A commercial kitchen produces smoke, steam and grease on a large scale. All these contaminants make the indoor air impure. If these impurities are not removed on a constant basis, the risk of potential safety hazards in the kitchen increases. Not just the commercial kitchen, but it poses risks for the employees, guests and the restaurant building as well. That is why it is crucial to set up a proper ventilation system in every restaurant and commercial kitchen. Thanks to technological advancements, you will find some of the most ideal solutions to keep your entire facility well-ventilated at all times while providing enhanced protection against the danger of fire. It is only that you should select and invest in the right type of commercial kitchen ventilation system, get it installed right and give it good maintenance.
So, let us discuss why it is important to outfit your restaurant kitchen with an ideal commercial kitchen ventilation system and what key benefits proper ventilation has to offer for business owners.
Health and Safety
When you operate a commercial kitchen, you should see to it that the work environment for the staff is healthy and safe. Hot and smoky air contaminates the indoor air and makes the atmosphere stifling. It becomes hard for employees to breathe in hot and impure air inside the kitchen. Due to poor ventilation, the staff will have to deal with a buildup of carbon monoxide, which can lead to a range of respiratory illnesses. All these issues together can make working for the employees quite difficult. No one would want to work in an unsafe and unhealthy environment.
It’s not just the kitchen area, but the hot, smokey and grease-laden air will also travel to other areas of the restaurant. If you plan to avoid any kind of health or safety issues in your restaurant, you should install a proper ventilation system with well-designed kitchen exhaust hoods.
If you have a question or need expert advice on enhancing safety for your workers and guests, feel free to reach out to Hood Builder and talk to one of our commercial kitchen ventilation specialists in Denver, CO.
Regulatory Compliance
When you install a ventilation system in your commercial kitchen, you should follow all the regulatory guidelines and codes put forth by NFPA. Setting up a ventilation system is not just about selecting exhaust hoods that will vent the air. In fact, you need to take several key factors into account.
ou should consider these important factors:
- Type of cooking you do
- Type of cooking equipment and appliances you use
- Placement of your cooking appliances
- Positioning of the exhaust hoods
- Design of the ventilation system
All commercial kitchen hoods are not designed equal. When it comes to the installation of a vent hood system, you should assess what your exact needs are and then choose the right type and design of the system in order to keep the kitchen area clean, fresh and well-functioning at all times.
According to the local and national fire safety codes, you should install the right type of exhaust hood (Type I or Type II). More importantly, you need to choose the exhaust hoods as per the exhaust rate that your facility will need. You need to abide by all the kitchen layout requirements. Non-compliance of any of the ventilation codes can have serious consequences. The NFPA has formulated these regulatory guidelines to enhance the safety of people and properties. If you violate these guidelines in any manner, you will be liable to pay hefty fines as punishment. Worse still, you may even have to deal with serious legal tussles with the concerned authorities or shut down your restaurant business altogether.
For a layman, it can be very difficult to understand all the ventilation codes. Plus, these safety codes vary from one location to another. You will need the help of an expert to correctly interpret the meaning of the kitchen ventilation regulations and then comply with all of them in a proper manner. If you operate a commercial kitchen in Denver, CO, you should head straight to Hood Builder and consult your specific needs with one of our kitchen ventilation specialists.
Energy Efficiency
When you operate a restaurant kitchen, one of the key challenges you need to deal with is to reduce energy consumption. Here, the role of an HVAC system or vent hood system becomes even more important. Restaurants and commercial kitchens are known for high energy consumption. You can reduce your energy consumption by investing in the right ventilation system.
Unlike residential kitchens, commercial kitchens generate a huge amount of heat, smoke and grease. The indoor air becomes hot and it puts pressure on the ventilation systems as a result. If the cooking appliances you use are low-efficiency, the situation can be worse. The more heat you have in the kitchen, the more your ventilation systems will need to work. Ultimately, you will see the energy consumption shoot up month after month. One surefire way to address this problem is to install the type and design of the vent hood system. You can seek the help of experienced professionals to develop highly optimized designs for the HVAC system.
When designing an HVAC system, the most focus should be on the exhaust hood air flow. Being an essential component, it takes energy consumption to a higher level for CKV. If the ventilation is performed properly, you will see a reduction in your energy consumption. An exhaust hood is not a simple metal box. Contrary to the general perception, different hoods operate at different capture and containment airflow. So, always install high efficiency hoods.
In order to reduce high energy bills, you should focus on optimization of all the kitchen equipment and machinery. Most of all, you should hire experts to design a ventilation system that is ideal for the type of cooking you do. The exhaust hood air flow must be reduced for higher energy efficiency. The air distribution system should be designed in a manner that avoids cross-drafts. For more details on energy-efficient kitchen ventilation design, feel free to discuss your specific needs with a commercial kitchen ventilation expert at Hood Builder in Denver, CO.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Post-installation of the commercial kitchen ventilation system, you need to give it proper care and maintenance on a regular basis. As a responsible restaurant owner or facility manager, it is your responsibility to see to it that the vent hood system is properly maintained and cleaned. By doing so, you will stay compliant with the regulations and guidelines. The Food Hygiene Regulations also make it compulsory for restaurant owners to keep the vent hood system clean. All of this will help you keep the occupants and the entire building safe.
