Commercial Cooking Ventilation
Safe and efficient commercial cooking ventilation is a critical consideration in restaurants and other commercial establishments. Your primary concern is not limited on the comfort and convenience variables but on the safety and health considerations as well. The primary objective of a commercial cooking ventilation system is to effectively remove grease and heat that emanate from the cooking equipment in the kitchen environment. However, the concerns and requirements for modern ventilation systems in restaurants and other commercial establishments have continually evolved, and such systems have now taken a wider role in the workplace.
Commercial Cooking Ventilation Performance Parameters
Restaurant operators and managers need to find the appropriate commercial cooking ventilation for their kitchen based on established performance parameters. You must select the ventilation system that provides for the following:
- Sufficient supply of cool and clean air
- Ideal condition for complete combustion of cooking equipment and gas appliances
- Effective elimination or removal of gases that are generated within the workplace
- Expulsion of gases to a safe location in the exterior premises of the establishment
- Eliminate fat and grease residues in the commercial kitchen
- Address all potential fire hazards
The stale air that is extracted from the commercial kitchen must be replaced by sufficient supply of cool and clean air. The rule of thumb when it comes to ventilation systems for commercial use is for at least 85 percent of the total supply of air in the workplace be properly managed and controlled through the appropriate method of cooking ventilation. And the balance can be accessed through various fixtures within the surrounding areas. Some commercial kitchens provide support for the commercial cooking ventilation with the use of ventilation grilles in windows, doors and walls.
Types of Commercial Cooking Ventilation Canopy
Depending on the design specifications and operational requirements of the commercial kitchen, the commercial cooking ventilation system can be customized for either the front or back portion of the commercial establishment. The ventilation system can either be island or wall type and may adopt specific filtration process.
The more popular ventilation canopies for commercial kitchens are outfitted either with baffle filters or mesh filters. The mesh filters are made of several layers of mesh materials, and as the air is drawn through these mesh layers, the grease residues are captured by the filters. You may have to replace the mesh filter of the commercial cooking ventilation canopy more often as the filter element can easily break down as it has to be washed thoroughly on a regular basis.
On the other hand, baffle filters of commercial cooking ventilation systems are generally more durable. The air is forced to change both speed and direction while it is drawn through the filtration system. This filtration system separates the grease residues and particulates from the stale air, and these impurities are deposited into collection troughs.
There are other special filter materials which perform other functions and which can be used in commercial cooking ventilation systems. Among the popular choices are the filter materials that can eliminate both grease residues and odors.
