Rooftop exhaust fan grease catchers are used to collect grease and oil discharge from commercial kitchen upblast exhaust fans. Who needs one? Well, if your kitchen or restaurant only bakes or steams food, you’re only producing heat and moisture.
In this case, you probably don’t need an exhaust fan grease catcher. However, if any of your cooking produces smoke or grease vapors, you definitely need a rooftop grease trap. Now, let’s talk about why.
Why Install An Exhaust Fan Grease Catcher?
Smoke, oil and grease particles produced by cooking are exhausted into your ventilation system. Cooking applications like frying, broiling, and grilling are the most common sources of fats, oils and grease particulates. Any grease that enters your restaurant ventilation system through the vent hood will accumulate and build up on the surfaces of the internal hood, the duct work, and the interior of the upblast fan.
This grease build up will begin to pool, and eventually spill over and leak from the exhaust fan. Once it leaks from the fan, it’s inevitable that it will get on your roof. Even if only a small percentage of the cooking done produces smoke or grease, you should have an exhaust fan grease catcher to trap the effluent. Here are some important reasons why:
Fire Hazard
Build up of grease effluent on your rooftop is a huge hazard. It is extremely flammable, serves as a fuel source, and poses a significant risk of fire.
If you don’t have a rooftop exhaust fan grease catcher installed, you are exposing your building and your business to not only costly structural damage, but major liability and safety issues.
Required By NFPA
The National Fire Protection Association Fire Code 96: 7.8.2.1 states that rooftop termination shall be arranged with or provided with the ability to drain grease out of any traps or low points formed in the fan or duct near the termination of the system into a collection container that is noncombustible, closed, rainproof, and structurally sound for the service to which it is applied and that will not sustain combustion.
The code also states that the grease collection device shall not inhibit the performance of any fan and that all upblast fans shall have a drain directed to a readily accessible and visible grease receptacle. In addition, the unit must be “mounted to the fan in a manner to collect the oil that drips from the fan during operation.”
It’s not always just the NFPA that requires you to capture grease run-off though. If you review your lease or insurance agreement, you will likely find that having a rooftop grease containment system installed is a requirement of both. But don’t try to set up your own grease catchment.
Some people think a simple catch pan underneath the exhaust hoods is enough. However, this is not an effective method and is prone to leaking and allowing the grease to overflow and escape when there is rainfall. We’ve even heard of people placing a plastic bucket under the exhaust fan drain spout – yet another ineffective method we don’t recommend.
You need an exhaust fan grease catcher that meets NFPA fire code requirements. You also need something that is easy to clean, easy to maintain and easy to install. And perhaps most importantly, you need a product that works. If you let even a little bit of grease build up on your roof, you’re going to regret it.
Detrimental To Your Roof
Grease buildup isn’t just a fire hazard and a fuel source. If given the chance to adhere to your roof, even a small amount can cause your roof membrane to weaken and leak. And it doesn’t take long for grease to do this. After just a few days, it will begin to break down and impregnate the roof membrane. Eventually, it will become impossible to remove.
Grease and oil deposits deteriorate your roof, compromise seams, and cause cracks and blistering. Leaky roofs can lead to a whole host of structural damage – and roof repair is not cheap. In addition, roof decay can be very unsightly and cause unpleasant odors due to increased bacteria and mold growth, which can attract rodents and other pests.
Dangerous Conditions For Personnel Who Work On Roof
The dangers of rooftop grease aren’t just structural and fire-related though. Rooftop grease accumulation is a slip hazard for any personnel who may need to access the area. Grease spills create unsafe conditions for workers and put you at risk for OSHA fines and workers compensation claims.
This includes anyone inspecting, maintaining or servicing any equipment located on the rooftop as well as anyone accessing areas where rooftop grease has run-off the side of the building and onto the ground.
Environmental Concerns
But is it enough just to comply with the NFPA 96 fire code? Not really. Fire codes are great at protecting against fires but they weren’t created to prevent environmental damage. If your upblast fan is emitting grease and oil onto your rooftop, that means it is also getting washed into the stormwater system with any precipitation.
This isn’t just bad for the environment, it’s also possibly in violation of EPA regulations in your state. In addition, when fats, oils and grease are released into the sewer system, they can form thick grease balls that clog the pipes and result in sewer backups.
Plus, if the sewer backs up at your business, chances are you’ll be held responsible for the cleanup. To avoid problems and save money on potential fines and environmental clean-up costs, install an exhaust fan grease catcher so that you can be properly dispose of the grease.
Protect Your Roof With A Grease Interceptor
Controlling rooftop grease doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. It’s really quite easy to protect your building and the environment from damaging effects exhaust fan grease run-off. Prevention is the key. By installing an exhaust fan grease trap you can stop the grease and oil before it ever reaches your rooftop.
About The Exhaust Fan Grease Box
The Original Grease Box is a toolbox style exhaust fan grease box is a great choice for low volume kitchens that don’t produce a lot of fats, oils and grease. Designed to be used without a grease pillow, it is a tried and true solution that will fit any upblast exhaust fan.
It is the most economical rooftop grease catcher on the market and offers long-term protection to commercial kitchen rooftops. This model of grease box features a two-chamber design that allows water to flow through. It is made of aluminized metal and comes with a 1-1/2” diameter down spout. The box dimensions are 15-3/4” x 5-1/16” x 3-3/4”.
To install, just attach the grease box to the fan curb at the appropriate height with the included screws. Adjust the downspout as needed and you’re done. Learn more about this exhaust fan grease box in the short tutorial video below:
Ensure Your Grease Box Is Working Most Effectively
Once you have a grease box installed, it’s important to make sure it continues to working effectively. This mainly means one thing: routinely inspect, clean, and maintain your grease box. If it’s full and overflowing, your grease box will be no help. If it has been damaged in some way, it may leak. If the exhaust fan drain pipe isn’t properly installed or connected, it won’t be able to capture the grease discharge. Set up a schedule and check on your grease box regularly. Most people simply add it into the checklist for their upblast exhaust fan.
Another way to help your exhaust fan grease catcher work more efficiently is to stop grease from getting into your upblast exhaust fan in the first place. While some grease will always find a way into your rooftop ventilator, you can help keep decrease the amount by using the right type of grease hood filters in your ventilation hood and cleaning your hood filters, vent hood, and duct work on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Rooftop grease can quickly become a serious fire hazard. The most recent data show more than 8,000 fires are reported annually, and an extremely high percentage of foodservice establishment fires are due in part to kitchen exhaust grease and oil.
Preventive measures like the addition of an exhaust fan grease catcher can help save you time, money and hassle. For more information, you can visit our website to live chat with a product specialist, email us, or just give us a call at 877.394.9731. We have a wide variety of rooftop grease box systems to fit your needs and protect your bottom line.