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IKECA Invades Fort Lauderdale
1999 Annual Meeting and Fun in the Sun

Plans for the 1999 IKECA Annual Meeting, March 25–27, have taken shape and gained momentum. The beautiful Ramada Plaza Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale is guaranteed to furnish a stunning setting. The scheduled program will prove to be one of the most enlightening and educational ever presented, keeping attendees abreast of rapid industry changes that are already affecting our businesses.

The conference will kick-off on Thursday, March 25, with the board of director’s meeting, followed by IKECA’s semiannual certification exam. As fire-safety consciousness spreads throughout the restaurant and food service industries and the importance of keeping kitchen exhaust systems clean and safe becomes well known, this certification becomes increasingly meaningful. The opening reception, on Thursday evening, will provide attendees with their first chance to gather information from and meet with industry peers.

After Friday morning’s continental breakfast, this year’s keynote speaker, Nelson Kraus, will captivate members with his tailor-made presentation "Small Business Management in the 21^st Century." Not to be outdone, district retirement planning manager and benefits specialist for Merrill Lynch, Susan Weeks, will follow with a financial planning seminar. Don’t miss this discussion—it is pertinent to all business owners and operators.

IKECA shows no signs of slowing down on Saturday, beginning with a roundtable discussion of central industry issues. An NFPA meeting will then give voice to the country’s leading fire prevention association, and they have a great deal to say about our industry. Finally, IKECA will wrap up its 1999 annual meeting with a spirited evening banquet.

As always, the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association has scheduled a line-up of invigorating seminars, and we have supplemented them with first-rate social gatherings and entertainment options. You are invited to explore what’s new and critical at this year’s IKECA 1999 Annual Meeting. Hope to see you there!

Director's Forum

The board of directors of the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaners Association would like to take this opportunity to extend sincere thanks to Fred Kahn of Guardian Power Cleaning. During the past two years in which he has served as IKECA president, he has assisted the organization in ways many of us will never appreciate; one major benefit is the respect and credibility he commands for our name in the fire prevention community. During his tenure, the organization continued to mature and gain strength. Fred assisted in the development of a strong certification program and an ever-growing relationship with the fire prevention community. The IKECA board thanks Fred and wishes him well. We are confident he will continue to support the organization and assist with his leadership abilities and credibility in the industry.

Executive Director’s Report
By Ronen Aharoni

I am excited to begin serving as IKECA’s executive director by inviting you to attend the 1999 annual meeting of the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association, which will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March 25–27. The event will be held at the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort.

This year’s meeting promises to address the important industry issues currently facing IKECA members, and it will provide beneficial cutting-edge information. The meeting’s keynote speaker, Nelson Kraus, will discuss small business management in the 21^st century. He will focus on the current and future needs of your business, the importance of getting the right people on your side, and dealing with the negative aspects of competition. Other informative sessions include financial planning with representatives from Merryl Lynch and a roundtable discussion of industry issues.

The Florida setting is an ideal one in which our members can exchange ideas and opinions. In addition to the informative business sessions, the meeting also includes excellent social activities and entertainment options for you and your family, so don’t delay in signing up. Contact IKECA headquarters at (312) 923-8500 to reserve a place for yourself or if you have any questions or concerns.

The majority of IKECA membership is certified. Those who are not, however, need to take the exam by January, 2000. The test is being given at this year’s convention—now is as good a time as any to get yourself or your employee certified.

I would like to extend thanks and gratitude on behalf of the membership and board of directors to Fred Kahn, IKECA President, for his great service to the organization and for helping to make IKECA the vibrant organization it is today.

IKECA has great potential and promise. I look forward to working with and being of assistance to you, the member, and to the organization as a whole. Together we can look forward to a productive and fulfilling future.

Is Grease Contamination Eating Into Your Clients’ Profits?
With increasing emphasis on local/federal environmental and 
safety issues, grease contamination can no longer be ignored.
By Joseph Baribeau

If you have not heard of the term grease contamination, it’s about time you did. Grease contamination is a process that can cost your customers thousands of dollars. What is it? Every time a cook flips a burger, the grease that is generated from cooking travels through the hood exhaust to the systems’ exhaust fan/ventilator, which is typically located on a rooftop. Exhaust fans were designed to pull the grease vapor out of the kitchen and collect the grease generated. You would think this is where the greasy liquid stops—unfortunately it isn’t. Like water, grease finds its way through the smallest openings. It is not uncommon to find grease around the base of an exhaust fan, for example. This is called grease contamination, and most restaurants have experienced this problem. Roofing experts agree that when grease comes in contact with the surface of a roof, it causes damage. The roof will wrinkle, blister, crack, and eventually disintegrate. Grease also dissolves asphalt, causes roof leaks by destroying the membrane of roofs, causes internal dry rot, and creates other costly problems.

