs!! You should see that place now, you wouldn't recognize it. They have done some amazing renovations there in the last couple of years.

Bryan, the point I was trying to prove before I was so rudely interrupted was that if we just CLEANED exhaust systems we wouldnt have to worry about the fire protection side of it. It just seems to me that if we were really in the fire prevention business that the powers that be would already be regulating us. I think it would behoove all of us to get as far away from regulation as possible, and saying that we are in the fire prevention business will only speed up the regulation of our business. Anybody that I have heard of that is now regulated who used to be in a similar situation that we are in, i.e. NOT regulated has said to avoid it at any cost.

I am not saying don't get certified, just keep it out of the hands of the government. A worst case scenario would be to have a guy like Grant who is a collge graduate with a degree in fire safety or whatever it is become the head of whatever branch we become governed by. This guy might say "I am a college graduate with a degree in fire safety, all kitchen exhaust cleaning companies should be run by guys with a degree in fire safety" That is obviously extreem but it could even be as little as having to have a contractors license to clean grease. If it was anything like what the fire suppression guys have to go through, I can tell you that it will be a royal pain in the ass. My fire supression guy was in a class all day today and will be there all day tomorrow at about $200 a day. If I have to do that every other month I might just give it all up.
 
It is just incredible to think that someone who looks like Matt (see his pic - looks like a redneck with a 2-digit IQ) can be so perceptive! Take it from one who really knows - he is absolutely correct in respect to 'regulation'. For more than 30 years I was licensed in a highly regulated profession. Every renewal required certification of completion of 24 c.u. hours and countless clinics, seminars, etc. One can absorb only so much - virtually everyone becomes educated way above his intelligence. If 'licensing' and/or 'certification' were to become the norm I would then hang up my scraper. When certification is demanded of janitors and window-washers we then need to beware - feasibly it could then reach down even to the lowly greaser. I would encourage every greaser to unite in resisting the absurd attempts at licensing and/or certification (to scrape grease!). It is insanity driven by avarice.

Matt, I do intend to visit Burbank High this summer. I havn't seen it since about 1955. Also John Muir - I attended when first built. Believe this or not - my friends from about 1951 are still my friends and they still live there!

Richard
 
RJTravel said:
It is just incredible to think that someone who looks like Matt (see his pic - looks like a redneck with a 2-digit IQ) can be so perceptive! Take it from one who really knows - he is absolutely correct in respect to 'regulation'. For more than 30 years I was licensed in a highly regulated profession. Every renewal required certification of completion of 24 c.u. hours and countless clinics, seminars, etc. One can absorb only so much - virtually everyone becomes educated way above his intelligence. If 'licensing' and/or 'certification' were to become the norm I would then hang up my scraper. When certification is demanded of janitors and window-washers we then need to beware - feasibly it could then reach down even to the lowly greaser. I would encourage every greaser to unite in resisting the absurd attempts at licensing and/or certification (to scrape grease!). It is insanity driven by avarice.

Matt, I do intend to visit Burbank High this summer. I havn't seen it since about 1955. Also John Muir - I attended when first built. Believe this or not - my friends from about 1951 are still my friends and they still live there!

Richard
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That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me :D No more school for me either man. I think I would be in the same boat as you or have to hire some guy to go for me. There is no way my old man would leave that warm Florida sunshine to go to school either.

Give me a call when you get to town, I know a lot of good taco places (not in Burbank of course) The first one is on me.
 
RJTravel said:
Also John Muir - I attended when first built.
Richard
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If you intend to visit John Muir you may find that the neighborhood has changed a little.
In 1955 the school was probably still segregated

OK I forgot to vote - I'll vote.
 
Matt,
You are not far from where I grew up (in the 40s) on about Grinnell and 5th. I intend to hold you in to that invitation.

Chris,
It is doubtful that you have any idea of the 'segregation' that existed then. Very few people know the extent. I hope no one reading this will be offended, but this is history - up until the late 50s Burbank had 'blue laws' which prohibited any 'colored' (the term then) in the city limits. They could drive through during the day but would be arrested after 5pm. I'm not making this up. Look at any John Muir 'Highlander' or other school yearbook pics. All white. It is a fact.

p.s. I wasn't forced into this 'boat' - I can abandon ship any time I want. I happen to LIKE this work! Keeps my Spanish sharp and I get all the tacos I can eat!

Richard
 
This work will always be around and some people out to raise the bar on this industry might give us more than they gambled for.yearly classes etc.. taking more profit out of our pockets.Fires will definetly be minimized by the service we provide if done properly,but preventing a fire I just don't understand what we have to do with.I am just a little guy compared to alot of you out there,but were just removing grease guys thats all.
 
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