ISSUE 53 / FALL 2021

SERVING THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN

EXHAUST INDUSTRY WORLDWIDE

Serving the Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Industry Worldwide

The IKECA Journal is an industry publication for cleaners, fire
marshals, insurance professionals, facility managers, vendors
and other interested parties in the commercial kitchen exhaust
cleaning and inspection industry.

IKECA President
Dennis Poulin, CECS

IKECA Executive Director

Kathy A. DeMarco, CAE

IKECA Journal Editorial Review Board

Christopher Bisbee Grant Mogford, CFPS, CECS, CESI

Charles Cochrane, CECS, BCCS Donald Pfleiderer, CECS, CESI
Brian Smith, PhD

2331 Rock Spring Road

Forest Hill, MD 21050
Tel: (410) 417-5234
Fax: (443) 640-1031
Email: [email protected]

The IKECA Journal is a publication of the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association © 2022. All Rights Reserved. For more information or to order additional
copies, contact the IKECA headquarters office. Unless otherwise noted, all images are copyright IKECA and their respective owners. Unless otherwise noted, all
articles are copyright IKECA. Direct requests for reprint to the IKECA headquarters office. The International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association prints the IKECA
Journal to provide its member and other interested parties in the commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning industry with a forum for the discussion of topics of interest to
the entire industry. The ideas and opinions expressed in the IKECA Journal are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the view, positions
or policies of IKECA, its members, its board of directors, officers or staff. IKECA is not responsible for any claims made in any advertisements, and does not endorse
any manufacturer, supplier or vendor. IKECA does not warrant the performance of any member or member employee or subcontractor.

Cover images and some content art © Adobe Stock Images and Pexels
The IKECA Journal is an industry publication for cleaners, fire marshals,
insurance professionals, facility managers, vendors and other interested
ISSUE 53 /
parties in the commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning and inspection industry. FALL 2022

IN EACH ISSUE
04 Letter from the IKECA President
Dennis Poulin, CECS / R&G Vent Cleaning
05 From the Desk of the Executive Director
Kathy A. DeMarco, CAE / IKECA Executive Director
06 Obtaining an IKECA Certification
April Elligson / IKECA Associate Director

08 Association News
• Canadian Chapter Update
• Certification Committee Update
• Conference Committee Update
• Education Committee Update
• Insurance/AHJ- Committee Update
• Membership Committee Update
• Technical Standards Development Committee Update

16 New Certifications & New Members

18 IKECA Board of Directors

FEATURED ARTICLES
19 Slowing Down Turnover in the Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Industry
Andy Jacobs / KEC Training by Etcetera
20 Having Trouble Finding the Right Employees- You Maybe Overlooking One
in Three
John Collins / Omni Supply Corporation
21 What is Digital Dialogue, and Why Should You Care?
Cindy Laidlaw / Laidlaw Marketing
22 The Beauty of a Monopod
Mark Eckhert / Enviromatic Corp of America
24 Tips for Making the Right Equipment Purchase
Gary Weldon / Tegras North America

DON’T MISS IN THIS ISSUE

27 Filter Efficiency: A Comparison of US and European Standards
Denis Schiavi / SiFiM Components & Solutions
29 Post- Pandemic Hiring- Embrace What has Worked for Decades
Brian Smith, Ph.D. / IA Business Advisors
31 The Paradox of Fear
Bill Wooditch / Wooditch Enterprises
Letter From the IKECA President
From the Desk of the President
Dennis Poulin, CECS / R&G Vent Cleaning
How great it was to be to- in 2022. The IKECA Staff Team and Committee Volun-
gether in Scottsdale after teers have worked to expand the delivery of IKECA’s
three virtual conferences. certifications via online format, giving the IKECA web-
That missing ingredient of site a face-lift, launching proactive member recruitment
what happens when you’re programs, curating educational materials for IKECA
able to mingle together members, and so much more.
in between sessions, out
for dinner, or just hanging Of all the good things that we see on the horizon for
around the pool or bar is IKECA, along with the systemic improvements we can
proof that “in person” is make, I truly believe that the growth of membership
uniquely different. The op- is most critical to our success. For years, I valued be-
portunity to seek out one ing the only IKECA member in my neighborhood as
of our colleagues for input, the differential advantage I had over my competitors.
info, or opinion just seems What I have learned is that the more we compete on
to cultivate itself sponta- a level field of quality and code compliance, the more
neously when we spend time together. I’m looking enriched customer relations have become. Expanding
forward to that same experience when we meet in the number of IKECA operators in your market will help
Milwaukee for the Fall Technical Seminar in October. fast-track a higher-quality arena to work in. I challenge
While in-person events are great, there is also a high every IKECA member to stretch the limits of their pro-
cost associated with attending these meetings. In light fessional relationships, let your KEC colleagues know
of this, the IKECA Board of Directors has voted to host about the lower costs of the Introductory Membership,
our Fall 2023 Technical Seminar virtually to allow for and take advantage of earning a $100.00 credit for
owners and technicians to still gain important educa- your own membership.
tion at a fraction of the cost.
IKECA has weathered the storm of the pandemic, and
Pressing forward, as Past President Randy Conforti the ever-changing landscape of the KEC industry, and
stated in the last issue of the IKECA Journal, we have I am confident, as your new President, that we will end
been seeing the fruit of our 2020 Strategic Plan efforts 2022 and start 2023 stronger than ever. t

4 THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022

From the Desk of the Executive Director
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Kathleen A. DeMarco, CAE / IKECA Executive Director
Much of the content of this industry. The articles, sourced from within and outside
issue focuses on the most of the industry, provide different insights on tools, tech-
widespread challenge for niques, and resources. For example, a member shares
KECs right now: finding and how a simple and inexpensive device changed the way
keeping quality employees. he conducts his inspections.
The KEC industry definitely
presents unique challeng- IKECA thought leadership also extends to its confer-
es: the work hours and en- ences. Like the 2022 Fall Technical Conference, which
vironment are not for ev- will feature industry leaders like Randy Conforti, Jim
eryone. Combine that with Roberts, Frank Mitarotonda, Kevin Pearson, Joel Ber-
“the Great Resignation” kowitz, and John Muller. The collective knowledge of
following the pandemic, these experienced and IKECA-certified professionals is
which presented so many offered to the industry in two full days of a schedule
challenges for employees packed with information. In addition, the exhibit hall can
and their families, and the be a wealth of education on new tools, products and
willing labor pool has shrunk significantly, making the services to support your business, and make your em-
hiring challenge even tougher. ployees more efficient. Lots to learn in Milwaukee this
October!
In this Fall 2022 Journal, IKECA brings insights and
new approaches to the hiring issue from several differ- The real power of any association is the collective ex-
ent perspectives. Interestingly we have articles that ad- perience, shared. What is your contribution, and how
dress the problem from within – taking a look at what will you share it with your IKECA peers? Join a Com-
you are doing (or not doing) to create and maintain a mittee, attend and participate actively in Conferences,
place of work where people want to be, to looking out- volunteer to serve on the Board, join an IKECA virtual
side -- at new and different potential sources for re- round table session—no matter what you do, if you ac-
cruitment of employees. tively participate, you will give, and surely you will get
as well. t
The Journal is one example of thought leadership that
IKECA is able to provide its Membership and the KEC

THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022 5

 Obtaining an IKECA Certification
Obtaining an IKECA Certification: A Team Effort
April Elligson / IKECA Associate Director
IKECA Members under- their exam, or who call to pay for an exam to be tak-
stand the importance of en without seeking or using provided study materials.
getting and keeping an We always communicate to the candidate that these
IKECA certification. It’s a re- exams are rigorous, and it is important for them to take
quirement for certain mem- the time to learn the material. Our goal as the IKECA
ber types, and a sign of re- management team is to foster successful candidates,
sponsibility and credibility. not to set them up for failure.
Carrying a CECT, CECS,
CESI, BCCS, or BCSI behind So what is the solution to all of this? The answer is sim-
your name sets you apart ple. Major certification exams, such as the IKECA ex-
from others in the industry. ams, should be a team effort. An employer should en-
When a code official, insur- courage study sessions with the candidate and should
ance professional, or facili- teach the candidate(s) the material, spending the time
ty owner or manager sees explaining industry standards and why they are import-
the IKECA credentials, they ant. They should encourage candidates to take the
know that cleaning will be completed to the highest exam preparation session hosted by John Muller and
standard. Just as if any one of us needed medical at- Joel Berkowitz at every IKECA conference before they
tention or legal advice, we would not even consider a even register to take the exam.
provider or lawyer without M.D., D.O., or Esq. at the end
of their name. All of us in IKECA have the same goal in mind—to pro-
tect life and promote fire safety. These things cannot
Chair Charlie Cochrane states in this issue’s Certifica- be achieved alone. When the time came to take the
tion Committee update that the Committee and IKECA SAT in high school, it was not administered on the first
staff and are working diligently to make IKECA certifi- day of freshman year. Students were not expected to
cation exams more accessible, and to review the certifi- study alone and simply “figure it out.” The SAT is based
cation exam content for relevancy and alignment to the on learned knowledge, from both education and expe-
newest editions of standards, and with cleaning and rience. The IKECA exams are structured the same way.
inspection current best practices. Employers should be setting the example for their em-
ployees and exam candidates, in order to set them up
Over the years, IKECA has seen a high failure rate for success. IKECA provides the tools, but the IKECA
among certification exam candidates, yielding much member companies provide the know-how.
discussion among IKECA Board members, staff, and
Certification Committee members. Why is the failure As the New York Times bestselling author John C. Max-
rate so high? Are the certification exams too challeng- well says, “One is too small a number to achieve great-
ing? Are the questions unclear? Is proper time being ness. No accomplishment of real value has ever been
allotted by individual candidates to study? Are candi- achieved by a human being working alone.” t
dates using appropriate study materials?

Since I began working with IKECA three years ago, it

has become apparent through post-exam candidate
surveys that exam failures are primarily due to the
candidate not having allotted enough time to study
the material, and/or the candidate assuming that be-
cause they are already doing the job, there is no need
to study. Both of those scenarios are major factors in
candidate success.

Unfortunately, IKECA staff all to often work with candi-

dates who request study materials just a week before

6 THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022

 SAVE THE DATE FOR THE IKECA
2023 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
IN CHARLOTTE, NC
MARCH 29 - APRIL 1, 2023
Join IKECA at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, NC this
spring! The IKECA 2023 Annual Membership Meeting kicks off with
educational sessions, vendor demos, networking events, and more! You
won’t want to miss this exciting event in the bustling city known for great
food, craft beer, sports, and scenery.

Save the Date: Wednesday, March 29 - Saturday, April 1, 2023

- Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte, NC

ikeca.org | (410) 417-5234 | [email protected]

Association News
Update from the Candian Chapter Update from the Certification
Alex Young, CECS Committee
This year as things around the world started to normal- Charlie Cochrane, CECS, BCCS
ize, we had an opportunity to get back out in person in
front of our fellow members at the IKECA Annual Mem- The Certification Committee has certainly had a busy
bership Meeting in Arizona. The great weather of Ari- year. We are moving forward and are on track with the
zona was a welcome relief to the end of our Canadian main initiative of the year: moving all IKECA certifica-
winter. tion exams to an online format, and rewriting the CECT
exam.
Our Canadian Chapter Committee met earlier this year
and successfully gained funding from the Board of Di- The Committee meets monthly, and has been working
rectors, based on our plan to further our advocacy with- closely with Meazure Learning (formerly Scantron) to
in Canada. learn how to write exam items (or the questions and
possible responses to those questions), develop an
We have received the funding and put our efforts into exam item bank, and truly learn the science behind
action by attending the June 2022 Ontario Municipal exam development.
Fire Prevention Associations Annual Symposium held
in London, Ontario. Both myself and Bill Doherty repre- Simultaneously, a new ad-hoc committee was formed,
sented IKECA in person at an exhibit booth, with a goal led by Dane Bundy, for the creation of a new IKECA
of offering AHJ memberships and promoting IKECA Study Guide for the CECT exam. Those meetings take
awareness. The event was a great success: we had the place approximately twice a month. This is a significant
opportunity to meet with hundreds of AHJs from across undertaking, since much of the study material has to
Ontario, and were successful in adding to our member- be created from scratch and peer-reviewed. Topics
ship. We were also able to visit with and strengthen such as site prep, duct cleaning, and fan cleaning do
our presence among a lot of our current AHJ members, not exist in third-party material such as NFPA or ANSI/
which was great. This was our first in-person person IKECA C-10, thus the committee is building this content,
meeting in many years due to COVID restrictions in including photos, etc.
Canada, and the attendance was overwhelming.
IKECA staff is also working with Meazure Learning to
It is very rewarding to see IKECA not only recognized in move all other exams (CECS, CESI, BCCS, BCSI) to the
this association, but truly valued by the AHJ communi- online format. The Boston exams launched with an
ty. Our experience, as well as up-to-date, relevant edu- online testing option on July 1, and since then, many
cation about our industry, are very appreciated. There candidates have applied and taken the exam. This
were times during the Symposium when current AHJ new format will be made available to test at a Meazure
members were literally selling our membership and the Learning site as well for any candidates who prefer to
value they receive from IKECA to non-member AHJs. test in-person.
This is the ultimate reward for the time over the years
we have spent promoting our association to this com- We hope to have all of the pieces, including the new
munity. We have stoked the irons and are looking for- CECT exam and study materials, available by the end of
ward to the leads generated come to fruition amongst Q1 of 2023. Once that is complete, the committee will
the local chapter meetings, which are anticipated to be then begin the process to develop a new CECS exam.
held in the fall of this year. Our Committee has brought
membership to the organization for this and next year I want to recognize the time commitment these volun-
and plan to attend 2023 Symposium. teers are making not only for the monthly meetings but
the work that must be done between calls. We have
Moving forward, our committee will build on this suc- teams of dedicated, competent, and hard-working peo-
cess and look to other similar events and associations ple who we could not do this without. Thank you for all
reaching slowly but surely to promote our brand and of your efforts. t
association across Canada in an effort to drive IKECA’s
mission to all KEC markets and potential members.

