Summary
Coordinated Response for Commercial Dishroom Failures
Document Type: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Applies To: All commercial dish machines, booster systems, and chemical sanitizing systems
Audience: Managers, Facilities, GC/CM, Dealers, Chemical Providers, Plumbers, Electricians
Purpose: Prevent downtime, failed inspections, and vendor finger-pointing by enforcing coordinated, same-day, multi-vendor response when required.
1. When a Joint Service Call Is REQUIRED
A joint service call is mandatory when any of the following conditions exist:
Automatic Joint Call Triggers
- Dishwasher will not sanitize (temp or ppm failure)
- Repeated shutdowns with no clear single cause
- Chemical ppm fluctuates despite calibration
- Booster heater hits temp but dishes still fail inspection
- Drains backing up during peak operation
- Conveyor jams linked to water pressure instability
- Electrical faults that affect multiple components
- New install failing commissioning
- Post-repair sanitization still fails verification
Single-vendor service is NOT permitted once a joint trigger occurs.
2. Required Joint Service Participants (Minimum)
When activated, the following must be involved:
- Equipment Dealer / Service Tech (Aldevra or Authorized)
- Chemical Provider (Ecolab/Diversey/Auto-Chlor)
- Plumber (Drainage, water pressure, air gaps)
- Electrician or Mechanical Contractor (Booster, controls, power)
- Owner/Facilities Manager or Designee
Optional (as required):
- GC/CM
- Water Treatment Provider
- Sewer Authority (pulper/interceptor issues)
3. Activation Procedure (Manager or Facilities)
STEP 1 — Immediate Safety & Sanitation Control
☐ Verify if legal sanitization is still possible
☐ If not → Activate Emergency Manual Warewashing SOP
☐ Reduce volume or close if required
STEP 2 — Initial Diagnosis (10-Minute Rule)
Manager verifies:
☐ Final rinse temp (if high-temp)
☐ Chemical ppm (if low-temp)
☐ Drain flow at floor sinks
☐ Error codes on machine
☐ Visible leaks or alarms
If cause is NOT immediately isolated, proceed to Step 3.
STEP 3 — Joint Service Call Activation
Manager or Facilities must:
☐ Contact Dealer/Service Tech
☐ Contact Chemical Provider
☐ Contact Plumber
☐ Contact Electrician/Mechanical
All vendors must be informed this is a JOINT RESPONSE EVENT.
4. Required Information to Provide on Dispatch
All vendors receive:
- Machine make/model/serial
- Sanitizing type (Heat or Chemical)
- Current failure condition
- Last known good operation time
- Any recent repairs
- Water hardness condition
- Active inspection deadline (if applicable)
- Site contact name and phone
5. On-Site Joint Diagnostic Protocol
(Performed in This Exact Order)
1. Electrical First
☐ Voltage verified
☐ Amperage draw verified
☐ Control board powered correctly
☐ Booster power verified
2. Water & Plumbing
☐ Incoming water pressure verified at peak
☐ Hot water temp verified at inlet
☐ Drain flow verified at full discharge
☐ Air gaps inspected
☐ Grease interceptor checked (if applicable)
3. Booster Heater (If Heat System)
☐ Temp rise verified
☐ Recovery time tested
☐ Scale inspected
☐ Softener operation verified
4. Chemical Systems (If Low-Temp or Wash Chemistry)
☐ Pump operation verified
☐ Tubing checked for air
☐ Injection ports verified
☐ Test strip verified vs chemical type
☐ ppm confirmed in live cycle
5. Mechanical Dish Machine
☐ Solenoids tested
☐ Spray arms inspected
☐ Conveyor speed verified
☐ Curtains checked
☐ Scrap screens inspected
No vendor may bypass this sequence.
6. Decision Authority During Joint Call
- Dealer / Authorized Tech → Final authority on machine mechanics
- Plumber → Final authority on drainage and water conditions
- Chemical Provider → Final authority on ppm and wash chemistry
- Mechanical/Electrician → Final authority on power and booster
- Manager/Facilities → Final authority on stay-open vs shutdown
7. Joint Call Resolution Outcomes
At close of visit, one of three outcomes must be declared:
Outcome A — Fully Resolved
☐ Sanitization verified
☐ Drains stable
☐ Logs updated
☐ Dishroom cleared for operation
Outcome B — Temporary Stabilization
☐ Temporary fix applied
☐ Reduced volume required
☐ Reinspection scheduled
☐ Permanent repair parts ordered
Outcome C — Shutdown Required
☐ Sanitization cannot be verified
☐ Emergency closure activated
☐ Health department notified (if required)
☐ Reopen only after full re-verification
8. Mandatory Joint Call Documentation
Facilities/Manager must document:
☐ Date & time
☐ All vendors present
☐ Findings by each trade
☐ Root cause
☐ Corrective actions
☐ Temporary vs permanent status
☐ Final verification results
This record becomes:
- Inspection defense documentation
- Warranty protection
- Risk management record
Prohibited Actions During Joint Calls
- Vendors blaming each other without data
- Temporary fixes without documentation
- Chemical recalibration without verifying water conditions
- Electrical resets without confirming load
- Leaving site without verified sanitization (temp or ppm)
Aldevra Joint Service Control Rule
If more than one system could be causing failure, no single vendor is allowed to leave the site until every interdependency is verified.
