The Holidays are many restaurants’ busiest time of year. Unfortunately, this increased volume coupled with winter temperatures can significantly increase the risk of a clogged grease waste which can cause a unexpected business shutdown at the worst possible time. These unexpected shutdowns can ruin customer’s holiday plans, create a severe financial burden on business operators, and damage reputations. Fortunately, nVent RAYCHEM XL-Trace Edge Flow Maintenance Systems deliver a proven economical and environmentally friendly solution to virtually eliminate the risk of clogged grease waste lines;
What is Grease Waste?
Grease interceptors in commercial kitchens are often required as a means of preventing Fat, Oil, and Grease (FOG) from discharging into municipal sewer systems. As building design trends are pushing interceptors further away from the kitchen and capturing more points of use as part of a larger system, it becomes vital to heat the FOG to its optimal viscosity from the initial flow point to the interceptor. This prevents blockage, maintains flow and optimizes grease interceptor performance.
Since FOG separates and interceptors perform at their best when the effluent is hot, generally ranging from 105-115°F, thermal insulation of the pipes alone is not sufficient to keep grease waste free flowing, especially during winter. Without proper preventive measures, the colder it gets, the more likely a business-stopping clog will occur.
Modern commercial kitchens also need to be concerned about the discharge of FOG to municipal sewers. If effluent is too hot or too much volume is delivered to the interceptor at one time, FOG can bypass the grease interceptor and congeal downstream in the sewer. This can lead to serious sewer clogging issues and heavy fines for offenders.
Effective Flow Management Systems
nVent offers a unique solution, based on nVent RAYCHEM XL-Trace Edge (CT) heating cables, for the efficient and environmentally responsible management of grease waste lines that run from commercial kitchens to grease interceptors. A nVent RAYCHEM Grease Waste Flow Maintenance system keeps Fat, Oil, and Grease (FOG) effluent at an ideal temperature that is hot enough to flow into grease interceptors but is also cool enough to not exceed the maximum effluent temperature mandated by some municipalities which helps minimize FOG bypassing the grease interceptor.
The Grease Waste line heat tracing system includes specified heating cables, power connections, splices and tee connections, controls, and accessories necessary for a complete and economical solution. nVent RAYCHEM heat trace cables can be installed on metal or plastic pipes, can be wrapped around valves and other heat sinks, and can be used for above-ground or buried pipes.
Watch our short introductory video to see a typical flow management system:
Trace-Calc Pro for Buildings online design tool lets you create projects that can contain multiple applications, including Grease Waste Flow maintenance, multiple circuits, and multiple pipe segments with different design parameters on a single circuit.
If you are looking to specify a RAYCHEM System solution for your grease waste line application please visit Product MasterSpec Section 220533.