IKECA

What IKECA does

IKECA (International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association), founded in 1989 and headquartered in Forest Hill, Maryland, is a U.S. non-profit trade association serving the commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning (KEC) industry. Its mission is fire prevention and life safety through advancing the quality of cleaning, inspection, and maintenance of commercial kitchen exhaust systems worldwide. The organization operates as an ANSI-accredited standards developer since 2009 and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as a standards-writing body.

IKECA's core product surface consists of three ANSI/IKECA voluntary consensus standards — C10 (cleaning), I10 (inspection), and M10 (maintenance) — together with a portfolio of professional certifications: the PECT designation and CECT, CECS, and CESI certifications for international KEC professionals, plus the BCCS and BCSI certifications required by City of Boston ordinance. Exams are administered through Meazure Learning testing centers across the U.S. and Canada and via live remote proctoring worldwide. The association also publishes the IKECA Journal twice yearly and operates an online store for standards documents, study guides, the NFPA 96-compliant Grease Gauge, and stakeholder guides.

Revenue is generated through annual membership dues (Active North American, Active International, Associate at $995; Introductory at $575; AHJ, insurance, and restaurant/facility manager memberships at $50), one-time certification exam fees and study materials, annual renewal fees ($85-$185 depending on certification), event registration for the Annual Membership Meeting and Fall Technical Seminar, and online product sales. Membership tiers structurally require certified employees and proof of insurance, creating a self-reinforcing loop between certification programs and member retention. Distribution is primarily direct-to-enterprise via the ikeca.org website, with in-person conferences held at rotating U.S. cities and supplemental reach through strategic partner discount programs.

Name

IKECA

Legal name

International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association

Website

https://ikeca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IKECA is a 1989-founded U.S. non-profit trade association that develops ANSI-accredited standards (C10, I10, M10) and administers certification programs (CECT, CECS, CESI, BCCS, BCSI) for the global commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Industry Standards

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

Keywords

• Kitchen exhaust cleaning
• Commercial cleaning certification
• ANSI standards development
• Professional certification programs
• Trade association membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Forest Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Active North American ($995), Introductory ($575), Active International ($995), and Associate ($995) members, plus individual memberships for AHJ ($50), Insurance Risk Management ($50), and Restaurant Owners/Facilities Managers ($50).
2. Certification Exams: Revenue from certification exam fees for CECT, CECS, CESI, and Boston-specific certifications (BCCS, BCSI), including renewal fees and retake fees.
3. Product Sales: Sales of ANSI/IKECA Standards documents, certification exam study guides (print and PDF), grease gauges, and other industry materials through the online store.
4. Event Registration: Registration fees for Annual Membership Meetings and Fall Technical Seminars, with member and non-member pricing tiers.
5. Certification Renewals: Annual certification renewal fees: CECS ($175), CECT ($85), CESI ($185), and Boston certifications ($170).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IKECA is a non-profit trade association that administers ANSI-accredited standards and professional certification programs for the commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning (KEC) industry. It sells the ANSI/IKECA standards trio (C10, I10, M10), certification exams and renewals (PECT, CECT, CECS, CESI plus Boston-specific BCCS and BCSI), study materials and specialty tools, and hosts the Annual Membership Meeting and Fall Technical Seminar. The organization also runs a tiered membership program for KEC companies, AHJs, insurance risk managers, restaurant owners/facility managers, equipment suppliers, and emeritus members.

Product overview

IKECA (International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association) is a non-profit trade association that offers a portfolio of certification programs, ANSI-accredited standards, study materials, and industry publications for the commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning industry. The core offering includes professional designation programs (PECT), international certifications (CECT, CECS, CESI), and Boston-specific certifications (BCCS, BCSI). These are complemented by the ANSI/IKECA standards trio (C10 for cleaning, I10 for inspection, M10 for maintenance), study guides, the IKECA Journal publication, and annual events (Annual Membership Meeting and Fall Technical Seminar). The organization serves kitchen exhaust cleaning professionals, insurance risk management professionals, suppliers, facility managers, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PECT (Professional Exhaust Cleaning Technician) Designation

