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Part I: Guidance for Grease Trap Sizing and Design Criteria

A. Introduction:

Information contained within this document is based on standard industry practices and
guidance found in both the 2009 International Plumbing Code (IPC) Commentary and the
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), Appendix H. Size, type, and location of grease traps
shall be in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions, the requirements of City of
Fort Worth Environmental Ordinance #12274 and Plumbing Ordinance #15951.
B. Applicability:
These requirements are applicable to all commercial food service establishments,
including those that are undergoing:

1. New construction
2. Interior remodeling to accommodate expansion or operational modifications
3. Changes of ownership/occupancy
4. Facilities which may be experiencing difficulty in achieving compliance with
maintenance and/or wastewater discharge limitations
C. Sizing Requirements:
Sizing methods described herein are intended as guidance in determining grease
trap/interceptor sizes that will afford the City’s sanitary sewer system a minimum degree
of protection against grease and other obstructing materials. Sizing determinations are
based on operational data provided by business owners or their contractors. In approving
a customer’s plumbing or grease interceptor design, the City does not accept liability for
the failure of a system to adequately treat wastewater to achieve effluent quality
requirements specified under Ordinance 12274. It is the responsibility of the generator
and/or contractors to insure the appropriate level of treatment necessary for compliance
with environmental and wastewater regulations.
Minimum acceptable grease trap/interceptor sizing shall be accomplished as follows:
a. Sizing according to formulas found in Section D below.

b. Where sizing formulas result in determination of a grease trap less than 750
gallons in capacity, this minimum size is recommended for all restaurant
applications. However, under no circumstances should exterior grease traps
less than 500 gallons be utilized.

D. Grease Trap Sizing Formulas:

It is the responsibility of the generator and his/her contractors to ensure that the
wastewater discharged from their facility is in compliance with the City’s discharge
limitations. For the purpose of plans review, a general assessment of grease
trap/interceptor design and size will be performed using the following formulas. (These
formulas have been demonstrated as industry standards capable of achieving the City’s
discharge criteria when systems are maintained in proper condition.)
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Method 1: Uniform Plumbing Code, Appendix H

Number of meals x waste flow x retention x storage = Size Requirement

Per peak hour (1) rate (2) time (3) factor (4) (liquid capacity)

Factors:

1) Number of meals served at peak operating hour (Seating Capacity) x Peak Factor
a. Where Peak Factor for Fast Food Restaurant is……...1.33
b. And, Peak Factor for all other food service types is….1.00

2) Waste Flow Rate:

a. With Dishwasher…………………………………6 gallon flow
b. Without Dishwasher……………………………...5 gallon flow
c. Single Service kitchen……………………..……. 2 gallon flow
d. Food waste disposer…………………………….. 1 gallon flow
3) Retention Times
a. Commercial kitchen waste/dishwasher……………2.5 hours
b. Single service kitchen/single serving………………1.5 hours
i. (Kitchens that have a three compartment sink, hand sink and mop
sink and use disposable cups, plates, forks, knives, and spoons.)

4) Storage Factors
a. Fully equipped commercial kitchen …..8 hr operation…1
b. ………………………………………..16 hr operation…2
c. ………………………………………..24 hr operation…3
d. Single Service Kitchen…………….……………………1.5

The Uniform Plumbing code includes a built-in safety factor that can yield very large
grease trap size specifications. At this time, the City is not requiring traps larger than
4,000 gallons. However, the decision to use a trap smaller than that specified by the
formula and calculations above is to be addressed in the plan submission.

Method 2: Alternative Method Supplied by Professional Engineer or Master Plumber

A. Must include all calculations with specific site on submitted plans.

B. Sealed plans must be submitted to the Water Department by a Texas Licensed
Professional Engineer.
C. Must show all calculations with recommended size.
D. Plans must submit to the Water Department for review and approval.
E. Failure to include all of the above will result in the use of the UPC size criteria.

