Grease fires in hoods pose a serious danger.
Some services and products are necessities in the food industry. Hood cleaning is one example. An average of 50 grease hood or exhaust fan fires damaged restaurants each year between 2000 and 2004. The fires resulted in approximately one million dollars in annual damages. Restaurants must follow federal, state and local laws relating to hood care. The National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Code, followed by most fire inspectors and insurance companies, states that hoods should be cleaned by individuals who are properly trained and certified. The International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association (IKECA) certifies exhaust cleaners and provides continuing education.
Instructions
Certified Exhaust Cleaning Specialist (CECS) Test
1. Study and learn the NFPA 96 standards for commercial cooking ventilation control and fire protection.
2. Memorize the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for hazardous communication, confined space entry, control of hazardous energy, respiratory and personal protective equipment, and ladder safety.
3. Assimilate the International Mechanical Code (IMC) regarding commercial food heat-processing appliances, kitchen grease ducts and exhaust equipment, hoods, make up air, fire suppression systems, and cooking appliances.
4. Learn the International Fire Code (IFC) related to alternative automatic fire-extinguishing systems, including hood suppression systems, actuation, system interlocking, monitoring, and commercial cooking systems.
5. Sign up for the CECS test and pay the examination fee.
6. Take and pass the test. You must have at least 70 percent correct answers to pass the test. There is a total of 150 questions, so you must answer 105 correctly. You have three hours to complete the exam.
7. Take the Certified Exhaust Cleaning Technician (CECT) Exam to work on a crew under the direct supervision of a certified exhaust cleaning specialist. You only need to study the NFPA 96 standards for ventilation control and fire protection of commercial cooking.
8. Pass the 100-question exam. You must have at least 70 percent of your answers correct.
Certified Exhaust Specialist Inspector (CESI) Test
9. Take the CESI certification test if you plan to become a field inspector whose job it is to inspect and make reports regarding the condition of the ventilation system.
10. Demonstrate your ability to determine the type of system used in the facility, identify the system components, diagram the system, indicate the cleanliness of the system, and make recommendations to your customer regarding regular maintenance.
11. Learn the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning, (HVAC) Chapter 31. Study the NFPA 96 standards for commercial cooking ventilation control and fire protection.
12. Memorize the International Mechanical Code (IMC) regarding commercial food heat-processing appliances, kitchen grease ducts and exhaust equipment, kitchen hoods, make up air, suppression systems, and cooking appliances.
13. Learn the International Fire Code (IFC) related to alternative automatic fire-extinguishing systems and OSHA's ladder safety. Pass the 95-question test with at least 75 percent of your answers correct. You have two hours to complete the closed-book exam.
Tags: commercial cooking, control fire, control fire protection, Exhaust Cleaning, fire protection, least percent
