Striem describes some of their products as being rotomolded (rotationally molded) but what does that mean? Watch the Ripple Engineering Pressure-Cooled Rotomolding machine in action at Striem in Kansas City in the video above. More about how the machine works can be found at the Ripple Engineering website. 

First, let’s define service facilities (per plumbing code).  This would encompass anything from routine car cleaning and detailing, to full blown engine repair.  "Service" applies not only to vehicles, but also to any kind of machinery that could leak oil into the building drainage system.   


​Both UPC and IPC recognize the following to calculate the capacity of an oil separator: (6) cubic feet for the first 100 square feet of drainage area, plus (1) cubic foot of required capacity for each additional 100 square feet.

Here's an example:
 
Oil change facility with 900 square feet of drainage area.

• First 100 square feet = 6 cubic feet
• Next 800 square feet = 8 cubic feet
• 6 cubic feet + 8 cubic feet = 14 cubic feet
• 14 cubic feet = 104.7 gallons of required capacity

Recommendation:  OS-75 (125-gallon total liquid capacity)

Keep in mind that some jurisdictions have their own requirements: 500 gallons, 1000 gallons, double-wall mandate, only allow concrete, etc. 

If this is the case in your territory, let's work on changing that.

Below is a quick reference sizing chart that can found on page 3 of our 2017 Catalog.

Did you know that each oil separator (OS) has a matching oil collection tank (OCT)? 

It is not a requirement for an OS to be installed with an OCT. However, there is one application where it makes a lot of sense: oil level monitoring.

If the project requires an oil level monitoring system, an OS would need to be installed with an OCT and an AVA-3 or AVA-4 level monitoring system. The level system includes a control panel with audio and visual alarms, as well as the single- or multi-level float switch. The float switch is to be installed in the OCT. We provide everything needed to install the float switch inside the OCT.

The OS would be ordered with a draw-off arm (D02) to draw oil from the OS to the OCT.

A secondary benefit of an OCT is that it increases the total liquid and oil capacity of the oil separator system. We recommend only installing equal-sized OS and OCT units. ​

Publication sent from "Did you know" memo from Striem on 01/23/17.

Why specify a basket style versus a screen style solids inceptor? 
The primary consideration is how the unit will be maintained. A basket style is considered "DIY maintenance" meaning somebody on site will remove and dump out the basket at the appropriate interval. A screen style is used where professional maintenance is coming in with a pumper truck and sucking the contents out.

So why not use a basket? Capacity. Take for example the Striem PS-35 Solids Interceptor with a 35 gallon liquid capacity. The PS-35-B basket style has 5 gallons of solids capacity whereas the PS-35-S screen style has 17.5 gallons of solids capacity. In this case the screen style is going to have 3.5x the capacity and therefore pump-out interval of the basket style.