What does IKECA/ANSI Standard C-10 say about cleaning commercial kitchen exhaust systems?

How does the IKECA/ANSI C-10 Standard fit with NFPA 96?

NPFA 96 is the National Fire Protection Association’s Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. NFPA 96 is mostly about how a kitchen exhaust system should be designed. Our next document is about how to clean a kitchen exhaust system. It is the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association’s (IKECA’s) C-10, the Standard for the Methodology for Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems. C-10 went through a standards development process which was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

What is in the IKECA/ANSI C-10 Standard?

Not counting the endnotes, it is organized into 11 chapters. What follows is a summary of what is in it, and not the complete standard:

  • Chapter 1: Administration. This covers the scope, purpose, and application of the standard
     
  • Chapter 2: Referenced Publications. This basically says that the document assumes that NFPA 96 is also required.
     
  • Chapter 3: Definitions. A glossary for the rest of the document
     
  • Chapter 4: Pre-Cleaning Operations Inspection. A system should be inspected, including turning on the exhaust fan and makeup air system and checking the filters, prior to cleaning. Any deficiencies should be noted in the service report.
     
  • Chapter 5: Energy Source Protection. The system should be locked out and tagged out, and any solid fuels removed from the area, prior to the cleaning process. Everything must be returned to an operable state after cleaning.
     
  • Chapter 6: Protection of Workspace Areas. Food must be removed from the work area, and cookware, and cooking equipment must be removed or protected, prior to cleaning. Any plastic used for protection must be disposed of properly after the cleaning process.
     
  • Chapter 7: By-Product Control Process Preparation. Wash water must be contained within the facility for proper disposal, which is not through a storm water collection system or a typical sanitary collection point. Solid waste must be disposed of properly.
     
  • Chapter 8: Process Personnel Protection. Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn to protect the eyes, lungs, hands, feet, and head. Safe procedures must be followed for chemicals and, where applicable for use of ladders and fall protection equipment. Lockout and tagout procedures must be followed.
     
  • Chapter 9: Cleaning Processes and Controls. This covers how to measure for when cleaning is needed, as well as the various acceptable methods for cleaning exhaust systems.
     
  • Chapter 10: Exhaust Duct Access and Labeling. This requires that all parts of the system be accessible for inspection and cleaning, and that access panels be labeled when used. Note that NFPA 96 requires hinge kits on fans to facilitate this.
     
  • Chapter 11: Exhaust Cleaning Process Reporting. This covers requirement for the hood sticker, the service report, and deficiency reporting.

Where to get more information

Unfortunately, the C-10 standard is not available free online, the way that NFPA 96 is. You can buy it in pdf form from ANSI here. If you have a question, you can call Airways at 630-595-4242.

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