Problem figured out

cleanhoods

cleanhoods

banned
I figured out a problem.As of today and in the past our problems as KEC is the hood installers for one.Some are just dont have the knowledge that the systems they install needs to be washed.Just a few weeks ago i met with a contracter who is building this restaurant for my customer i went in to check this sytem and come to find out the system was passed i look above the hood this system will need 4 access panels to clean.Why isnt this being enforced?
Also another issue since KEC is just the invisible industry,why do the fire suppression companys back up systems that are not bein washed properly?Shouldnt they tag the system non complient?I find more systems around that is not cleaned at all in the duct areas then ever now.The inspectors over look it and KEC invoices never see there eyes,but the fire suppression people see the mess but dont report and back the system up.Just makes no sence to me.
Marko
 
You never know what the installer is thinking, maybe he does not know how it is cleaned or if it is supposed to be cleaned.

Maybe time to make up a letter with pictures or better a dedicated webpage or a few to show the problems with it being built wrong or without having the access panels so it can be cleaned later.

Talking to the contractor building the system might be a waste of time because if he does not know or maybe the customer did not want to pay for the access panels?

Talking to the restaurant owner might be a waste of time because he might not know about all that stuff or he might and just act dumb when talking to him about it and blame it on the installer for not telling him about it so you don't know who to blame.

Maybe have a meeting with both of them at the same time to discuss this would put it all on the table and then the truth might come out and explain how if there is a fire because of the system not being cleaned properly because there was no access because it was not built right because the owner did not want to spend the money.....maybe the insurance company won't want to pay the claim because of all the above?

Maybe try talking to them and see what happens, maybe they really did not know and maybe they might want to do the right thing? You never know.

An information site or handouts explaining this might help them understand how serious it is and how the system will need to be cleaned regularly and the reason it should have the access panels. Show some systems without the access panels and talk how that part of the system will not get cleaned and is a serious fire hazard.

Maybe give them a sheet or business card with the brief info to get them to your site for more info to read about it.
 
I have done that and this customer of mine(old customer of 12 years good people) introduced me to the contractor which i showed the problem to the contractor and gave him the nfpa code for the problem which he called the sub that installed the system which at first he was acting like it was fine then the contractor mentioned the code and talking to the inspector about the code and the access panels are installed.The point is i caught this problem before it was a problem, but there are many restaurants now that has this issue new and old and will be basically not cleaned properly and simpley ignored until a someone who has a clue is there.Now this is where the second question comes into play.
The fire suppresion companys are there regardless and see(if they are doing the systems right there selves) that these systems are looking rough why are they backing the system up and allowing it to pass the fire protection?
Marko:big_boss:
 
Sounds like everyone is passing the buck and nobody wants to take responsibility of the situation.

Wish I had a good answer for you, maybe contact the insurance industry like the adjusters or higher up and talk to them about this or maybe go to the news station and talk to them about it and how this is a serious problem that is being overlooked, maybe it might be newsworthy, especially if there has been a restaurant fire there in the past related to the cleaning of the vents.

Here a couple of the news stations have a segment called "kitchen cops" where they get the weekly reports from the Health Department of the weekly inspections of the local restaurants to show them on tv and what the ratings were along with the problems. It is some bad advertising for the restaurants if they are found with problems like roaches, rats/droppings, etc....

Maybe they could do something like that but with the firemarshals, maybe they can ride along with them for their inspections to see how they are done and see if he places are up to code or if the firemarshals are even doing the inspections.
Show the news people the code and what is supposed to be there and what to look for, maybe it might be interesting to them?

There might be nothing you can do but keep on informing the owners of the substandard situation and start installing the access panels for a good fee so the systems can be cleaned properly.

It is a shame that things are like this where nobody wants to take responsibility and make sure that things are done right.
 
Yes i have called out the fire marshall in this area 30 min. after they inspected,they had to go back and reinspect but they still had no clue of how i found the things i found cause it is still the same.I have talked to the news but am nervous of mentioning my company name.Have a big story and proof of the neglect but still thinking if i want to go through news that could be damaging maybe.That is the request they was asking me to show my self cant be behind the scenes.What is your opinion of this?Should i go through with it and just let God decide my fate?Ya we have a program that does the same.Man if they seen the things i see at night it is nothing compared to the day.
Marko
 
That is a hard choice, if you do you will be stepping on a lot of toes and probably make a lot of enemies and possibly get shut-out of work if people start bad-talking you, you never know.

If you choose to be quiet, there could be fires and it would be on your mind a lot that you could have said or done something that might have helped or might not have.

Maybe get pictures and video to keep records for yourself and have a sheet to have the manager sign off on before you do any work explaining that you will have to install the access panels to do the job right and will not do the job the cheap/budget way.

This way they are giving you permission to install the access panels so you can do the job the right way and all will be good. If they question you installing the access panels you can show them the pictures and/or video of how filthy the ducts are. You can explain how too many installers are not making the system to where it can be cleaned properly and you have talked to many different installers but they don't change how they do things.
 
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