Premature roof repairs can cost restaurant owners thousands of dollars. One of the most common contributing factors is a fan’s poorly designed grease catch box, which is found on most exhaust fans/ventilators directly under the grease drain. This is what catches the continual flow of grease between cleanings. These boxes are usually included with exhaust installation. Unfortunately, most grease boxes are not designed to hold the volume of liquid grease most commercial kitchens generate between regular scheduled cleanings. Also, when these boxes fill up with rainwater, the water forces the grease to overflow, causing grease spillage onto the roof’s surface. This is how grease contamination and rooftop grease damage begins.

To prevent this damage from happening, it is important to provide a good preventive maintenance program that best suits your customers' needs. The program should include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Make sure hoods, grease filters, entire ductwork, and exhaust fans are being cleaned regularly.
• Fan bearings should be lubricated and belts inspected and replaced as needed.
• Make sure your customers understand your cleaning process. Provide them with a copy of your Standard Work Practice. Always have your customers inspect your work for final approval.
• Offer your customers before and after photos of the work being done.
• Keep your customers on schedule with regular cleaning/service.
• Be certain your cleaning is in compliance with NFPA Codes such as Code 96.
• Offer to remove any excess grease from around the outside and base of exhaust fans, and remove any grease spillage from the exterior of the fan. Be cautious of cleaning these areas if a roof surface is saturated with grease when using high pressure washing methods.
• Immediately recommend removing any obsolete grease containment systems such as old style grease boxes, plastic buckets, sandboxes, and other contraptions that may be contributing to grease contamination.
• Most importantly, offer to replace the above with a proper grease absorbent pan system that is specifically designed to catch and absorb grease. Make sure this equipment accommodates replacement filters that can easily be changed. In addition, the filters should be 100% waterproof.
• For existing contamination problems, always refer your customers to a reliable roofing expert or contractor. Most companies will offer free inspections and good advice.

Your customers need to be made aware of the dangers involved in not following proper maintenance. The following conditions have negative repercussions if not identified and corrected immediately: voided roofing warranties, dangerous working conditions, fire hazards, health issues, breaking fire code, breaching landlord/rental and lease agreements.

Your customers need to be in compliance with state and federal requirements and provide a clean and safe work place for their employees, customers, vendors, and the environment. Always remind your customers that the cost for corrective action is minimal compared to the costs associated with ignoring the problem. Preventative maintenance should be a significant part of their day to day operation.

For questions, comments, or additional information regarding solutions to grease contamination, you may contact Joseph Baribeau, president and CEO of Coastal Enviro-Solutions, Inc. at 800-300-6661, or e-mail cesi@netwiz.net."IKECA members are entitled to free consultation!"

Delco Sets New Standard in Pressure Washing Equipment

Delco Cleaning Systems of Fort Worth has set a new standard in pressure washing equipment with introduction of the Model RK-21 Hot High Pressure Washer. Designed for years of hassle-free performance, the RK-21 combines outstanding components and superior manufacturing into one versatile unit.

The heart of the RK-21 is a top-of-the-line 16hp electric-start Vanguard Briggs & Stratton engine with an 11-gallon gasoline fuel tank. A 12-volt Beckett burner system produces 200-degree water and eliminates the need for a 120-volt generator. Since their introduction into the field ten years ago, the Beckett burner system has proven to be the industry’s most reliable.

Also available from Delco is the RK-22 Gasoline Engine Hot High Pressure Washer. With a 18hp electric start Vanguard Briggs & Stratton gasoline engine and a 120 volt, 16.7 amp diesel fired Wayne Burner, the RK-22 is a heavy duty pressure washer guaranteed to deliver satisfaction. The belt driven General model TS-2021 pump features a triplex ceramic plunger. The RK-22 includes the same convenient accessories as the RK-21.

Delco can be contacted toll free at 1-800-433-2113 or by e-mail at delco@dcs1.com. Visit them on the World Wide Web at http://www.dcs1.com.

