Learning commercial kitchen ventilation equipment key terms is critical when purchasing ventilation equipment. Without knowing the names of individual parts and how they function, it's impossible to ensure you're outfitting your commercial kitchen with the proper system.

Law requires ventilation systems in all commercial kitchens. These systems protect workers and the building by removing potentially dangerous smoke, cooking grease, odors and harmful particles. A ventilation system is a combination of parts that function together to remove and replace air. When learning kitchen ventilation jargon, consider the following:

1. Find examples of commercial ventilation hoods to determine the right hood for your kitchen.

2. Know that exhaust fans are inside ventilation hoods, but purchased separately.

3. Learn the difference between a kitchen exhaust ventilation system and a kitchen air cleaning emissions system.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

View examples of commercial kitchen hoods

Exhaust hoods are professional kitchen equipment that begin the process of removing smoke, grease and odors from the air. These hoods, also referred to as canopies, are often galvanized or stainless steel and come in designs ranging from industrial and boxy to sleek and low profile. Exhaust hoods often work in conjunction with vents, but ventless technology is also available.

I recommend: To view a ventless exhaust hood, visit American Hood Systems. In addition to a photograph of a ventless hood, the website provides scenarios where a ventless hood would be ideal. See an illustration and photograph of a standard box exhaust hood at Monroe Kitchen Equipment.

Know the features of various commercial kitchen ventilation equipment fans

Commercial kitchen ventilation fans are within the exhaust hood. When purchasing an exhaust fan, consider the size of the hood and the power needed to keep the kitchen's air pure. Typically, the product specifications on an exhaust fan include a recommended hood length.

I recommend: Fantech offers technical data and illustrations of its kitchen ventilation equipment fans. Click on "Product Information" for product features and photographs. See a photograph of a commercial kitchen exhaust fan at Ultimate Aire Hoods. The various links on the page provide you with parts drawings and measurements for the company's exhaust fans.

Learn the components of an exhaust restaurant ventilation system

An exhaust ventilation system provides the necessary fire-safety measures within a restaurant kitchen. The commercial kitchen equipment in an exhaust ventilation system typically includes an exhaust hood, fan system, ducts and vents that draw in outside air to replace the air sucked into the hood. This system is adequate for meeting safety codes, but provides less fire protection than an emissions air cleaning system.

I recommend: To see a photograph of a rooftop ventilation system as well as a clearly labeled drawing of the same model, visit J&R Sales. Notice the ventilation system's make-up air fan, which replaces the ventilated air with new air. To see various individual components and a complete exhaust ventilation system, visit United Kitchen Systems.

See how an emissions air cleaning system works in kitchen restaurant ventilation

While an exhaust ventilation system draws harmful pollutants out of a kitchen, an emissions air cleaning system eliminates the pollutants so they're not released into the environment. Not only does an emissions system make your restaurant greener, it prevents grease build-up on the outside of the building, which can be a fire hazard.

I recommend: View two illustrations of kitchen air cleaning emissions systems at BPA Air Quality Solutions. The company provides a concise explanation and diagram of both an indoor and outdoor emissions system works. Air Quality Engineering offers parts for a restaurant kitchen emissions system. View photographs of air cleaners at the bottom of the page.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When setting up a restaurant ventilation system, purchase the kitchen hood before the ventilation fan to ensure the fan fits properly inside the hood.

By law, all restaurants must have some sort of ventilation in place before opening for business. Commercial kitchen ventilation equipment is vital for good air quality and overall safety of the building and the employees.

There are many different styles of commercial kitchen ventilation equipment to meet a variety of needs and configurations. Prices for commercial kitchen equipment can run anywhere from $5,000 for a simple gas range to $100,000 or more for an entire kitchen ventilation system.

Before shopping for commercial ventilation equipment, you need to:

1. Estimate the size hood you will need. This is determined by the number of stoves, ranges, grills, etc. that make up your cooking line.
2. Visit your local fire code marshal, who can tell you the specific requirements for commercial kitchen ventilation and fire safety.
3. Contact a local electrician to find out the project specs. An electrician can give you a ballpark estimate of the work that needs to be done.
4. Consult a mechanical engineer, if necessary, to review your commercial kitchen space for the best location for equipment, and make recommendations regarding the type of ventilation system you should purchase.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Size up your commercial kitchen equipment

There are many different kinds of commercial ventilation hoods and exhaust fans available. Kitchen ventilation equipment comes in both standard and custom sizes, depending on your layout.

I recommend: Greenheck can help you plan and equip your commercial kitchen with their kitchen ventilation application and design guide. You can also contact Ventilation Direct, a leading manufacturer of stainless steel hoods. They carry both canopy and island mounted hoods, ideal for commercial kitchens.