Thank you for the honor to represent IKECA as the Ca-

nadian Chapter president. t

8 THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022

Association News
Update from the Conference Update from the Education
Committee Committee
Randy Russo, CECS, CESI Dane Bundy, CECS
2022 has shown great progress, many changes for The Education Committee is excited to announce that
IKECA and its members. I feel privileged to continue we have revamped the committee and have a team of
to be the Conference Committee Chair, to work with volunteers working hard to provide educational con-
SMG staff, and to secure great locations for our Annual tent for the membership. We would like to thank all of
and Fall Technical Conferences. I want to thank every- our new volunteers for their participation and as always
one for their support in my role as Conference Chair, we encourage new volunteers to join our team.
and I will continue to work hard to keep this Committee
strong and move forward with the goal of successful With the revamp of the committee, the first order of
conferences with the best results. I look forward to business was to work on a fun and interactive trivia
continuing working with everyone. session for Fall Tech 2022. The committee met regular-
ly to create questions and format for this session, and
I stand by my 100% commitment to IKECA and the Board we are looking forward to executing it in Milwaukee.
of Directors as Vice President to continue growing the Following Fall Tech, the committee plans to revisit the
association as a whole and launch forward for contin- IKECA Strategic Plan and develop set goals to accom-
ued success. Our team, the best of the business com- plish for the end of 2022 and into 2023.
munity, will push together to achieve the same goals.
The stability of the Conference Committee Team will Additionally, I have taken on the role of committee chair
continue to make improvements and grow our mem- for IKECA’s newly-formed ad hoc CECT Study Guide
bership and the success of IKECA. I am confident that Committee. The purpose of this committee is to devel
our growth with budgeting and planning will show how
viable this Association truly is to the Fire Life Safety of
all our customers. t Continues on page 10

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Association News
Update from the Education and Facility Managers that IKECA is an international
trade association representing kitchen exhaust clean-
Committee, continued ing specialists and inspectors of commercial kitchen
Dane Bundy, CECS exhaust systems, while stressing that the kitchen ex-
haust industry is growing at a rapid pace, and technolo-
op content and study material in anticipation of the new gy is changing all the time. We also want to educate on
CECT exam. Since forming the committee, we have met our certification programs to provide individuals with
several times and made great progress. t the means to keep on top of the changes in codes,
standards, and technology.

Update from the Insurance/AHJ The goal of coming up with questions for this past
Spring 2022 Annual Meeting panel discussion, which
Committee included Jay Wingfield, Pete McDonnell, and Kathy
Mike Rosenau, MBA, CSP, ARM, CPCU Slomer and hosted by Randy “Brother Russo” was exe-
cuted extremely well. Survey feedback from the Panel
& Frank Mitarotonda, CECS, CESI Discussion Session at the Scottsdale Conference was
Top of the day Iconic IKECA members: overall very positive.

As Co-Chair with Michael Rosenau and myself, Frank As part of our outreach, the committee has created an
Mitarotonda, the guidance of April Elligson of String- Organizational Chart to serve as a checklist that helps
fellow Management, and the rest of the Insurance/AHJ define the responsibilities of the KEC, Facilities/Own-
team, we have been successful in forming the new In- ership, the AHJ, and the Insurance Risk Management
surance/AHJ Committee and have made great prog- Professional. After countless hours of reviewing the
ress. project edits, we have finished a tri-fold brochure that
provides further detail of the responsibilities of each
The Insurance/AHJ committee’s objective is to educate party. The chart is to be used as a guideline across all
AHJs, Insurance and Risk Management Professionals, jurisdictions for anyone to reference from an AHJ to a
Association News
Update from the Insurance/AHJ Did you know we have a referral program? You can off-
set your membership dues by referring new members.
Committee, continued The program is applicable for referrals of Active North
Mike Rosenau, MBA, CSP, ARM, CPCU American Members, Active International Members, As-
sociate Members, and Introductory Members. For each
& Frank Mitarotonda, CECS, CESI paid membership you refer, you get a $100 credit!! We
have eliminated the cap so you can refer as many as
Facility Manager and so on. you want, you could potentially have enough credit to
cover your whole membership dues.
As we progress, our next goals are to create an AHJ
promo video as well as to host a “Loss Control 101” we- I am looking forward to working with our group of
binar after Thanksgiving. hard-working committee members; Charles Cochrane,
Dennis Poulin, Greg Fisher, Don Pfleiderer, and Mr. “Su-
As with any organization, member participation is key, per fantastic” Frank Mitarotonda. If you would like to
our committee and all the other IKECA committees can join our committee, we would love to have you. Send
use your help. It merely requires a few hours a year to me an email to [email protected] t
make IKECA a credible viable organization. t

Update from the Membership

Committee
Kathy Slomer, CECS
I am excited to take over as Chair of the Membership
Committee. A huge thank you to Dennis Poulin, previ-
ous Chair of the Committee, under his leadership there
are some new and exciting initiatives in the works.

One of our top priorities as a committee is to grow

membership, we all know how much we get out of our
memberships and there are so many other compa-
nies that could also benefit. The group came up with
a potential list of new members. April and her team
designed an awesome marketing piece that includes
a grease gauge along with a QR code that links that po-
tential member straight to our site where they can find
what they need to know about an IKECA membership.
The Marketing piece has gone out and the Committee
is in the process of doing follow-up calls and emails. If
you know of any potential members, please reach out
to April, pass along their information and she will mail
the marketing piece to them.

THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022 11

Association News
Technical Standards Development 1. Continuing the momentum of those before, to
offer a suite of ANSI-approved standards for the
Committee Update betterment of the industry and education of the
James Shea & James Roberts, CECS, CESI community.
2. The completion, ANSI approvals, and
re·flec·tion introduction of the Maintenance Standard; M-10
1. serious thought or consideration now on its second revision cycle
3. The inclusion of the Cleaning Standard, C-10 into
As we begin to write this update, we reflect on the last the body of the NFPA 96 Standard
5 years and wonder if we have done all that was in- 4. Introduction of the first Technical White Paper,
tended when we began our journey as Chair and Vice “Leak Testing of Type I Grease Ducts” in
Chair. This fall will mark a 5-year commitment from your collaboration with the ASHRAE 154 technical
Chair and Vice Chair to the IKECA organization and to committee
our dear departed friend, Bernie Besal with hopes to 5. Creation of a Process for execution of our
continue the legacy. Standards Cycle process to accomplish true
consensus among our many stakeholders
The committee started with a few select members of who look to the ANSI / IKECA documents for
IKECA. The ANSI / IKECA Standards were a vision of guidance
early members to improve the knowledge, profession- 6. Ongoing collaboration with our partners from the
alism, and training of members while also raising public National Fire Protection Association including
awareness and expectation. To show how vitally im- continued acceptance and update to our
portant it is to the community not only do the job but do Memorandum of Understanding established
the job the right way. To bring a suite of minimum safety during the infancy of our committee
standards and requirements to the industry and sup- 7. Audit of our C-10 and I-10 standards with no
port certifications and minimum levels of competency. findings but suggestions on how to make our
To minimize liability of KEC companies while supplying process better aligned with the ANSI Essential
an essential fire prevention service to the industry. To Requirements
close the gap in the codes and standards requiring 8. Asserting our influence to ensure the integrity
action, yet without the methodology or best practices and reputation of the ANSI / IKECA Standards
to do so. To share with our tradesman the knowledge while being utilized for industry training.
and expertise of so many that came before and learned 9. Sustainability of the TSDC during a pandemic
through their experiences, successes, and tragedies. 10. The introduction, addition, and reference of
To enhance, promote, and in some cases legitimize our the inspection standard, I-10 into the NFPA 96
trade in support of life safety and fire prevention. document
11. The combined effort to defend and retain the
The premise to create minimum industry standards that reference to C-10 in the Alaska State Fire Code
would support the integrity and workmanship for those 12. New revisions to C-10 and I-10
who followed these standards and to provide the Au- 13. Training programs to enhance the awareness
thority Having Jurisdiction, owner / operators, and ser- of technical committee members by subject
vice team members with the tools necessary to guide matter experts to support code writing and grow
those in the industry to proper cleaning, inspection, the already expansive knowledge within the
and maintenance. committee make-up
14. First Standards to identify and introduce new
The standards along with the International Kitchen Ex- language addressing new innovations being
haust Cleaning Certification program allow organiza- integrated in kitchen ventilation equipment
tions a path to validation that those who are certified
and follow these standards have the tools necessary to The above only to mention a few. Upon the exit of the
deliver competent and reliable fire protection services. worst part of the pandemic, we begin to realize the im-
pacts to our businesses, the economy, and the work-
In the past five years as your TSDC leadership team force, with so many working harder and longer than
and Standards Committee, there is much to reflect on. ever to sustain what they had before it all began. The

