Dear Stan,
Maybe not in Alberta, but Phil is working on all of the Provinces across your great country.
Ontario has set a Dec 31 deadline for implementation of Phil's certification.
I agree 100% that the NFPA 96 standard states that a person be "properly trained, qualified, and certified" it doesn't state that a person must be properly trained, qualified and "Phil Ackland" certified."
You are more than welcome to attend our course. Our course doesn't focus on sitting around and talking about hood cleaning, looking at pictures or videos. All of our training is done one on one, live in the field, at actual restaurants, real time training. Which translates, you will be up all day, and all night for about 5 days. We sch. periods of rest so our students don't fall over from sleep deprivation.
In order to implement the NFPA standard in your jurisdiction, you must enforce the entire code in total.
That is to require that someone must be properly trained, qualified and certified, also requires that you require hinge kits, flexible electrical wiring, 18" stacks, 16 guage carbon steel, straight vertical ductwork, access panels.
Basically, just to inforce "certification" without enforcing that the restaurants grease exhaust systems also must follow the NFPA 96 codes, is going to result in frustration.
The existing grease exhaust system has been designed, approved, installed, and inspected long before the lowly greaser comes along with the responsibility to clean a system that was never designed to be cleaned.
I think just as much focus on designing, installing, and approving a NFPA 96 grease exhaust system should take place.
Then have a system in place so that as systems are identified as "inaccessible" and have them fixed so that they are up to the standards is also extrememly important.
To place blaim on a hood cleaner for not being "certified" is the easy road to take.\
You as the AHJ, have the authority to accept any person's work as long as it meets the standards. You decide if the person is 'acceptable' to you.
I applaude you taking steps to require your hood cleaners step up to the plate and assure that they are doing what it takes to clean hoods in your district.
If I can be of assistance, feel free to email me or call me anytime.
Thanks,
Russell Clark