Mesh type filters Legal?

just inspected hoods the fryers have mesh type filters is that OK, for just the hood over it? another thing I noticed, no current tag on ansul system so took the liberty to call the fire ext company, O boy, come to find out they had a flash fire and recharged it a couple weeks ago but fogot to tag it! No wonder why I was called.

According to NFPA96 you are not to code if you use mesh filters.
Sell them some filters and make some money, plus the heat in the kitchen will drop.

David

Is the mesh filter thing grandfathered in anyway?
I have a account that has mesh filters, and one day I noticed that he had new ones ready to go in. I mentioned codes, NFPA, listed advantages vs. disadvantages, not so much to sell him anything, just to let him know.
His response was simply to say. he has always had mesh filters they were grandfathered in, oh and I got them for next to nothing.

NFPA96 3-1 Grease Removal Devices in Hoods

Listed grease filters, baffles,or other approved grease removal devices for use with comercial cooking equipment shall be provided. Listed grease filters shall be tested in accordance with UL 1046, Grease Filters for Exhaust Ducts. Mesh filters shall not be used.

3-2 Installation----

no mention of grandfather old filters-plus they don't work and you can't clean them without buying a new set of gloves.

David

Of course they are legal. They are just not up to code! The codes are recommendations that are adhered to in some areas and ignored in the next city over! There is no grandfathering according to "THE CODES." All depends of who enforces the codes.
ED

I stopped by our local jurisdictional authority - the fire dept (there is no fire marshal in Colo). They do not follow the NAFP96 suggestions and would not tag for mesh filters. On this point I agree with the Pissrat.
Richard

What is there to disagree with? No one said they were illegal-Thats all that I stated was the NFPA 96 regulations(out of the book). If one cleans to NFPA Standards why would you not agree that the mesh filters should not be used? That is all that I was saying-who thinks that mesh work as well? Come on. I have seen our fire dept. red tag mesh filter by the way. Why not change out the mesh if you can, so that the system works better and we as a group support NFPA


David

Mesh filters allow more airflow, when clean,and seem to get more grease out of the air stream than the baffle filters. The reason NFPA 96 does not allow the mesh filters is that flame goes right through them, allowing flame to continue up the plenum and duct. The baffle filters make the flame go through 2 direction changes of 180 degrees. I have found more insurance companies requiring baffle filters than any of the fire/building inspectors. I can sometimes sell a baffle filter because the mesh filters get so much grease build-up that they allow almost no air flow.

Remember, the NFPA codes are a model code. They are not law until accepted as such by the law making agency. Then they have to be enforced by someone. When speaking of the NFPA codes, there may be several versions of the same basic code. For instance, we speak of NFPA 96, when we should be more specific and refer to NFPA 96-1994 or NFPA 96-1998 or the current NFPA 96-2001. Most NFPA codes are reviewed every three years, and revised as decided on the the committee. However, the day you go to court, the opposing attorney will probably refer to the current NFPA code whether it has been adopted by your jurisdiction or not. Part of the reasoning is that you as an expert, are held to a higher standard than your customer.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

Smith Filters 800.447.4009 or smithfilter.com

This is where I get my filters. They will make odd sizes for you. they will sell one filter or more. Should you need a custom size, they will give an estimated time of manufacture and shipping. I have found the service to be very good, even going so far as to send an e-mail w/shipping information when the order is shipped. As some of you may know, I do not forget when I have not gotten the service I expect. Smith Filters has always given good service.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

I use Flame Gard out of LA. 1 800-334-3072.

David

I have purchased from Smith, and Flamegard and Aircon.
For my money Aircon are the best quality, solidly built and an affordable price. I only deal in stainless steel filters so my opinion is just based on stainless. Here on the east coast, purchasing from Flamegard, which is on the West coast, the freight cost makes them too costly. They are still an inferior filter though.

Przrat

P.S. Richard, YASAFAH

I have used aircon in the past, and agree those stainless filters are tough. But I found Aircon to have horrible customer service. I have had lost orders. Orders never arrived when promised. This happened over and over again, I finally had to change filter suppliers, which I didn't want to do. They had real solid handles for their filters, a T-lock. Those L shaped handles suck, they always come loose, they are screwed in to the filter and the screws never stay tight, I put rivets in them before I even give them to my customers. Also the locking part on the back is barely long enough to catch the bracket in the hood, the filter never seem solid in the hood, and even fall out occasionally

Unfortunately Brian is correct about the customer service. Those people working there must be the employees from hell. I have never had a lost shipment, buy delayed? YUP. More often than not they always take 2 weeks or more. I swear they must have to mine the materials. I try to keep basic sizes in stock here rather than ordeing when I need them.
Przrat

Aircon 800-833-3019 ask for Leon if you have the patience!