12 THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022

Association News
impact travels not only to our individual companies but Get involved. Review the standards on a regular basis,
also to the organizations which we have supported offer them as the “how to” standards while supporting
over the years. NFPA and the ICC Codes as the “need to,” “when to”
and “where to” code requirements. I remind you that
Shifts in the support, volunteerism, and time available both NFPA and Underwriter Laboratories were and still
have changed for many. As an industry and organi- are highly influenced by the work ANSI has done over
zation, we must remind ourselves of the above para- the years.
graphs and the reasons why IKECA and the TSDC were
established. Lastly, if you want change – make change. If the Stan-
dards we are writing need language to help you with
Once again, we speak to our membership in a call to compliance issues, then it is upon you to increase their
action. We ask that you help strengthen the work ac- strength by adding and enhancing them through your
complished through education and communication. voice and public commentary.
Hand out the M-10 to managers, owners, and operators
to help support their daily activities. Provide the C-10 Currently the TSDC is working on the first revision of
and I-10 to your local AHJs and insurance underwrit- the M-10 standard first completed in 2019. The mainte-
ers. Take time if you are involved in local or national nance standard is established to support the owners/
trade shows to include the publications in your itinerary operators in their daily work habits to supply safety to
during these shows and promote IKECA and the value their workers, patrons, and places of business.
of membership through ongoing training and certifica-
tion programs. Get the word out that there is a suite We have held two meetings on public comment and
of standards that support our industry and contribute changes to the standard. One in Arizona this past
to minimum competency requirements for successful spring and the other during a virtual meeting in August.
execution of our work. If time is short for committee If there is interest in following the proceedings of these
involvement, then we ask that you develop a process
within your current systems during your normal work-
days to deliver these important messages Continues on page 14
Association News
Technical Standards Development
Committee Update, continued
James Shea & James Roberts, CECS, CESI
meetings, the minutes are posted on the IKECA web-
site. The M-10 standard is still in cycle until the com-
mittee reviews all public comment and changes, and
then votes to support sending the revision to ANSI for
final approvals. We expect this vote to take place this
fall during our fall meeting where the committee will
meet for a final review of the revisions and a revised
approved ANSI M-10 Standard revision in early 2023.

In addition to the M-10 Standard revision cycle, we con-

tinue to work on education and have completed our
second session of discussions on Mitigating Risk and
Liability as a “hot topic”. You might imagine, that this
is a topic not without opinion, experience, and active
participation.

Other happenings:

• Since the last report, we have a new Staff Liaison

/ Secretariat. Nikki Augsburger accepted the
position and began her behind-the-scenes work
for the committee in the first part of 2022. She
has quickly become an asset to our organization
and shows a passion for the committee, the
world of ANSI, and compliance to the ANSI
Essential Requirements as well as our Standard
Operating Procedures. We welcome her on
board as a member of Stringfellow Management
in her complete role as Director of Standards &
Certification.
• The committee has reviewed its Standards Cycle
Process and with the help of our support staff
made suggestions on changes that streamline
the process and provide improvements to better
align with ANSI’s Essential Requirements
• We have reviewed committee rosters and
updated all affiliations/memberships – We
are accepting new members for the following
categories. Fire Prevention Authority, Insurance,
& end-user
• We had positive communications with PWNA
regarding industry commitment to the use of our
standards for training and certification of industry
outside the IKECA membership
• In January of this coming year, we begin the
work on revisions to the next standard in line
ANSI / IKECA Standard I-10 t

14 THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022

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are no chemical/fuel odors in cab, a reduction of
noise and safety in an accident.
ƒ Motor and burner are installed on a slide so
the unit is outside of the body while operating.
ƒ Because of the slide, the motor and burner
are more accessible, making them easier to
service and re-fuel.
ƒ No exhaust hole needed in the roof.
ƒ Available with 3 bar ladder rack or two bar drop
down ladder rack
ƒ Vehicle Specs:
ƒ Transit T250 Single Rear Wheel Cab Chassis
ƒ GVW 9,000 lbs

Kitchen System Install/Service Mid Roof

Features:
ƒ Mid Roof Van has 69.5” of interior height
ƒ 10’ conduit storage compartment
ƒ (3) 7’ pipe storage compartments
ƒ Vehicle Specs:
ƒ Transit T250 Mid Roof Cargo Van
ƒ GVW 9,000 lbs

ƒ Options Available:
ƒ T350 with 9,500 GVW
ƒ High Roof Available with 79” interior height
ƒ 40,000 BTU rear heater
ƒ Shelving, storage bins and tool boxes (shown)
ƒ Also available with dry chemical fill system
and workbench

2320 LAKECREST DRIVE • PEKIN IL 61554 • 888-747-4389 • WWW.GETZEQUIPMENT.COM

New Certifications / as of August 1, 2022
CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO RECENTLY ACHIEVED THEIR DESIGNATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS!

PECT Professional Exhaust Cleaning Technician • Brandon Floyd / Apex Hood Cleaning
• Neil Reinikka / The Steam Guy • Jordan Tremblay / Exo Nettoyage
• Christopher Hilston / US Vents • Michael Hernandez / Columbia Fire Protection
• Jacqueline Abanto / Bare Metal Maintenance, Inc.
• Jemmy Almen / Oregon Hood Cleaning CECS Certified Exhaust Cleaning Specialist
• Norris Michael / Oregon Hood Cleaning • Jonathan Aristy Vidot / JJ Industrial Services
• Jerry Lauror / Oregon Hood Cleaning • Alberto Amezcua / Trebla Industrial Resources,
• Tony Langimeo / Oregon Hood Cleaning Inc.
• Randy Botta / Oregon Hood Cleaning • Gabriel Chick / Service-Tech Corporation
• Juan Aldama / Oregon Hood Cleaning • Dennis Creason / 360 Commercial Cleaning
• Aaron Gregory / Derby Pressure Wash • Jacqueline Ballot / Fire Protection Equipment
• Aaron Norfleet / Derby Pressure Wash Company
• Tyrann Ballard / Besal Services, Inc.
• Samuel Drinks / Besal Services, Inc. BCCS Boston Certified Cleaning Specialist
• Benjamin Rogers / Performance Industrial • Shary Martinez / Right Call Services LLC
• Elijajuan Perkins / Performance Industrial • Sann Andrew / Cochrane Ventilation, LLC
• Drake Riot / CS Ventilation
CECT Certified Exhaust Cleaning Technician • Javier Acevedo / Chief Fire Prevention
• Razwan Ahmed / RHM Hood Exhaust • Herbert Turner / Impact Fire Services
• Chris Belmore / National Interior Solutions • Stephen Davis / Apex Ventilation Group, LLC
• William Regan / Restaurant Exhaust Cleaning • Timmy Soung / Cochrane Ventilation, LLC
Specialists • Nicholas Leary / AirCare Environmental Services,
• Walvis Marcos / Hood Cleaners of America Inc.

