I'm asked often by engineers should a hose bib be placed near an indoor grease interceptor and the answer is yes.  Hot water is preferable but cold will do if thats all that is practical for the design. During the cleaning process the pumper will remove the FOG and solids that have accumulated since the last cleaning and while the tank is empty best practice is to spray down the interior walls and diffusers of any remaining material. 

<< Jimmy Johns in Ballard, Washington - Above grade install of GB-75 located in corner of attached parking garage

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.

If you specify grease interceptors and aren't familiar with the Interceptor Whisperer, you should be. The blog created by IW Consulting answers many common questions regarding interceptor history, technology and best practices. 

Should a floor drain, floor sink or dishwasher be connected to a grease interceptor? Read about it on the IW blog post: https://www.iwconsultingservice.com/single-post/2017/04/16/Which-Fixtures-Should-Be-Connected-to-a-Grease-Interceptor

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.

The Interceptor Whisperer latest article discusses internal vs external vented flow control. Read more here >>

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One benefit of our units being third-party certified (by NSF to ASME A112.14.3) is we know exactly how much grease our units will hold. The concrete gravity type vault doesn't have this benefit as there is no perfomance testing required and leaves inspectors to apply a general rule as to when the unit is full and in need of being pumped out. Schier's  GPSM (grease production sizing method) allows us to fine-tune the sizing based on food type and pumpout interval. If you had a similar size Subway and BBQ restaurant just counting DFUs and seats would basically size them out as the same size interceptor when they would be creating two completely different amounts of grease.

Well, good news. ASPE has adopted the GPSM into the latest handbook. Using this method reduces unnecessary expenses for your client while allowing you to specify a grease interceptor that will meet their needs and function properly.

​Read more here:
http://schierproducts.com/blogs/news/aspe-adopts-the-grease-production-sizing-method

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.

This is one of those products that I see and think this really is a problem solver. Zero lot line buildings can be tough for grease interceptors. Concrete units often go into the bottom of the parking garage they are difficult to maintain and when they fail due to corrosion are difficult to replace, lose-lose. Schier Products Great Basin series of grease interceptors are made of HDPE, have a lifetime warranty, can be installed above or below grade, can be installed in series to increase pump-out frequency and now the best part... offer a remote pump-out port option. This kit allows you to install the interceptor inside the building but have a hard pipe connection to a cam lock on the outside of the building allowing the pumper contractor to service the unit without dragging hundreds of feet of hose around the garage. While the unit is being serviced is also creates a negative air situation thereby minimizing the smell around the open unit and allows to pumper contractor to complete the service with minimal impact to the building occupants. 

This quick 90 second video illustrates how it works...