E. Alternate Sizing Formulas / Proposals

Food service establishments that propose the use of alternate sizing techniques and/or
procedures that result in specifications that differ from calculated requirements (or are
less than the MIMIMUM 750 gallon recommendation), must submit formulas and other
bases to support proposed grease trap size/ installation. Submission should also provide
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documentation of ability to meet effluent quality requirements. This proposal must be

signed by a licensed plumbing contractor or professional engineer. Under no
circumstance will a grease trap smaller than 500 gallons be accepted.

Alternate procedures for grease removal (i.e. Big Dipper, Zurn, Schier, etc.) must be
approved on an case by case basis.

F. Construction/Installation:

All permitting, construction, and inspection activities must be completed in accordance

with the Fort Worth Plumbing Code #15951. Additionally, the following specifications
must be incorporated into grease trap design.

a. The grease interceptor shall be constructed with a minimum of two baffles.

Each manhole access shall be minimum 20” diameter clear opening. Manhole
covers shall be placed at grade elevation by using concrete extension rings or
24” RCP. Side connections are prohibited for inlet or outlet. Inlet and outlet
risers are required and shall be factory installed or installed by contractor.

b. Grease traps are to be installed at a minimum distance of 10 ft. from sinks and
dishwashers to allow for adequate cooling of the wastewater. Water
temperatures must be less than 120 degrees prior to entering grease trap.

c. All grease bearing waste streams should be routed through an appropriate

grease trap/interceptor, including: three-compartment sinks, pot/pan sinks,
soup kettles, hand-washing sinks, automatic dishwashers, mop sinks and floor
drains. All drains that receive “clear waste” only, such as from ice machines,
condensate from coils and drink stations, located in food preparation areas
must be plumbed to the oil & grease interceptor. Any exceptions for by-pass
must have written authorization from the Chief Plumbing Inspector or the Fort
Worth Water Department Director.

d. Kitchens that utilize Garbage Disposals shall be required to use an interceptor

twice the size calculated in Part I, Section D, above.

e. All exterior or recessed Grease Traps and Interceptors are to be installed with
an Effluent Sampling Well, equivalent to: a. Parks Equipment Services
Sample Well SWB-1; or b. PW Eagle Sample Well. Sample wells will have a
minimum 12” diameter access cover. Mechanical Traps and Interceptors that
are installed above ground must be equipped with an influent flow regulator
and an effluent valve assembly that allows for sample collection.
G. Customer (Generator) Responsibilities:
It is the responsibility of the customer (waste generator) to insure compliance with the
City of Fort Worth’s discharge limitations specified in Environmental Ordinance #12274.
Hazardous wastes, such as acids, strong cleaners, pesticides, herbicides, paint, solvents,
or gasoline should not be disposed of where they would go through grease or grit traps.
If commercial dishwashers are discharged through a grease interceptor, care must be
taken in system design. Dishwashers use detergents and elevated water temperatures that
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will melt grease. If the interceptor is either too small or too close to the commercial
dishwasher, grease may pass through the interceptor and into the collection system.
G. Customer (Generator) Responsibilities (continued)

Generators are responsible for maintaining grease traps in continuous proper working
condition. Further, generators are responsible for inspecting, repairing, replacing, or
installing apparatus and equipment as necessary to ensure proper operation and function
of grease traps and compliance with discharge limitations at all times.

The generator must have grease traps serviced (pumped, cleaned, and inspected) by a
City of Fort Worth permitted waste hauler, at a minimum frequency of every 90 days or
more often as necessary, to ensure proper function. Records of maintenance are
required to be maintained on site for five (5) years. (90 day maintenance frequency
assumes proper sizing and installation consistent with this guidance).

Enzymes, solvents, and emulsifiers are not permitted as they will only change the form of
grease, allowing it to be carried out of the trap with the wastewater and deposited in the
collection system. Biological treatment systems must be pre-approved by the
Pretreatment Services Division. These systems will not alleviate the necessity for
inspection and proper maintenance.

