Exploring Make Up Air Unit Gas Heaters: Understanding the Differences Between Direct and Indirect Fired Systems
Outside air in some climates require heating in the winter. Direct gas-fired and indirect gas-fired heaters are the two most popular means of heating incoming outside air. The purpose of the make up air units is to provide fresh air to buildings to compensate for the exhaust of the kitchen hood. The International Mechanical Code […]
A Primer on Maintaining Your Commercial Kitchen Ventilation System
Proper maintenance of your kitchen ventilation system can sometimes be overlooked. Some requirements, such as duct cleaning, are code mandated, while others are discretionary. It is safe to say that maintenance is often viewed as an expense (from an accounting perspective, it is) but should be viewed as an investment in trouble-free operation. A commercial […]
What does a sustainable commercial kitchen look like?
We often hear of the necessity of sustainability. When it comes to commercial kitchens, what does that look like in practice? In particular, commercial kitchens and ventilation are essential in maintaining a safe and healthy environment. Inherently, the kitchen ventilation system uses energy; how does one reduce that impact and move toward sustainability? Considering that […]
New Study Explores the Relationship between good Indoor Environmental Quality in Commercial Kitchens and Exhaust hood performance.
kitchenventilation.com has written multiple articles on understanding the importance of good indoor air quality in commercial kitchens and how IEQ sensors can improve indoor air quality (read the article). ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) published a peer-reviewed study on the impact of PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 microns) on the Chef’s […]
Improve Comfort and Save Money in Your Pizza Kitchen
In today’s highly competitive labor market, restaurant owners need to find ways to differentiate themselves to attract and retain top talent to their teams. One way that’s often overlooked is the comfort of the working environment. For restaurants, this translates into improving the comfort of the kitchen. Not only does a hot kitchen drive down […]
Replacing Fusible Links in Life Safety Systems
The National Fire Protection Association reports that in 2017 there were 499,000 structure fires. 72% of these fires occurred in residential occupancies leaving a remaining 139,720 in occupancies other than residential. While property damage resulting from these fires was in the billions the focus of this article is protection of life safety in commercial and […]
Fire Safety in Commercial Kitchens
Fire safety in commercial kitchens is mandated by code. It makes sense simply from a practical standpoint to embrace fire safety to preserve life and prevent property loss. A quick overview of the leading cause of fires in restaurants’ ventilation systems is presented here. In addition, why do they happen, and are they preventable? According to […]
Capture and Containment, What does it mean?
A key function of any Kitchen Ventilation Canopy (Exhaust Hood), or Ventilated Ceiling, is its ability to catch the heat and fumes rising from the cooking appliances and to hold them until they can be drawn through the grease extractors and then into the exhaust system. This process is referred to as “Capture and Containment” […]
Advantages and Limitations of Ventless Solutions for Commercial Kitchen Ventilation
When designing a kitchen ventilation system, there may be a location where it is not cost-effective to run ductwork to the exterior of the building. This approach should always be the first consideration. In the absence of a practical means of ducting the kitchen exhaust, a ventless solution also known as a ductless solution can […]
The Radiant Chef
How does radiant heat affect your chef’s and kitchen staff comfort? Typically, if you tell someone they look “radiant,” you would be complimenting their glowing appearance. If you tell a chef that they look radiant, it probably means they look hot and uncomfortable. Let’s explain how radiant heat affects the comfort of not only your […]