Phil Ackland | Commercial Fire Systems Specialist – Expert Witness & Training

About Phil Ackland

Phil Ackland

President and Instructor

Phil Ackland has been in the commercial kitchen exhaust industry for over 40 years. He sits on the National Fire Protection Association’s technical committee for NFPA 96: Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Equipment. He has written five books on commercial kitchen exhaust systems covering installation, inspection, cleaning and fire investigation.

He offers training seminars to contract cleaners, building and fire inspectors, fire investigators and insurance professionals. He conducts fire investigations and provides litigation support testimony related to fire incidents in commercial kitchen exhaust systems. Phil Ackland assists authorities having jurisdiction to develop and implement certification programs for kitchen exhaust cleaners and inspectors. Below is a highlight of Phil Ackland’s biography. To view Phil's complete and up-to-date bio, you may download Phil Ackland’s Bio here in a PDF version.

BIOGRAPHY OF PHIL ACKLAND

Born: March 13, 1949

Dual Citizen of both U.S.A. and Canada

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

February 1971 to September 1993

Owner and president of Commercial Vent Cleaning Co. Ltd.

Vancouver, BC, Canada

April 1976 to present

Owner and president of Phillip Ackland Holdings Ltd.

Summerland, BC, Canada

1989 to 1992

Founder and first president of the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association

November 1991 to present

President of Ducting Entry Systems Company Inc.

Atlanta, GA, USA

October 2003 to present

Owner and president of Phil Ackland and Associates LLC

Summerland, BC, CANADA

APPOINTMENTS

1988 – National Fire Protection Association’s technical committee for NFPA 96: Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Equipment. Submitted a number of proposals that were accepted into NFPA 96 Standard: 1991, 1994, 1998, 2001 and 2004 editions.

1994 – City of Vancouver’s fire protection task force and chair of the sub-committee on commercial kitchen ventilation technicians certification program.

2004 – Underwriters Laboratories’ 1978 committee.

PATENTS

1991- Designed and patented the only UL Listed access panel for commercial cooking exhaust ductwork, which exceeds the NFPA 96 Standard, SMC, UMC, and BOCA Codes.

1997 – Created and patented a number of unique grease absorbent products to protect restaurant roof surfaces.

LECTURES AND INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN

Designed a Fire Investigation Seminar specifically created for fire and arson investigators, insurance adjusters and the legal profession.

Designed an Inspectors Course for fire and building department inspectors.

Designed and created a 14-hour course on the design and installation requirements for commercial kitchen exhaust systems.

Designed a 5-day Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning and Certification School.

Since 1990 Phil Ackland has given numerous lectures to various associations and interested parties throughout North America. For a complete list of previous lectures and instruction given, you may download the list in a PDF format here or contact phil@philackland.com.

PUBLICATIONS

Phil Ackland’s Fire Investigation in Commercial Kitchen Systems

This book leads you step-by-step through an investigation of a commercial kitchen fire. It is written for fire investigators, analysts, engineers, expert witnesses and attorneys to give them a detailed knowledge of commercial kitchen exhaust and fire suppression systems.

Every fire is different. This book gives you a starting point to begin an investigation in a commercial kitchen fire.

Phil Ackland’s Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Manual – Inspectors Edition

How well do you understand commercial kitchen exhaust and fire suppression jargon? This book is written for design engineers, building inspectors, fire prevention officers, restaurant and property managers, maintenance workers and insurance companies. With over 100 photos and drawings it breaks down the regulations and makes them easier to understand.

A must have reference for anyone involved in commercial kitchen exhaust and fire suppression systems.