Part II: Other types of Interceptors and sizing requirements

Interceptors are required for oil, grease, sand and other substances harmful or hazardous
to the building drainage system, the public sewer or sewage treatment plant. Design, size,
and location of pretreatment devices must be submitted by a licensed plumbing contractor
or professional engineer for review and approval.

A. Laundries

Commercial Laundries, Laundromats, and dry-cleaners shall be equipped with an

interceptor in order to reduce the quantity of lint and silt that enter the collection system.
The system must be of adequate size and design to allow for cool-down of wastewater so
that separation can be more readily achieved. The interceptor must be installed with a
wire basket or similar device, removable for cleaning, that prevents passage into the
drainage system of solids ½ inch (12.7 mm) or larger in size, string, rags, buttons or other
materials detrimental to the public sewerage system.

Sizing must be in accordance with guidance found in the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC),
Appendix H which uses the following formula:

(TGC) x (CPH) x (RT) x (ST) = Size of Lint Interceptor (gallons)

Where:
TGC = Total Gallons per Cycle
CPH = Cycles per hour
RT = Retention time
2.5 for Institutional Laundry
2.0 for Standard Commercial Laundry
1.5 Light Commercial Laundry
ST = Storage Factor, based on hours of operation;
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1.0 for 8 hours of operation

1.5 for 12 or more hours
A. Laundries (continued)

Currently, an effluent sample well is required for all small commercial laundries.
However, large and/or industrial laundries may be subject to Federal Pretreatment
regulations. For more information please contact the Fort Worth Water Department,
Pretreatment Services Division, at (817) 392-8305.

B. Car Washes

Where automobiles are washed (including detail shops utilizing hand-wash practices),
separators shall have a minimum capacity of 1000 gallons for the first bay, with an
additional 500 gallons of capacity for every other bay.

Additionally, wash racks must be constructed to eliminate or minimize the impact of run-
off from rain/storm events. Minimum requirements are roofed structures with at least
two walls and appropriate grading to prevent stormwater infiltration into the sanitary
sewer.

An effluent sampling well is required, per specifications listed in Part 1, Section F, Sub-
section e.

C. Automotive Repair Facilities (Garages and Service Stations)

Where automobiles are serviced, greased, or repaired or where gasoline is dispensed,

oil/water separators shall have a minimum capacity of 500 gallons for the first 1000
square feet of area to be drained, plus 250 gallons for each additional 1000 square feet of
area to be drained into the separator. An effluent sampling well is required, per
specifications listed in Part 1, Section F, Sub-section e.

Note: Parking garages in which servicing, repairing, or washing is not conducted, and in
which gasoline is not dispensed, shall not require a separator. Areas of commercial
garages utilized only for storage of automobiles are not required to be drained through a
separator, provided there are not connections to the sanitary sewer.

D. Water Department - Pretreatment Services -Elevators - Grease Trap New or Existing

Facility
City of Fort Worth Ordinance requires an oil & grease interceptor for elevators that
utilizes hydraulic fluid and must have the capacity to contain all of the hydraulic fluid
for the sum of all elevators. The elevator company must provide for each elevator the
dimensions for the elevator reservoir [length x width x depth], piping [length x diameter]
and plunger [length x diameter] units must be in feet and inches. Data will be used to
calculate maximum oil capacity - See. Section 12.5-713(f). See State of Texas link for
additional information regarding elevator requirements:
http://www.license.state.tx.us/elevator/elefaq.htm#7
Contact
Alphonse Newton
[email protected]
817-392-8305
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Figure 1, Typical plumbing layout

Figure 2, Typical Grease Interceptor Schematic

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Figure 3, Typical Sampling Well – SBW-1, Courtesy Park Env. Equipment Co.

Figure 4: Typical Grease Trap / Sample Well Installation, Courtesy Park Env. Equipment Co.