Sorry to be late in getting back to this -- Been busy defending exhaust cleaners who have had fires. Fire investigation and training AHJ's are my primary focus now.
But my heart will always be with you exhaust cleaners. To that end I reply, in part, to this thread.
Tim Shaw said(in part) -- I'd be happy to banter semantics with you. But I'd rather just put the facts out there and stop the chatter. If you think that you or your partners do a better job or have a better value - that's your opinion. I think that anyone that looks at this list will see the difference.
On the subject of "semantic bantering." The primary bottom lines to all this nonsense are money and control. IKECA wants both.
PAT believes that Training and Certification are linked. We want to provide both the cleaner and their customer with these values so they have a well-rounded, consistent package.
We do this at a cost that is considerably less than IKECA's certification only philosophy. That Delco comparison chart illustrated that. Is it incorrect? If so where?
PAT is not dictating to the industry. Rather we recognize the value that all parties play (including IKECA) in the overall improvement of the field.
At your St. Louis convention last year, Phil Ackland offered his full training, certification programs and more importantly his personal cooperation to the IKECA board for a pittance in compensation. I did this in the belief that together we could make this field better (I still do). Your board turned down this opportunity, in spite of the fact that it was negotiated by one of them. Since then there continues to be a disparaging undercurrent of the values that Phil Ackland's training and certification provides.
Now, others have willingly and generously offered to assist in keeping the "Phil Ackland Cleaning" values alive through "PAT." Someone needed to take over Phil Ackland's "Cleaning" side of things. PAT is doing what IKECA turned down.
As stated at the outset of this note, my focus is now consulting on fire investigations and training AHJ's.
Question -- If a cleaner has a fire, whose side you want Ackland on?
Beyond consulting on fires, Phil Ackland Training Seminars now has 9 highly qualified and experienced Fire Inspectors and Fire Investigators trained to deliver our Inspection and our Fire Investigation seminars. These AHJ's are spreading the word, in part of the importance of removing the fuel. Another benefit Phil Ackland is trying to provide your industry.
PAT is making the effort to continue the values and improvement to the exhaust cleaning industry that Phil Ackland was working on long before he creating IKECA.
Those are facts.