Grease interceptor sizing in Columbus is a design and approval task, not a rule-of-thumb calculation based only on gallons. The current City code connects storage capacity to grease production, meal volume and an approved service interval.
Grease Interceptor Sizing in Columbus, OH
This page helps facility owners understand the design inputs and know when to seek professional review. It does not calculate or approve an interceptor size.
Inputs that matter in interceptor sizing and design
Type of food service
Grease production per meal varies by operation. The City’s code uses grease-production values appropriate to the type of FSO.
Meals served
National averages for meals served per hour or event are part of the current Columbus sizing framework.
Interceptor material
Construction material affects the maximum designed service interval allowed under the current code.
Service interval
The designed service interval is included with the calculation and later used as part of compliance review.
Kitchen equipment
New or higher-capacity equipment can increase grease production and trigger verification of an existing interceptor.
Menu changes
A changed menu can alter grease load even when the physical kitchen footprint stays the same.
What Columbus City Code 1145.04 says about sizing
Section 1145.04(C) states that, unless otherwise specified by the Ohio Plumbing Code, minimum FOG storage capacity for grease interceptors is based on the grease-production value per meal for the type of food-service operation and national averages for meals served per hour or event. The calculations are included in the design submitted to Building & Zoning Services for approval.
Read the current Columbus City Code 1145.04 excerpt for the complete language and related access requirements.
The designed service interval is part of the calculation
Concrete gravity units
The current code states that the designed service interval may not exceed 30 days between services for concrete gravity units. That is a design requirement in the cited code context—not a statement that every existing grease-control device in Columbus has one universal 30-day cleaning rule.
Degradation-resistant materials
The current code allows a designed interval up to 90 days for units constructed of materials resistant to degradation associated with the pH levels in effluent or hydrogen-sulfide gas byproducts, subject to the approved design.
When an existing interceptor may need sizing verification
The same code requires a design professional to verify the adequacy of an existing interceptor when new equipment is added, equipment capacity increases or a menu change increases grease production. The documentation is then submitted to the City offices identified in the code.
For a routine cleaning request, a provider mainly needs the existing unit’s capacity, location, access and service history. If the real question is whether the system is still large enough for the current operation, move the discussion from maintenance to professional design review.
Related resources
Requirements guide
See when Columbus calls for grease determination and plan review.
Grease Interceptor Sizing in Columbus, OH FAQs
No. Columbus sizing is part of the design and approval process and depends on operation-specific inputs. A qualified design professional and the City process determine the approved solution.
Not as a design rule. Proper sizing, retention, access and service planning need to match the facility and applicable requirements rather than simply maximizing gallons.
It can. Columbus guidance specifically identifies menu changes, and the code requires verification when a menu change increases grease production.
No. In the current 1145.04 text, the 30-day figure is the maximum designed service interval for concrete gravity units in the design framework. Other facility requirements and approved designs can differ.
Use professional design review for sizing questions
If the facility is selecting or re-evaluating an interceptor, gather the menu, equipment and production information for the appropriate design professional and City review. If the installed unit only needs maintenance, use the service request for cleaning or pumping instead.