The impact of a kitchen ventilation hood on a fire hazard is underestimated when a fire hazard is mentioned. Most people think of sprinklers, extinguishers, and other tools to counter a fire threat. The reality of the situation is different, and kitchen hood can at least affect how often we have to deal with fires. 

Like many other incidents and disasters, a fire can be prevented and managed long before a disaster. Poor ventilation, grease build-up, lack of maintenance, and many other factors add to the possibility of a fire hazard. 

We will try to discuss the effect of ventilation and kitchen hoods on preventing a fire, as well as the impact they have during a fire. We will also discuss some tips on ensuring you get the most out of your ventilation system. 

We can provide help in a variety of restaurant services including ventilation in Colorado, don’t hesitate to call 303-777-7720 for a free quote

Get to Know the Labels

Before we get to the effect of a range hood and kitchen stove hood on a fire, first we briefly mention the different ways a fire could erupt. Aside from common sense, there are many sources provided by the NFPA, that can help us identify and prevent danger. 

Understanding the NFPA diamond, also called National Fire Protection Association 704, gives us a lot of edge when dealing with fire and its prevention. The labels give information about the different materials you might have in your kitchen and how dangerous they can be. 

You don’t need to memorize the exact number of National Fire Protection Association Labels, for every single chemical. Labeling the chemicals and the solutions you use in your kitchen is enough. It is just a precaution so you’d know what to keep away from fire. 

What Helps You Prevent Fire?

Let’s start simple. Take a look around the kitchen and check your cookers. Grease only helps to spread and increase the intensity of a fire. What sparks it though? Well, a spark of course! After working for long hours every day, you might get so tangled up in the work that you forget regular safety checks. 

The grease build-up is the nightmare of every chef, restaurant owner, health inspector, and especially the fire marshal. Let’s just say it doesn’t really “help” in preventing a fire hazard. Naturally, neglecting the cleaning puts your kitchen at risk of many incidents, including fire. 

Check the Back!

Don’t limit the regular maintenance and checking to what you see. Try to check all the connections to the gas pipes and make sure they are in top shape since even a small leak can turn into a disaster. A proper ventilation system might help with the smell but it won’t solve the issue. 

Don’t Forget the Electricity 

A fire hazard might be misleading in its name.  It reminds us of gas, oil, or smoke. The reality is that the source of many fires can be traced to bad or old wiring and electrical equipment. This is why you should always put devices and wiring maintenance in your schedule.

Corrosion can be your worst enemy when it comes to the wiring and the equipment. The wires eventually start to heat up when exposed to electricity and might, in the best-case scenario, pop a circuit, or even cause a fire if sensitive material is nearby. 

Make Sure You’re Ready

Although we always try to minimize the chances of an incident from happening, it is always recommended to be prepared for when things get out of hand. Equipping your kitchen with proper fire alarm systems, smoke detectors, sprinklers, and fire suppression systems is a must for every owner. 

How does a kitchen hood help prevent fire?

Before a fire erupts, there are many signs and conditions to be met for a disaster to happen. One of which is poor ventilation of air. The grease particles floating in the air from all the cooking must land somewhere. 

Installation of a stove ventilation hood, in addition to the airflow of the kitchen, helps reduce the build-up of grease in your work area. This results in fewer accidents in your kitchen, however, cleaning the kitchen exhaust hood should also be a top priority to keep the equipment running smoothly. 

The ventilation hood is for many, sufficient for reducing the airborne grease, however, to help reduce the headache of cleaning the venting system and also the costs, some may turn to grease filters. This helps owners save time, money, and resources. 

This filtration of the air and cleaning of the airborne grease particles implicitly reduces the threat of fire by decreasing the build-up. However, you will need to tend to the stove exhaust hood as well, just to keep it clean and running smoothly for years to come. 

Keeping the Temperature Low

Aside from all the grease, fumes, carbon monoxide, and gasses that the kitchen ventilation hood vents out of your environment. One important aspect of its work is to bring down the temperature. This can help you cook easier and naturally, by decreasing the temperature, it lowers the chances of incidents related to heat from happening. 