Make safety the No. 1 priority

Two critical elements of commercial kitchen ventilation equipment are fire extinguishing and grease extraction. With any cooking equipment, there is a chance of accident or fire. However, restaurant kitchens, because they are operating all day and night, need to be extra cautious where safety is concerned. Grease buildup, a common problem of many restaurant kitchens, presents a potential fire hazard.

I recommend: APS Hoods offers both installation and fire safety checks for commercial kitchens. They also work with your HVAC system, installing, repairing and servicing every type of rooftop unit. Safety First Services offers hood cleaning to remove dangerous buildup of grease and other debris. Along with cleaning restaurant ventilation systems, Safety First Services also does general commercial kitchen maintenance.

Used professional kitchen equipment is a tight budget's best friend

One of the best ways to save money when outfitting your commercial kitchen is to buy used equipment. You can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars by purchasing 'gently used' commercial equipment. Whole distributors are another place to look for steeply discounted prices on commercial ventilation

I recommend: Jean's Restaurant Supply offers both new and used kitchen ventilation systems. ACityDiscount.com offers a large number of used and new kitchen ventilation equipment at wholesale prices.

Soup to nuts (and bolts): Installing commercial ventilation hoods

Many companies that make commercial kitchen hoods also offer installation. Unless you have experience installing ventilation systems, it is best to leave it to a professional. If the manufacturer does not provide installation, you should contact a fire safety company or a heating company, both of which should have staff trained in the proper installation of commercial kitchen hoods.

I recommend: Ventilation Technology is an expert in installation of commercial ventilation hoods. BPA is another vendor of commercial restaurant hoods who also specializes in installation. They can walk you through setting up your kitchen and suggest which ventilation systems are right for you.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A used kitchen hood may have some dings and scratches, but that shouldn't affect its performance. Unless you plan to have an open kitchen in your restaurant, purchasing a hood with a little wear and tear is fine, since customers won't see it.
• •  Get familiar with your local building and safety codes. The local fire marshal and code enforcement officer can walk you through the type of ventilation needed for a particular building, as well as the type of fire suppression system that is needed.

Whether you own a restaurant or you professionally clean and maintain kitchen equipment, it's important to find training for commercial kitchen ventilation equipment. Commercial kitchens are required to use a ventilation system to keep the air free of smoke, cooking grease and odors. These systems not only make the air easier to breathe but reduce the risk of kitchen fires.

A malfunctioning ventilation system is a fire-safety hazard. Training for commercial kitchen ventilation equipment is beneficial to those who work in commercial kitchens and a requirement for those who install and maintain the system, fire investigators and inspectors. When finding training for commercial kitchen ventilation equipment, consider the following:

1. Gain classroom training and hands-on experience by attending a kitchen ventilation equipment training program.

2. Complete an online training course to learn the latest in kitchen ventilation technology.

3. Read about current trends in books, training manuals and industry blogs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Attend a kitchen restaurant ventilation training program

Attending a restaurant ventilation system training program allows you to gain hands-on experience learned from industry professionals. These programs typically offer three to five days of classroom and field training. Training varies from specifically cleaning commercial kitchen hoods to maintaining the entire ventilation system. Ideally, you should complete a training program at least once every few years to stay current with commercial kitchen equipment technology.

I recommend: Attend a training program offered by the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association. IKECA is a national non-profit trade association that focuses solely on the kitchen exhaust cleaning industry. The Hood Cleaning School is a family-owned and operated company that offers five-days of training, most of which is in the field, and on-going support after you return home. For an emphasis on preventing fires causes by professional kitchen equipment, attend the kitchen exhaust systems course offered by Fireman.

Take online courses on commercial kitchen ventilation equipment

If you're unable to take a week to attend a training program, you can complete an online training course. These online programs are convenient because you study as your schedule permits; however, they lack hands-on learning. Kitchen ventilation classes are often a one course in a fire-safety or engineering program, but typically, you can purchase the class individually.

I recommend: Phil Ackland Training Seminars offers online courses in commercial kitchen systems. Students can choose classes geared toward inspectors and fire investigation. Restaurant owners will benefit from the inspector course as it teaches fire codes and standards. For a more technical understanding of how kitchen ventilation equipment functions, register for the commercial kitchen ventilation improvements course at Gatlin Learning.

Read books, training manuals and industry blogs about restaurant ventilation systems

Reading manuals and industry blogs is an easy and inexpensive way to keep up with evolving technology. Keep a reference guide in the kitchen so employees can quickly resolve issues regarding standards and safety.

I recommend: Order a copy of "Kitchen Ventilation Systems & Food Service Equipment Guidelines" from BNP Media. The book is a basic reference guide to commercial kitchen ventilation systems. It's also available on CD-ROM from Construction Book Express. Learn from kitchen ventilation system experts by reading the Bryan Exhaust Service blog.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join an Internet forum for professional chefs to discuss the latest trends in professional kitchen equipment including equipment for commercial kitchen ventilation.