\nDoes The Grease Accumulated In The Trap Pose Fire Risks?<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n
The most important thing with the grease control device is to keep it in topnotch health, by following the recommended servicing schedule.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t do this, the grease piles up, and it starts to solidify. That is not all, because microbes break it down and the result is fumes that have a rotten egg smell. Grease is a flammable substance, so all it would take is a simple mistake, and if a spark finds its way into it, it lights up.<\/p>\n
Again, if a fire breaks out in the restaurant kitchen, it can easily spread to the grease trap, especially if you have installed an indoor one. This would make the kitchen fire even harder to control, and from the grease interceptor, it could spread to other places easily.<\/p>\n
According to the American Red Cross Southern California Region<\/u><\/a>, cooking causes most of the household fires in the US. Oven grease catches fire easily, and leaving the food you are cooking unattended exposes you to a big risk of fire.<\/p>\n
The same is also true of restaurant fires. They start in the kitchen, and they can spread easily if not contained fast. The main causes of commercial kitchen fires include a poorly maintained grease trap<\/u><\/a>, cooking grease catching fire, and electrical problems.<\/p>\n
If a grease fire breaks out in the kitchen, it can be hard to contain. It can be many times harder to control if it spreads to the indoor grease trap installed under the kitchen counter.<\/p>\n
The grease is liquid, so it splashes and spreads the fire easily. In the kitchen, there are many flammable things. For instance, there is the used cooking oil<\/u><\/a>, which is waiting to cool down so that it can be transferred to storage bins. This too can catch fire easily and spread it fast.<\/p>\n
Please note that even the outdoor grease traps can catch fire easily. Although OSHA<\/u><\/a>\u00a0does not list fire as one of the hazards that grease traps pose, this does not mean that it can\u2019t happen. Therefore, as you worry about slip and fall hazards, consider putting some safety measures in place, in case the grease trap catches fire.<\/p>\n
When it comes to handling grease in a commercial<\/u>\u00a0<\/b><\/u><\/strong>kitchen<\/u><\/a>, you should always remember these things:<\/p>\n
When you have installed a grease interceptor that meets the set standards, the next thing is to keep it in great health all the time.<\/p>\n
Emptying and cleaning the grease trap<\/u><\/a>\u00a0in good time is recommended, usually when the grease level reaches to about 25%. The authorities are very strict about this, so you should clean it on time, and keep proper reports of every cleaning job.<\/p>\n
The grease from the kitchen keeps piling up in the first chamber of the FOG interceptor, until it is due for emptying. It is then pumped out, the tank cleaned thoroughly, and the pipes are blasted with high pressure water<\/u><\/a>. This removes any grease that might have stuck to the pipes.<\/p>\n
You should highly discourage the disposal of used fryer oil in the sink. Rather, it should be collected in the bins or containers provided by your recycling company. That way, it is safer to handle and cannot catch fire easily.<\/p>\n
However, before you can transfer the oil to the storage containers, you need to let the oil cool down. So, there is still a high risk of the oil catching and spreading fire.<\/p>\n
Designate the place for used fryer oil<\/u><\/a>\u00a0so that every kitchen employee can know where everything is all the time.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the grease interceptor is a fire hazard, and that is why it should be maintained in perfect condition all the time. You should empty and clean it on time to minimize the fire risk.<\/p>\n
First, the old grease releases fumes like carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and methane (flammable). Secondly, slip and fall risk is high, which is caused by poorly installed grease interceptors<\/u><\/a>, badly covered traps, and grease spillage around the interceptor area.<\/p>\n
This type of fire is categorized under Class B, which is for burning gas or liquid. To put out such a fire, smother it with a fire blanket to deny it oxygen. Do not pour water on it, blast with flour, sugar, or use a wet towel.<\/p>\n
Grease is made of fats, and oils, and they are highly flammable materials. The age of the grease does not matter because with time and bioactivity, it starts to produce gases, some of which are flammable.<\/p>\n
Therefore, a dirty grease trap<\/u><\/a>\u00a0is not safe, as there are risks of clogging, producing toxic fumes, spreading germs, and catching fire!<\/p>\n