Maintaining the Airflow

Keeping the air fresh has many benefits. Aside from venting out unpleasant smells and providing comfort while cooking. A stove hood can come in handy with smoke, gasses, and any other dangerous fume that needs to be ventilated. Remember that you need all the help you can get in a fire hazard.

If you are a restaurant owner in need of assistance in Colorado,  call 303-777-7720 for professional advice about the best equipment suited to your needs.

Does the variety matter?

Simply searching for a kitchen hood shows you hundreds of results for different types, models, shapes, and prices. This variety proves that there must be a difference between the different types of ventilation hoods. 

Most of the time these differences are related to the design that the customer has in mind. It is just a matter of taste and decoration. This of course affects the price but what about efficiency? Which model is best for our kitchen? Let’s look at the two main types of range hoods.

• Ducted Range Hood

The most common type of kitchen ventilation hood and the one you probably use. Connected to a vent, the air flows through the stainless-steel baffles and filters and exits the building. External ventilation offers more safety in vacuuming out the smoke and dangerous fumes. 

Because of its efficiency, this is usually the top choice of most kitchens and restaurants. There is no need for constant cleaning of the filters and since a commercial kitchen is a busy place, a ducted range hood is simply a better option. 

• Ductless Range Hood

Offering versatility in placement, the ductless range hood filters and recirculates the air back into the environment. This usually requires more fan power. This is not very efficient when it comes to saving energy and time, since the filters need constant cleaning to work properly.

The presence of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde (a chemical produced by heating oil), chemical cleaners, and other gasses and fumes inside a kitchen; especially a commercial kitchen where there is constant cooking, rules out the option of having a ductless range hood. 

There are always other factors such as the size, the power, the energy usage, etc. Which you need to consider. That is why it is important to look for the help of a professional when installing a kitchen hood. 

Ventilation in Crisis

An important aspect of any fire hazard, besides the flames, is the smoke. Although various extinguishers, sprinklers, and fire protection equipment can save you from fire, it is the kitchen fume hood and the ventilation system that save you from suffocation. 

Flames take a while to spread throughout the building. Smoke, however, doesn’t need more than 5 minutes to fill the entire place. What is important is to make sure you buy every second you can get, by providing a functional and efficient ventilation system.

Public safety is another important reason to install a decent ventilation system. The kitchen ventilation hood purifies the air from smoke, gas, and dangerous fumes, which gives you and your staff that extra edge to evacuate the building and minimize injuries and losses. 

This is the point that having a proper HVAC system comes in handy, as it can be a valuable tool in increasing the airflow and venting out smoke and gas.  Comfort is just one of the many qualities of having a functional HVAC system. Safety is the most important of those qualities. 

Installation Matters

As previously mentioned, the first line of defense for safe evacuation and fire prevention is equipping your kitchen with a functional and clean kitchen hood. Installation of a range hood vent can be overwhelming without the help of technicians and professionals. 

Efficiency is the key. The shortest possible ventilation path along with a wide range of cover, leads to faster ventilation. This is why we advise you to seek the help of a technician. Someone who can determine the best variation of kitchen ventilation hood, a/c system, and kitchen exhaust fan for the best result.

Ensure safety and the top ventilation system best suited for your environment. If you are a resident of Colorado, call 303-777-7720 for a free quote

Hood Installation Services in Colorado

At the end of the day, it is up to you to decide the best ventilation, range hood, fire safety, and maintenance services for yourself. However, trusting a suitable service provider with an impressive resume is most likely your best bet at receiving the service you can rely on. 

Installing the most fitting ventilation equipment, suitable for the design of your kitchen, needs the assistance of eligible technicians, who can provide the most convenient and efficient equipment, along with top-tier safety standards. 

We guarantee the quality of the installations and maintenance, ensuring the durability of the equipment and the top-notch condition of every item inside your kitchen. Functionality is one of the most important factors in saving assets and lives in times of crisis and we make sure to provide it.