It can be hazardous to ignore the maintenance of the ventilation system in any manner. In fact, you should always pay attention to proper maintenance and cleaning of the vent hood system. From everyday maintenance and regular cleaning to annual inspections testing and deep cleaning, you should seek the help of highly trained technicians for proper degreasing and odor removal.
Lack of proper maintenance will take its toll on the exhaust hoods and the commercial kitchen air quality will be affected. If the system gets clogged with particulate matter, the air flow will be interrupted. Over time, the duct work will get blocked entirely creating potential safety hazards. Moreover, the indoor kitchen will not be fresh and clean due to the poor efficiency of the system. It is crucial that you don’t let grease and other particulate matter deposit inside the ductwork by properly taking care and cleaning of the entire kitchen ventilation hood system.
It is important to understand that everyday cleaning by the staff will not eliminate the need for detailed cleaning. You should create a schedule as per the specific needs of your commercial kitchen to deep-clean every part of the ventilation system including the canopy, grease filters, range hoods, exhaust hood fans etc. Plus, you should carry out the maintenance tasks exactly as per the code by NFPA requires in order to avoid any kind of code violation. Odor problem arises from poor maintenance and cleaning of the HVAC system. If you plan to keep the kitchen as well as the dining area free from odors and smells, you should carry out proper and regular cleaning and maintenance of the entire ventilation exhaust hood system.
When carrying out the maintenance, you should follow the key requirements that includes inspecting and testing the extract, recirculation and supply. There are specific requirements for the general maintenance of each of these units. For inspection and deep cleaning, you should work with an experienced and specialist contractor in or near your location. If you are in Denver, CO, Hood Builder is an ideal destination for knowing all kitchen ventilation regulations and professional kitchen ventilation cleaning to remain code-compliant and enhance safety.
Choosing the Right Ventilation System
The main role of a ventilation system is to constantly replace hot and smoky air in the kitchen with fresh and clean air. By removing contaminants from the indoor air, these vent hood systems create a safe and comfortable environment for the staff and a fine dining experience for guests. Since all ventilation systems are not the same, you should select a type and design that is ideal for your commercial kitchen. Here are some useful tips to help you select the right one.
Kitchen Size and Layout
Both the size and the layout of a commercial are important considerations for selecting the ideal ventilation system. Your air replacement and air flow requirements, depend on the size of your restaurant kitchen. The layout will determine how exactly the exhaust hoods will be installed and placed. Professionals will first evaluate the exact needs of your commercial kitchen and then determine the right solution for proper ventilation throughout the kitchen and dining area.
Types of Cooking Equipment
In a commercial kitchen, there are different types of heavy-duty, industrial cooking equipment and machinery. What type of ventilation system will be needed depends on the type of equipment you use in your kitchen. If you have commercial deep fryers and grills in your cooking facility, you will need a vent hood system that can throw out greasy air quickly and efficiently. Range hoods will be installed just above the cooking equipment and appliances in the kitchen.
Hood Code Regulations
The device that is installed right above a cooking equipment or appliance is called exhaust hood or range hood. When choosing a ventilation system, you should follow all the kitchen hood requirements, as per regulatory guidelines. You need to abide by both national and local hood including the design, layout and type of hoods as well as grease and condensation filtration guidelines.
Specific Ventilation Requirements
You may have some specific ventilation requirements in your restaurant or food service establishment, in addition to other factors mentioned above. If you don’t have windows in the kitchen or if you have a need to tackle some specific air-borne contaminants, you must take these factors into account.
Every commercial kitchen has its own unique needs. It is crucial to assess the exact needs of your restaurant and understand other specific circumstances that you may have to deal with. With highly experienced professionals by your side, you will be able to understand your specific needs in an accurate manner and then choose a ventilation solution that is a perfect match. If you need expert advice and help to select the most ideal and energy-efficient kitchen ventilation, get in touch with one of our experts at Hood Builder in Denver, CO.
Talk to a Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Expert
Without the use of an ideal ventilation system, it will be difficult to operate a commercial kitchen in a hassle-free manner. Most of all, poor ventilation will lead to a number of potential safety hazards including fire emergencies and health and safety problems. If you plan to run your restaurant kitchen in a safe and smooth manner, you should definitely install a proper ventilation system for the removal of heat and steam build up in order to keep the work environment safe, healthy and comfortable as well as stay compliant with the codes. Feel free to reach out to Hood Builder in Denver, CO, for the installation and maintenance of energy-efficient kitchen ventilation and kitchen exhaust systems exactly as per regulations.
For your consultation, you should either give our Denver office a phone call or write to us using the contact form on our website.