New Members
AHJ • Steven Faraclas / City of Surprise Fire-Medical
• Nick Alonzo / Chandler Fire Department • Robert Ferguson / Bristol Fire Department
• Christine Antaya / American Fire Equipment • Kayla Franklin / City of Yuma
• Tony Bennett / Scottsdale Fire Department • Jeromy Garant / Kingsville Fire & Rescue
• Brian Bennink / City of Auburn Fire Department • Tom Garvey / City of Conroe Fire Department
• Annette Bisschops / Greater Sudbury Fire • Richard Geerdink / Haldimand Emergency Services
Services • Christopher Geul / Central Marin Fire Department
• Ruben Briones / Chandler Fire Department • Evgenia Golovanenko / Richmond Hill Fire &
• Auburn Bureau / City of Auburn Fire Department Emergency Services
• Alan Campbell / Greensboro Fire Department • Greg Gorsline / Prince Edward County Fire
• Mario Cau Ottawa / Fire Services Department
• Steven Christen / Poudre Fire Authority • Ryan Grant / City of Toledo Fire/Rescue Fire
• George Cluff, Jr. / Rio Rico Medical & Fire District Prevention Bureau
• Doug Collee / Niagara Falls Fire Department • Renee Hamblin / Tolleson Fire Department
• Stephan Cottar / Conroe Fire Marshal’s Office • Russell Hart / Pelham-Batesville Fire Department
• Brandon Coughlin / University of Toranto • Scott Hartman / Lake Havasu City Fire Department
• Tony Curry / Mesa Fire and Medical Department, • Dillon Houser / Charlotte Fire Department
Prevention Division • Chris Johnson / Lander Volunteer Fire Department
• Brad Disher / Niagara on the Lake Fire and • Andrew Kent / Gananoque Fire Department
Emergency Services • Dale Kepler / Mesa Fire and Medical Department,
• Joseph Ehnes / Town of Cheektowaga Prevention Division

16 THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022

New Members, continued
• Chris Kreibich / Windsor Fire and Rescue Services • Vlad Tchouenko / Birmingham Fire & Rescue
• Andrew Landstrom / Sayreville Bureau of Fire • Lance Tunison / Maumee Fire
Prevention • Brandy Vega / Farmington Fire Department
• Russell Maitland / Village of Dobbs Ferry • Jessica Vera / Mesa Fire and Medical Department,
• David Mastrella / Town of Amherst Fire Safety Prevention Division
Division • Alison Wakefield / Cambridge Fire Department
• Thomas Miller / Middleton Township Fire • Jeff Warren / University of Arizona
Department • Kylie White / Brampton Fire Department
• Cody Moravec / Waukee Fire Department • Eric Wilkins / Findlay Fire Department
• Steven Nicoll / Chandler Fire Department • Alexandra Zaykin / Central York Fire Services
• Cassie Peters / Department of Forestry and Fire • Raphael Ziegler / Rockland County Office of
Management Buildings and Codes
• Thomas Pond / Fairfield Fire Department
• Aidan Pook / Fanshawe College Active International
• Jeff Quick / Tallmadge Fire Dept • Susana Sto. Domingo / Wiklin Industrial Services
• Michael Roess / North Huron Fire Department
• Travis Samuelson / City of Surprise Fire-Medical Food Service Industry
• Ryan Schell / Central York Fire Services • Largarious Tyler / GNS Family Enterprises Inc.
• Anthony Shamblen / Department of Forestry and • Jeffrey Vasold / Conrad’s Crabs & Seafood Market
Fire Management
• Charles Skokut / Town of Beloit Fire Department
• Robert Small / Sioux Falls Fire Rescue
• Jeff Snider / Ottawa Fire Services
• Jim Somerville / St. Cath Fire Dept
• Scott Stanek / Scottsdale Fire Department
• Kevin Sullivan / Poudre Fire Authority
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[email protected] | 877.394.9731
Board of Directors
Directors 2020-2021
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASSOCIATE MEMBER DIRECTOR
Jill Perris
PRESIDENT Service First Processing
Dennis Poulin, CECS
R & G Vent Cleaning CANADIAN CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Alex Young, CECS
VICE PRESIDENT Power King Exhaust Cleaning
Randy Russo, CECS, CESI
Fleetwash, Inc. dba Trans-Clean FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
John Muller, CECS
TREASURER Airways Systems, Inc.
Dane Bundy, CECS
CSC Services Hood & Duct

SECRETARY MANAGEMENT TEAM

James Roberts, Jr., CECS, CESI
Derby Pressure Wash EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kathleen A. DeMarco, CAE
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT (410) 417-5234, ext 1119
Randy Conforti, CECS [email protected]
Precision Kleen, Inc.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR April Elligson
Frank Mitarotonda, CECS, CESI (410) 417-5234, ext 1135
Interstate Fire and Safety [email protected]

DIRECTOR DIRECTOR OF STANDARDS

DJ Nowack, CECS, CESI Nikki Augsburger
Fat Free, Inc. (410) 417-5234, ext 1278
[email protected]
DIRECTOR
Becky Crane, CECS CERTIFICATION COORDINATOR
Blast Masters, Inc. Gina Gibson
(410) 417-5234 ext 1126
DIRECTOR [email protected]
Kevin Pearson, CECS
Grime Stoppers, Inc. ASSOCIATION & MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
Rene Bonner
DIRECTOR (410) 417-5234 ext 1130
Kathy Slomer, CECS [email protected]
Kool Kleen, Inc.
ASSOCIATION COORDINATOR
Lisa Christie
(410) 417-5234 ext 1139
[email protected]

18 THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022

Featured Articles
Slowing Down Turnover in the Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Industry
Andy Jacobs / KEC Training by Etcetera
Hear that? It is the sound of workers walking out the Develop a New Employee Onboarding Process
door or not showing up at all. The “Great Resignation”
started early in the pandemic as companies across Develop a structured onboarding process that includes
the board saw employees dropping out of the ranks, a formal education program to integrate your new
and the kitchen exhaust cleaning industry felt it, too. hires into the kitchen exhaust cleaning industry that
As 2021 progressed, the attrition momentum increased will “break the ice” on what a kitchen exhaust cleaning
until it seemed like the flood gates had opened in many technician does, and provide an overview of the core
kitchen exhaust cleaning companies. information necessary to become successful in the
industry before they ever set foot on a job site. A good
Here’s the bad news: new predictions indicate that new employee onboarding program will include safety,
high quit rates will continue to dominate the work culture, and workflow training.
world. Kitchen exhaust cleaning companies haven’t
seen anything like in it their years of operation, and Retain Employees with a Formal Career Program
many state that they do not see any labor relief coming
anytime soon. Consider a few simple facts. Only 11% of companies
offer formal career programs for employees, so in many
While many attribute the turnover trend to issues cases, the only opportunity to grow is by leaving. When
related to COVID, enough research now exists to companies get involved in a formal education program,
partially dispel that notion. The pandemic was indeed employee retention tends to improve, because
at the root of many resignations, but more specifically, employees feel a sense of pride and confidence that
the health crisis revealed and worsened existing issues their employer is taking an interest in their personal
causing people to dislike their jobs. development and knowledge level. By providing
continued education for your technicians, the quality
Consequently, kitchen exhaust cleaners shouldn’t level of the services you offer will also increase with
make the mistake of believing attrition will settle down. your technician’s expertise.
Employees are migrating from their “crummy” jobs
to “better” jobs, from companies that “don’t seem to Online learning is one platform for ongoing training,
care,” to companies “that do care.” To become the ideal because of the low cost and high impact usage, as
employer, you should find ways to restore employee well as ease of use for the employee. Others include
engagement and inspire valuable team members to in-person training hosted at your facility; training and
stay put. education provided by your suppliers; and programs
delivered by IKECA and other organizations during
Be Transparent When Hiring KEC industry events.

