The Junction in Bothell is the latest home to 9 of our GB-250 grease interceptors. The photo shown is 7 in series utilizing our no-charge H20 rated pickable cast iron cover option making servicing fast. This setup allows for 165,538 high grease producing meals before needing to be serviced. How do we do this? All Schier units are third-party certified to maximum grease capacity, in this case 1,076 lbs of grease per GB-250. Using Schier’s Grease Production Sizing Method (now included in the ASPE handbook) with each meal contributing 0.0455 lbs or grease this system will support 1,839 meals per day from the contributing common grease line all while retaining a 90 day cleaning interval insuring low run costs for tenants.

Why guess on what size interceptor is needed? Let us know if we can help with a sizing.

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