Decommissioning Guide Published for Grease Management Systems

Apr 23, 2020

The Grease Contractors Association (GCA) has issued important advice to food service establishments (FSEs) on how to safely decommission their kitchen grease management systems. The UK government ordered the closure of cafes, pubs and restaurants, except those serving takeaway food, in March in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The GCA is a non-profit organisation of specifiers, installers, maintainers and manufacturers of grease management systems, administered by trade association British Water. Its equipment preservation guidance has been sent to industry trade associations and sets out steps that can be taken, if safe to do so, to protect equipment while businesses are closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The guidance is also available on the GCA website.

Lila Thompson, chair of the GCA and chief executive of British Water, said: “The Covid-19 outbreak is having an unprecedented impact on the food service industry and the thoughts of GCA members are with FSEs and their customers at this time.

“This advice is intended to prolong the life of kitchen grease management systems, so they will be ready to use safely when restaurant and cafe doors reopen. If it is safe to do so, taking these steps now will ensure a smoother recommissioning process when the food service sector is back in business.”

The guidance has information relating to bio-dosing pumps, grease removal units and passive traps and includes advice on how to avoid a build-up of hazardous bacteria and odour while equipment is not in use.

In addition to its grease management guidance notes, the GCA has a partnership with the Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA), which has produced a guide to decommissioning all kitchen equipment.

Thompson said: “As with the entire supply chain, our GCA members are also feeling the impact of the crisis. British Water is therefore currently hosting regular video calls for members, where they can voice concerns and hear useful advice from industry peers.”

Contact

Grease Contractors Association, c/o British Water

Vox Studios, 1-45 Durham St

SE11 5JH London

United Kingdom

Phone:

+44 203 567 0950

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