Grease Interceptors - Materials of construction, does it matter?

Schier Products manufacturer's all of their grease interceptors out of HDPE (high density polyethylene).  This material has excellent properties ideally suited for grease interceptors.  Consider these advantages:

- The material is completely inert to whatever may come down a commercial kitchen waste line.  Because of this Schier is proud to be the ONLY manufacturer in the industry to offer a LIFETIME warranty on all of its grease interceptors, solids interceptors, oil separators and even their chemical waste tanks.

- The material is lightweight making installations much easier, faster, and less expensive than other materials of construction.

- The material is durable allowing it to take a high degree of physical abuse without deteriorating.

What about concrete?
The Portland Cement Association produced an article titled: "Effects of Substances on Concrete and Guide to Protective Treatments" (2001).  In this article they listed a variety of media that will deteriorate concrete ultimately leading to a failure unless a protective coating is used.  Among the types of media listed that are harmful to concrete are: fats, fatty acids, vegetable oils, salts, sugars, acids, bleach and water.  All of these are commonly found in the waste effluent in a normal commercial kitchen.

Concrete gravity grease interceptors are guaranteed to fail and in fact they are being replaced all the time.  On average a concrete gravity interceptor will last approximately 8 years.  Schier recently replaced a concrete gravity interceptor in Beaverton Oregon.  The restaurant's 1000 gallon concrete gravity grease interceptor had a large hole in the bottom.  The city required them to replace the failed unit and approved a Schier GB-250 as the replacement unit.  The Schier unit was successfully installed inside the existing gravity interceptor substantially reducing the replacement cost and providing the restaurant with a far superior product.  The Schier unit will be there for the life of the plumbing system giving peace of mind to the restaurant and the city.

Metal is also a poor choice for a grease interceptor.  Most grease interceptor manufacturers still use metal today with a "corrosion resistant" coating in the interior of their units.  Unfortunately the process for pumping out and cleaning these devices invariably scratches the coating leaving bare metal exposed.  These exposed areas are susceptible to corrosion.  The average lifespan of a metal grease interceptor is approximately 5 years.

When you have a choice on what to recommend or specify for a project, consider the materials of construction involved - it really does matter!