Here to Help Re-Open Restaurants

There’s good news for those tired of home-cooking and take-out. Restaurants have opened for outdoor service, perfect timing for the Minnesota summer. A date for opening to indoor service will be determined later – and some restaurants have now started indoor seating at 50% capacity.
As expected, restaurants have specific health protocols for this first phase:

• Adopt and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.
• Ensure a minimum of six feet of distance between tables.
• Limit on-premises capacity to no more than 50 people.
• Limit table service to four people; six if part of one family unit.
• Require reservations in advance.
• Require workers to wear masks and strongly encourage masks be worn by customers. (In Minneapolis and St. Paul, masks are required indoors.)

Don’t Overlook Fire and Security Safety Protocols

Now that your restaurant’s re-opening plan includes protocols for the health and medical well-being of employees and customers, let’s take a look at fire and security safety protocols. Here are some issues to consider.

• With reduced capacity, you’ll likely have staff turn-over and varied hours.
• Make sure fire extinguishers are inspected and operational.
• Be sure your staff knows where all the fire extinguishers are located and how to operate them.
• Do you have a fire and security safety plan? Consider making the plan front and center as a team effort. Everyone will feel safer if your entire staff knows about the plan.

Let’s Talk Kitchen Hoods

Because kitchen hoods are effective in keeping fires relatively small and stopping the fire’s spread, re-opening is the perfect time to take a close look at the hoods. You might realize your kitchen hood just needs a good cleaning. It might be time to revamp it, or maybe it needs to be replaced. Here’s a check list to help you determine the status of your kitchen hood.

• Clean the hood even if it doesn’t look like it needs it or hasn’t been used during the last 10+ weeks. In fact, clean it anyway!
• Has the kitchen hood recently been inspected?
• Are chemical tanks properly sized for the hazard it’s covering?
• Are chemical tanks piped properly?
• Is the piping size up to current UL300 standards?
• Are manifolds being used where manifolds would not be allowed?
• Are you changing the links and taps at every inspection?
• Are the nozzles property positioned at the correct height and angle?
• Have there been changes to the cooking equipment?
• Have there been changes in cooking personnel, hours, or menus?

If you don’t have a safety plan, want your fire and security systems checked or kitchen hood evaluated, call us and we’ll work with you to be sure your restaurant is ready for eager and hungry customers.

About Brothers Fire & Security

As one of the premier providers of fire and security solutions in the Upper Midwest, Brothers Fire & Security strives to build long-term, value-added relationships. We work with business owners and property management companies, as well as all types of public institutions to solve fire and security needs. By taking advantage of our integrated bundled services, many of our clients find that they can save 25-30% on their safety services, annual inspections and more. From a single location to franchises throughout the region and the country, our integrated approach saves our clients valuable time, money, and stress. We provide fire protection systems, security systems, fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, 24-7 monitoring, fire extinguishers, card access and kitchen hoods. And coming soon, our new Online Academy: Life Safety — Made Simple with eLearning courses designed to help you get and keep your staff trained and your business fire and security code compliant.