Kitchen exhaust cleaning is a tough job, so don’t While there are many aspects that can set kitchen
oversell the job and conditions of the work involved. exhaust cleaning companies apart from their
Recognize that it is not a clean, easy job and that it will competition, employee education and training may
not be a good fit for many people. Being transparent be one of the most critical. A business owner adds
about the position means describing what being a long- value to the entire organization by providing continued
term kitchen exhaust cleaning technician entails. If your education to increase the performance of all members
company offers education or other benefits, be honest of their team. These programs can help employees feel
about the perks. But don’t gloss over the difficulties respected, empowered, and develop a career path in a
of the job. In the KEC world, employee education and place that can be worthwhile. t
training are essential for long-term success. Education
will help develop a basic knowledge of a particular Andy Jacobs is the Founder and Partner at KEC Training by
subject, while training is the “how to” of a particular Etcetera (formerly KEC Concepts). KEC Training by Etcetera
process or procedure. Employees like to feel invested offers online learning courses to help new KEC technicians gain
in their jobs. practical knowledge of the kitchen exhaust cleaning industry.

THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022 19

Featured Articles 2020-2021
Board of Directors
Having Trouble Finding Employees – You May Be Overlooking One
in Three Candidates
John Collins / Omni Supply Corporation
Approximately one in three working-age adults have In addition to the cost savings associated with lower
a criminal record, which is almost 74 million people. turnover, there are tax credits, training reimbursement,
That record can be for anything from driving without a and other incentives offered. The WORK Opportunity
license, to possessing marijuana. Of course, there are Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit available
those who have more serious criminal records. for hiring ex-felons. (https://www.irs.gov/businesses/
small-businesses-self-employed/work-opportunity-tax-
A recent study from the RAND group says that “most credit).
who enter the criminal justice system ultimately desist
from crime. The risk of recidivism declines the longer In addition to the Federal government, many states
a person is in the community and does not commit offer tax credits, training cost reimbursement, or other
a crime. Eventually, past criminal record is no longer incentives to employ ex-felons. Contact your state
predictive of future convictions.” unemployment office or workforce development office
to learn more about the advantages of hiring an ex-
With unemployment low, job openings at an all-time high, felon and the incentives offered.
and people leaving the workforce in unprecedented
numbers, you cannot afford to overlook this population. If you are worried about bonding an ex-felon, the federal
government offers a bonding program, which doesn’t
Organizations such as Starbucks and Home Depot cost the employer or employee anything. https://nicic.
have active programs for hiring people with criminal gov/federal-bonding-program-us-department-labor-
records. A recent survey of managers conducted by initiative.
the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
found that employees who have a criminal record bring Another resource is DKB Foundation. Their website
82% more value to the organization than employees offers a series of videos for business leaders to help
without records. you understand and adapt to hiring ex-felons. https://
dkbfoundation.org/playbook-3/
Why do they bring more value? Employees with criminal
records tend to be more engaged and productive Hiring in today’s marketplace is fiercely competitive.
having a stronger work ethic. They also tend to be loyal Rethinking the hiring of ex-felons can put you at a
to an organization that gives them a second chance. competitive advantage, reduce costs, and in the end
In fact, companies that hire people with records, on make a major difference in someone’s life. t
average, see an 11% reduction in turnover rates.
Featured Articles
What is Digital Dialogue, And Why Should You Care?
Cindy Laidlaw / Laidlaw Marketing
On behalf of our clients, we
often discuss Digital Dia-
logue. It’s a hot topic. Here
is how a typical discussion Don’t get frustrated
goes. First, I throw out the
question. “What is Digital
Dialogue, guys?”
if it doesn’t work
The answers (and ques- immediately.
tions) come back. “We don’t
know.” “Is it social media?”
“Is it Chat?”
Remember, it takes
These responses always time to build customer
lead to interesting discus-
sions, but this question from one of my young em-
ployees got my attention. “Isn’t everything digital dia-
relationships.
logue?” The question made me think a lot.
you spent time researching that? Take the time to find
Don’t let the word ‘digital’ become more important out by starting some Digital Dialogues on social me-
than the word ‘dialogue’. Successful Digital Dialogue dia. Send an email blast or maybe even write a blog
starts a conversation that develops relationships and post. Ask a few questions on Facebook, and set up a
builds trust with your customers, because it helps you “lunch & learn” Zoom call for your customers. Don’t get
understand their needs, and they like the fact that you frustrated if it doesn’t work immediately. Remember, it
care enough to learn more about them. takes time to build customer relationships.
Trusted businesses who are good communicators are
far more likely to produce brand ambassadors who If you have Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
sing your praises and recommend you to their families software that allows it, noting your customers’ informa-
and friends. Do you know what else successful Digital tion delivery preferences would be a good start. With
Dialogue does? It shortens the length of the sales cy- that information in hand, your sales team can target
cle. information to the customer in the way they are most
likely to engage with you. Good and effective commu-
Are You Good At Starting Conversations? nication builds lasting relationships. Also, check the re-
We all strive to be better at it. But, so much depends sponse rates for email blasts and refer to insights on
on “how” we communicate. Most people have a pre- Social Media for metrics. Reporting is very helpful. t
ferred channel of interaction. They respond when you
communicate with them in the way they like. Have

THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022 21

Featured Articles 2020-2021
Board of Directors
The Beauty of a Monopod
Mark Eckert, CECS / Enviromatic Corp of America
In 2000, I found myself
needing to change employ-
ment and a family member
introduced me to Nelson
Dilg. I found myself re-
solving the need for a job
close-to-home but I really
didn’t know what I was get-
ting myself into – the world
of grease exhaust system
cleaning. My assigned task
was to perform inspections
on our own work and new
clients, to confirm that all
was safe and their grease
exhaust system was indeed compliant with something
called the NFPA 96 Standard. Initially, this seemed like
a laborious task. Shortly, it all changed.

After being required to study the grave importance of grease exhaust system. I quickly found myself drinking
my new industry employment, and reading of numer- the Kool-Aid that my new President was “preaching” to
ous grease exhaust system fires, a local Chili’s® restau- me week in and out, when he would speak of this or-
rant burned to the ground in a raging five-alarm fire. ganization, IKECA, and its focus on proper cleaning of
The fire department found the source was tied to the the entire grease exhaust system. So, I began each in-
Featured Articles
spection with renewed purpose within these systems: The Wakeup Call
the fire safety of assets and of peoples’ lives. While performing an inspection for Don Pfleiderer
in Philadelphia, he asked me how things looked. I in-
I was then introduced to Don Pfleiderer and quickly formed him of the conditions at the hood, and my di-
realized he was grounded in the same principles as lemma of not having a ladder, and thus not being able
Mr. Dilg with regards to compliance to standards. I per- to inspect the horizontal duct, which appeared to be
formed my inspections responsibly, always sure to get compromised from the vertical, upwards view. He then
all parts of the system inspected. I found that areas lo- asked “is your monopod too short? If so, get one with
cated behind the filter tracks were the non-compliant that extends to eight feet, or two that can be combined.”
sections consistently skipped in cleaning operations. I said, “OK... but what is a monopod?”
Still, I always found myself needing to borrow some
customer’s ladder to get onto the hood in order to in- That was the day my inspection life changed dramatical-
spect the horizontal duct. This area was critically im- ly. This device has been well known to photographers
portant and challenging to verify. It was here that again, for years (there were no photographers in my family
many other cleaners were performing less than their and, GoPro® was 15 years away). Using the monopod
owners were hoping for. eliminated 80% of the time I had been speding, climb-
ing on top of hoods, carefully avoiding the suppression
cables, and removing access doors (apparently some
for the first time). It revolutionized my inspection work-
load.