Quantifiable outcome

• IKECA-certified KEC operators provide complete cleaning of entire systems from hood to rooftop fan, unlike unqualified competitors who may only clean hood interiors
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AzugaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKECA Strategic Partner offering IKECA members 50% off the first 4 months of service. Azuga provides fleet tracking and management solutions relevant to KEC companies managing mobile cleaning crews.
• Fight Kitchen Fires, Ltd. Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKECA Strategic Partner offering free and paid training courses to IKECA members. Provides fire safety training relevant to kitchen exhaust cleaning industry.
• IA Business AdvisorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKECA Strategic Partner offering 10% off services to IKECA members. Business advisory services supporting KEC company operations.
• DPW Sales and ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKECA Strategic Partner offering 25% off pressure washer parts and equipment to IKECA members. Equipment supplier supporting KEC cleaning operations.
• My Tech PixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKECA Strategic Partner offering 10% off the first 6 months of service to IKECA members. Technology services provider.
• Schermerhorn Bros. Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKECA Strategic Partner offering free carton of nitrile gloves to IKECA members. Supplier of cleaning equipment and supplies.
• Service First ProcessingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKECA Strategic Partner offering 20% off annual rebate to IKECA members. Payment processing and merchant services for KEC businesses.
• Zgoda Fire ProtectionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIKECA Strategic Partner offering 20% off training courses to IKECA members. Fire protection training provider aligned with KEC industry safety mission.
• Meazure LearningcoreTechnology or IntegrationTesting administration partner administering all IKECA certification exams online through secure delivery. Provides both on-site testing at centers across US and Canada, and live remote proctoring (LRP) options for global candidates.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANSI accreditation since 2009 enables IKECA to develop voluntary consensus standards for the cleaning, inspection, and maintenance of commercial kitchen exhaust systems. IKECA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as a standards-writing body.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKECA actively participates on NFPA's Technical Committee on Venting Systems for Cooking Appliances. IKECA standards are designed to work in concert with NFPA 96. NFPA provides free access to standards referenced in IKECA certification programs.
• City of Boston Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKECA developed and administers Boston-specific certification programs (BCCS and BCSI) required by Boston ordinance. IKECA is an approved certification body for the Fire Department's exhaust vent cleaning and inspection program.
• YourMembershipcoreTechnology or IntegrationAssociation management software provider powering IKECA's website, membership management, online community, event management, and email marketing capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NFPA (National Fire Protection Association): NFPA is the broad fire/life-safety standards body whose NFPA 96 standard IKECA's standards are designed to complement. NFPA sets the overarching code that drives demand for IKECA certification, making it both a critical partner and a much larger incumbent in the same regulatory ecosystem.
• PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association): PHCC is a long-standing contractor trade association with membership dues, certification programs, and code-advocacy work. Its multi-tiered membership, ANSI-affiliated credentials, and annual legislative/education conferences make it a structural comparable, though at greater scale than IKECA.
• International Code Council (ICC): ICC develops the I-Codes (International Fire Code, International Building Code) widely adopted by U.S. jurisdictions. IKECA standards are referenced by code officials, positioning ICC as a key distribution channel for IKECA's adoption into local building/fire codes.

Direct peers

• NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association): NADCA is the closest direct peer — a non-profit trade association that runs ASCS-certified HVAC/air duct cleaning professional certifications and develops industry standards. It mirrors IKECA's model of ANSI-accredited standards, multi-tiered membership, certification renewals, and annual conferences, but for the adjacent duct cleaning vertical.
• IIAR (International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration): IIAR is a niche industry association developing ANSI-accredited standards (e.g., IIAR-2, IIAR-6) and credentialing programs for industrial refrigeration. Its model of technical committee-driven standards development, certification programs, and member-driven governance closely mirrors IKECA's structure.

Emerging players

• NAFEM (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers): NAFEM represents commercial food equipment manufacturers whose hoods and exhaust systems are cleaned by IKECA-certified operators. As an adjacent trade association with overlapping end-user customers, it offers partnership potential for industry education and certification co-marketing.
• ASSE International (American Society of Sanitary Engineering): ASSE International develops ANSI-accredited standards and professional certifications for the plumbing and mechanical industry. It is comparable as a niche trade association running professional certification programs tied to ANSI standards, though serving an adjacent trades vertical.
• APSP (Association of Pool & Spa Professionals): APSP (now Pool & Hot Tub Alliance) operates a non-profit trade association model with ANSI-accredited standards, professional certification (e.g., CBP/CSP), and a similar membership-tier structure. Comparable as a niche trade association with a multi-stream revenue model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IKECApage
• Xx.com/IKECAinfo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ikeca

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IKECA