It seems there is an exception to nearly every rule, and the codes that govern kitchen hood installation are no different.
These codes are designed to promote health and safety. Most governmental building inspectors establish and enforce code requirements for their state and/or city.
Having this sort of “book knowledge” is good, but “real world” knowledge also is necessary to adequately enforce the code
That lack of real world experience often prompts plan examiners to go against the intent of the code- to ensure health and safety- while attempting to follow the letter of the code.
Some plan examiners need to pay more attention to the safety tips the contractors are proposing and consider that we are doing what we can to comply with the code.
Imagine a situation in which a kitchen hood system has to be installed in a new building and the code required that the system be installed 10 feet from the edge of the roof. However, doing that would have made future cleaning, repairs and services difficult and dangerous for workers, because of a nearby hedge and a slope on the building.
Sometimes when you comply with the code, real safety and practicality are being ignored just to meet the code. But you shouldn’t forget that the concept of safety and practicality is a great issue too.
The Process
When a hood cleaning company is hired to install a hood system, someone must first submit drawings to the appropriate plan examiner for the city. In some cities, this is a person who has a background in the field and engineering and/or design knowledge.
Sometimes the plan inspector is someone who may possess the book knowledge, but they’ve never worked in the field and don’t realize that following the code actually decreases safety in some cases.
Basically, they just read from the code book. If the code says to put in 10 access panels, that’s what they expect, even if doing so would mean that some of those panels aren’t accessible. That is not practical, nor does it make good sense.
In situations where the hood installation firm recommends an alternative to strictly adhering to the code, someone with the firm takes this idea to the city and explains the situation. If it is believed that putting an exhaust fan five feet from a building’s edge because at 10 feet, there is a slope that would make cleaning and servicing the fan more dangerous, he tells the examiner.
Once the examiner approves the alteration, they include an explanation on the drawing that explains why the code won’t be followed in that situation.
Thankfully, examiners who insist on following the code without exception are few.
This happens seldom, most planning examiners are pretty reasonable, knowledgeable guys. They understand what’s out there, and they know when the guy in the field is telling them something different from the code, it’s because there is a safer way, not because he’s trying to make the work easier.
The danger in having these “strictly by the book” examiners is that is breeds apathy over time and contractors begin to stop considering the long-term consequences of their work.
Contractors should put personal care into their work. They should consider safety in everything they do and work to ensure there are no flaws. But because there are “pencil pushers” who enforce the code without any external considerations, many contractors today just build according to code and don’t consider the consequences.
The code is designed to protect people and promote safety. We don’t want to get around the code, we just want to make sure we follow the spirit of the code and the intention behind it.
About APS-Hoods
APS-Hoods is a Denver, Colorado based full-service restaurant fire protection business that installs, services, repairs and performs routine inspections and cleaning for hood and fire suppression systems. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Massoud Farazandeh in 1989, APS-Hoods has grown into a national leader in kitchen hood sales, hood cleaning and fire protection for restaurants and facilities.
Reputable, professional restaurant hood cleaning services are trained to safely use 3,500 to 4,000 psi steam cleaners to penetrate and cut through built up grease.
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