So, for the 5% reading this story who don’t carry a mo-
nopod, but who perform any kind of work on grease
exhaust systems, and certainly all the inspectors, this
device is a must-have in your tool box. Oh, buy a few as
you’ll leave them from time to time as gifts for kitchen
staff! t
Featured Articles
Tips for Making the Right Equipment Purchase
Gary Weldon / Tegras North America
You hear about them all the time – these incredible Get an External Point of
restaurants that feature high-dollar tasting menus, cra- View
zy displays of molecular gastronomy, and insanely cre-
ative food that will leave you speechless. As restaurants Before you go out and just
advance to offer more to the customer experience, so start buying the latest and
do their kitchen exhaust systems and the grease they greatest equipment, pause
produce. If you have been a kitchen exhaust cleaner and get an external point
with years of field experience, you can attest to the of view. Depending on the
fact that there are several different kinds of systems scale of your investment,
and configurations out there, each with its own unique work with an external con-
grease output. sultant who can ensure
you are making the most of
Kitchen exhaust cleaners can be tasked with cleaning your purchase by accurate-
a restaurant with multiple hood systems with a long ly assessing your needs.
maze of connecting ductwork and a solid fuel cooking They can also provide a
system. For complex systems with hundreds of feet of cost-benefit analysis, which can help justify your pur-
lateral ductwork, would your kitchen exhaust cleaning chase.
company be up to the task? These types of jobs re-
quire a lot of technicians, multiple ladder setups, and Create a Roadmap
chemical applications.
It is important to see what’s working well in your kitch-
Upgrading or purchasing the right equipment can be en exhaust cleaning company and what is not. What
influential in helping your KEC company tackle these problems do you or your technicians face while on the
tough jobs. It is common for businesses to get to a job? This important step helps you understand your
point where they have plateaued and need to invest current equipment, set equipment development prior-
in their business for it to grow and become more prof- ities, and provide a timeline for the implementation of
itable. You may need to purchase new technology, ma- new equipment. This will also give you a clear picture
chinery, and equipment. Taking that step to purchase of what you are already doing and map out your pro-
new equipment can feel difficult, but sometimes it is cesses. Whether it is buying new equipment, new tech-
necessary. nology, or optimizing certain processes, this mapping
roadmap will help to identify investment opportunities
Your equipment purchase needs to fit in within your to improve your clients’ results.
overall strategy. Here are some tips for making the
right equipment purchase: Find a Trusted Supplier

Face the Reality The internet gives you access to a wide range of kitch-
en exhaust cleaning equipment companies, so take
The right equipment can improve your processes, pro- the time to research. Sign up for newsletters targeting
ductivity, capacity to innovate, and increase your reve- specific industries, and attend trades shows where you
nue. Start by assessing your kitchen exhaust cleaning can get some hands-on time with equipment Above all,
company’s reality and define your objectives. Ask your- don’t let price alone guide your decision. Consider as-
self these questions: pects such as post-sales service and the supplier’s rep-
1. Are you looking to increase productivity? utation. You can, and should, request their references!
2. Will this new equipment make you more
successful? Keep Training in Mind
3. Will it help you stay ahead of your competitors?
4. Does the equipment provide a solution to a All too often, KECs don’t consider the time, money,
problem? and resources required to train employees on the new

24 THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022

Featured Articles
equipment. Be sure to factor in training time to avoid
productivity drops that can occur when employees
take too much time to adapt to new equipment and
technology. If the equipment is new or has new fea-
Before you go out and just
tures, assume employees will face a learning curve.
Block off time to train employees and ask the supplier
start buying the latest and
if they provide new equipment training for your crew.
You will find that many suppliers have already factored
greatest equipment, pause
in this important element, so take advantage of it! Re-
member it is important to get ahead of problems by en-
and get an external point of
suring you have the right training in place to minimize
downtime.
view.
When you implement this process for your kitchen ex-
haust cleaning company, you can rest assured that as
restaurants advance to offer more to the customer ex-
Gary Weldon is the General Manager of Tegras North America
perience, you are also advancing with the right equip-
and has served as an Engineer for Omni Containment Systems,
ment! As a kitchen exhaust cleaner, you want to ensure LLC (OCS). OCS manufactures products that enable their
that not only are your clients happy, but their spaces clients to contain their fats, oils, and grease with cost effective,
are free of all grease. The easier that job is on you and environmentally responsible solutions. OCS has been a member
your employees, the better. When you obtain the right of IKECA since 2003.
equipment, you will have the peace of mind knowing
that it is going to save you time and money. That, in
itself, is priceless. t

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Don’t Miss In This Issue
Filter Efficiency: A Comparison of US and European Standards
Denis Schiavi / SiFiM Components & Solutions
When selecting replacement filters for restaurant The test aerosols consist of paraffin droplets generated
hoods, selection criteria may include the size or sizes by an atomizer. They are detected by a particle detec-
of the filters (usually standard), the material of construc- tor upstream and downstream of the filter.
tion, certifications of UL fire safety, NSF for sanitary
safety and static pressure drop, among others.

Sometimes overlooked when comparing different mar-

ket offerings is filter efficiency, designed to measure
the rate of grease particle capture for filters installed
into a commercial kitchen hood. Here, we compare the
US and European standards.

The US Standard
In the US market, there are a range of standards in-
cluding the ASTM F2519 standard, which defines the
method to measure grease particle capture efficiency
for a filter installed into a commercial kitchen hood.
Variables in the standard include filter size, flow rate,
and speed. However, the standard does not define a
range of available speed, and speed indication is not
incorporated into the below graph. Having speed as a TYPICAL FILTER EFFICIENCY GRAPH – EUROPEAN UNION
variable could produce data more comparable among STANDARD
different filter products.
FILTRATION EFFICIENCY - COMPARISON
As you can see, the main difference is about speed
and/or flow rate used in performing the testing.
In the EU standard, multiple speeds are set by the stan-
dard itself; this avoids having manufacturers having
to choose and show results from the most favorable
speeds. In the US standard, there is a reference speed
of 250 cfm per linear foot, but that may be changed, if
the manufacturer wants to test at another speed in or-
der to match the right flow rate of the hood.

Additionally, there is a difference in how particle test

aerosol is made. For EU, paraffin droplets are generat-
ed by an atomizer. In the US standard, the medium is
neutralized DEHS. This difference could be a source of
the gap between the two standards’ results.
TYPICAL FILTER EFFICIENCY GRAPH – US STANDARD

The European Union Standard

In comparison to the US market, the European mar-
ket-required standard for air filtration in ventilation
equipment for kitchens is German VDI 2052. The stan- Continues on page 28
dard features particle filtration efficiency measured at
different speeds for the same filter frontal size: from
0,5 m/s (around 98 fpm) to 2,5 m/s (around 492 fpm) in
steps of 0,5 m/s for a total of 5 curves.

THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022 27

Don’t Miss In This Issue
Filter Efficiency: A Comparison of US and European Standards,
continued
Denis Schiavi / SiFiM Components & Solutions

Pressure Drop
Another important parameter for hood design is the
pressure drop that is generated from filters and other
details.

Filter pressure drop can be very different from one type

of filter to another, and from one hood to another. This
is characterized by filter frontal area and flow rate.

If there is a need to compare data from different filter

sizes, it can be done by checking pressure drop at a
specified speed. By doing so, you can have more data
available and a wider choice to reach a better perfor-
mance from your hood. t

TYPICAL PRESSURE DROP GRAPH - UNIVERSAL

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Don’t Miss In This Issue
Post-Pandemic Hiring – Embrace What Has Worked for Decades
Brian Smith, Ph.D. / IA Business Advisors
There is a lot of chatter go- ing is generally included in the interview process. This
ing on about hiring. We hear perspective can help to prepare the team and the new
it everywhere in the news hire for the potential first day.
and our advising company
is regularly approached by Including the direct manager and one of the team mem-
clients to help them navi- bers who will be responsible for onboarding or working
gate the “new norm.” We with the new team member creates a few advantages
advise our clients to do ex- for everyone. First, the prospective team member can
actly what worked pre-pan- engage with a person with whom they will actually work
demic. with. This interaction has proven to be valuable both in
weeding out people who are not a fit and in solidifying
Our clients who followed a the final choice for the one that does. Second, the first
structured hiring process day for the new person is much less surprising and a
pre- and post-pandemic more comfortable beginning. This has proven to help
saw challenges, but these overcome a lot of first day to first week issues many
challenges are things that we can count on to never companies face. Finally, we have seen a definitive de-
remain the same. The labor pool is shallower and the
people in it were more discerning and difficult to com-
municate with. However, keeping a structured hiring
process aids in finding the right employee regardless. Continues on page 30
Our clients that followed this advice still hired good
team members and have good retention of those team
members. The clients that abandoned the structured
hiring process and tried to shortcut it began to see the
Share Your Ideas
chaos of disorganized hiring practices and poor com- Write an article for an upcoming
munication – higher turnover and difficulty in speaking issue of the Journal
to qualified candidates.
Not sure about writing an article?
So, what is the secret to hiring post-Covid? It is the Our professional staff will help you “polish” your
same process as hiring pre-Covid! article. Don’t let the thought that “I’m not a writer”
stop you from sharing your ideas or perspective.
1. Be Transparent About the Position.

Companies feel like they need to sell a job, so they put

Need more incentive?
the great aspects into the advertisement to sell candi- Earn CEUs!
dates on the job, money, and culture. People today are
still searching for work that not only pays the bills but Need continuing education credits to maintain
supports the lifestyle they envision for themselves and your certification?
their family. So, when you advertise the job, describe Earn 0.3 CEU for submitting an article for publication
the job in detail. Help them understand what the hours in the IKECA Journal.
are, what the environment is, what the team structure
or lack of structure is, and be clear about what the role’s Questions? Call IKECA at 410-417-5234 or email
expectations are. [email protected].

2. Interview with Team Members Who Will Work with

the New Hire.

One of the biggest mistakes we believe happens is that

no one from the team where the new hire will be work-

THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022 29

Don’t Miss In This Issue
Post-Pandemic Hiring – Embrace What Has Worked for Decades,
continued
Dr. Brian Smith, Ph.D. / IA Business Advisors
crease in turnover of new hires in industries that tend Have the legal issues ready to be completed and en-
to have more attrition: the trades, food service, and sure that the process includes a review of your company
hospitality. culture, employee handbook, policies, and procedures.
Ensure introductions are made to anyone the person
3. Make the First Day a Big Deal. may interact with; this will ensure that when they cross
paths again in the near future, those interactions will be
Be prepared for your new team member. This is an im- more comfortable, instead of that surprised, “Oh, are
portant change for your company, your team, and the you new person everyone is talking about?”
person joining you. Ensure that the person arrives to
an environment that recognizes they are new and is Hiring post-Covid doesn’t have to be different than hir-
prepared to help them acclimate and settle into their ing pre-Covid. While the labor pool might be smaller,
surroundings and areas of influence. keeping positive and engaging hiring tactics is the way
to ensure success. Be honest about what you’re look-
This does not mean throw a party. What this means is ing for, include your team, and be prepared to onboard
that your organization and everyone who will be in- correctly. t
volved in supporting the person’s first day will be ready
and have a plan to accomplish what is needed to en- Brian Smith is the Founder and Senior Managing Partner at IA
sure your new team member feels like part of the team Business Advisors. IA supports clients across the United States
from moment one. and in 32 other countries, and has been a member of IKECA
since 2010.

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Don’t Miss In This Issue
The Paradox of Fear
Bill Wooditch / Wooditch Enterprises
Growth will have more in-
fluence on your safety and
security than those risks of
inaction. Life expresses it-
self forward; you are either
growing or declining. But
you may not risk because
you want to feel safe. Fear
told Richard Branson not
to start Virgin Airlines; he
didn’t listen to the voice.
Fear told George Washing-
ton he wouldn’t survive the
winter; he got on that boat
at Valley Forge, and we’re
living today from the courage of that historical move
forward.
win! Remember, sustainable achievement is generated
Fear informs those who are willing to listen. Fear con- through directed activity, intelligent risk, and the will-
forms to the limitations of the message; it does not ingness to engage life as a teacher in a classroom that
expand beyond doubt, worry, loss, and uncertainty. It is always in session.
is the messenger that must believe the message. The
messenger must convey the message with courage. Awareness Quotient:
You must be that messenger. Be bold. Have convic-
tion. Exude confidence. Accept failure as a teacher and • You are accountable to the process, but not the
move “Always Forward!”. outcome. You influence the outcome by remain-
ing accountable to the process.
The more you believe your fears, the stronger they • Be cautious not to assign self-worth to an opin-
become. The opposite is true. Fear prefers to isolate ion of another, or to external events that are out-
you in the dark or on your own with your thoughts. side of your span of influence. If your self-worth
It doesn’t flourish from the encouragement of your al- is attached to the opinion of others or to external
lies. You need your allies; you need the strength of your events, your confidence and self-esteem will
self-talk and you need to be surrounded by those who fluctuate and take the roller coaster ride on the
live a life of increase; those who overcome fears daily tracks of that which you cannot control. Control
and live a life of forward motion. your internal assessment of external events and
realize that most of the outside world is beyond
Entry on the road to abundance comes at a cost. What your control.
often stands between you and the life, you want to lead • Safe doesn’t wake up your survival instinct; it
is fear. For some, their ego-identity is at stake with every slumbers in the zone of comfort. Personal and
decision they make, so they don’t take action or default professional growth first happens when you
to safe choices. The cost of success is perseverance, wake up, feel the twinge of fear, perhaps the
resilience, and conformity to habit. Each trait is subject scream of the lizard brain, and move forward in
to your awareness of the need to do that which you spite of it.
must to move forward. Once you are aware, you have • The fear of personal responsibility creates help-
an obligation to act upon that which you have found. lessness. You must be the author of your story;
personal accountability is the essential nutrition
Successful engagement and expression reside on the of personal growth. If it is to be, it will be up to
other side of fear. Make the metaphorical journey to you to make it happen. Find a way or make a
the edge and jump off, use a parachute, and make sure way! t
you pack it. Move forward and adapt, try, learn, and

THE IKECA JOURNAL | FALL 2022 31

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