Welcome New Members!

Acme American Environmental Co., Inc.
Brooklyn, New York

Acme Steam Cleaning
Aurora, Colorado

Orlando Fire Equipment Company
Orlando, Florida

Rite-Way Incorporated
Brice, Ohio

Who Is the Ultimate Authority?
By R.T. Leicht

The phrase "authority having jurisdiction" is, many times, misapplied. Too often, the term is believed to mean only the fire marshal or fire code official. And indeed, he is an authority having a specific jurisdiction. However, there are other authorities in the industry having a different jurisdiction. Their demands too need to be satisfied.

There are certainly cases where the demands by these varying authorities differ. That is not to say that they contradict each other. For instance, it is not a contradiction when the insurance company says that an extinguishing system needs to be serviced every four months and the fire official says it only needs to be serviced every six months. It is just that the insurance company is being more stringent. Their jurisdiction isn’t necessarily public safety . . .but underwriting profitability. Maybe their actuaries have proven that in small, family owned, non-franchised restaurants, malfunction of the extinguishing system has been noted as a contributing cause of many of their losses.

So how does the restaurant owner deal with this dilemma? The obvious solution is to service the extinguishing system every four months. By so doing, both authorities will be satisfied. But that is not the only alternative. Remember, the owner too is an AHJ; it’s just that his authority is limited. But his jurisdiction is dominant. The owner can certainly decide to have his insurance written by another insurance company. Or he can choose to discontinue the operation that requires the extinguishing system.

In contrast, what constitutes a contradiction would be where one authority requires a specific item or action and a different AHJ prohibits the specific item or action. For instance, if one requires that activation of a Carbon Dioxide extinguishing system automatically shuts-down the exhaust fan and the other one requires it continue to run.

Even the contractor/vendor can be considered an AHJ. He certainly has the authority to decide which "jobs" he chooses to NOT be involved in. Additionally, within his/her company’s limited scope (jurisdiction), they can impose requirements that are not otherwise required. For instance, an agreement may specify that ABC Company will service the restaurant owner’s equipment provided it is done at least every six months. This is usually noted in a contract. By so specifying, the ABC Company is, in essence, dictating a requirement. One specific case is where the vendor specifies a service frequency that is more stringent than other AHJs because his/her legal consultants recommend it as a means of reducing liability against the vendor. It may have little to do with better fire protection.

The following text appears in the Appendix of every NFPA Standard and Code:

"The phrase ‘authority having jurisdiction’ is used in NFPA documents in a broad manner, since jurisdictions and approval agencies vary, as do their responsibilities. Where public safety is primary, the authority having jurisdiction may be a federal, state, local, or other regional department or individual such as a fire chief; fire marshal; chief of fire prevention bureau, labor department, or health departments; building official; electrical inspector; or others having statutory authority. For insurance purposes, an insurance bureau, inspection department, rating bureau, or other insurance company representative may be the authority having jurisdiction. In many circumstances, the property owner or his or her designated agent assumes the role of the authority having jurisdiction; at government installations, the commanding officer or departmental official may be the authority having jurisdiction."

R.T. Leicht is the Senior Fire Protection Specialist in Delaware’s State Fire Marshal’s Office. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Protection and a Master’s in Public Safety. He serves as a Director on the Executive Board of the Fire Marshals Association of North America and is also involved with NFPA on many levels including a Principal on numerous Technical Committees.

Put it in the Forum!

New Management
IKECA signs up with Raybourn Group International

Effective January 1, 1999, IKECA retained the services of Raybourn Group International, a multi-association management company, to oversee the day-to-day activities of our association. These include, but are certainly not limited to, membership marketing and administration, meeting and conference planning and execution, publishing and communication, strategic planning, program and service development, and member–industry relations. Additionally, Raybourn will assist IKECA in the ongoing monitoring and analysis of current industry trends as well as regulatory compliance and legislative issues.

IKECA’s management team, based in Chicago, has full-time professionals on the IKECA staff with significant experience in association management. Their pledge to us is to constantly strive to provide members with the information and assistance necessary to make the right business decisions.

Anyone wishing to contact IKECA’s management team with questions or comments is encouraged to do so.

International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association, 12339 Carroll Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852  
 Phone: (301) 230-0099  •  FAX: (301) 231-4871  •  E-mail: info@ikeca.org

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