Do you own a restaurant or are you planning to build a dream home in Singapore? Or perhaps your goal is to renovate the current commercial kitchen area only.

Whatever your goal may be, every residential and commercial kitchen needs a good flow of air! But all of this depends on your service facility having a great ducting system installed. The environment is more comfortable when cooking or food odours are reduced in the eating areas. Furthermore, cooking results in the release of airborne particles, smoke, heat, steam, etc. and they can cause varied health problems.

Having a kitchen exhaust ducting system can therefore help get rid of irritants that cause unhygienic kitchen air. However, designing the right duct system for your space is a big decision. Here are the key considerations for the right installation. Let's discuss them!

 

Things To Consider When Designing The Right Kitchen Exhaust Ducting System

Following are some important design factors for the kitchen ventilation system:

1) Select The Appropriate Exhaust Hood Type

The main factor to take into account while designing the exhaust hood is the size and features of the hood. It should be properly planned to have the least amount of impact on what or how you can cook. To ensure an appropriate hood for the most typical appliance types, it is advised that the width must be at least 54 inches.

For appliances that produce more heat and effluent, this additional overhang is great. Include the elements like deeper or taller hoods and end skirts that can easily stop polluted air from escaping from the hood's edges. This can simply reduce the amount of airflow inside the eating area. The type of grease filters used in the hood is another crucial component. Use high-efficiency grease filters to reduce the amount of grease that enters the other areas of the ventilation system.

2) Consider The Right Exhaust Fan

If you run a restaurant, it is advised to install one exhaust fan in each kitchen to maximise airflow efficiency. This won't create an issue if the system in one kitchen experiences a problem. Also, by operating the fire suppression system separately, it can prevent a simultaneous discharge. This is because different kitchens are connected by the same duct system.

Exhaust fans are less expensive in comparison to other equipment from a financial standpoint. Also, they are typically small enough for every hood with operational benefits that outweigh the installation cost in these applications. Other components of the system, particularly the ductwork, are impacted by the size and number of exhaust fans. The short duct length and size reduce the difficulty and installation expenses.

3) Choose The Proper Hood Design

For the kitchen, there are three common ducting system types. Each of them performs differently. Thus, choose the one dependent on the kitchen design, culinary equipment used, and worries you wish to avoid.

  • Wall Canopy: The installation of the wall-mounted canopy hoods is done on the kitchen walls and extends over the cooking appliances. This large-size kitchen hood system is best if you require enough exhaust capacity.
  • Proximity Hoods: They are smaller in size and are situated near the kitchen's cooking appliances. It is available in a variety of shapes and patterns, including back-shelf, eyebrow, etc. They are typically excellent in reducing emission rates.
  • Island Canopy: They are positioned over the kitchen appliance in an island style and suspended from the ceiling. In contrast to proxy hoods, they require the highest exhaust rate.

4) Evaluate The Exhaust Rate

The amount of air that needs removal from the kitchen area will influence your choice of commercial kitchen exhaust ducting system. So, you must determine the smoke, steam, heat, and grease emissions for this.

For instance, fried dishes generate more fat and smoke. Cooking over an open flame, on the other hand, generates greater heat. Hence, taking into account all of these factors, you must evaluate the exhaust rate and then choose the hood type accordingly.

5) Estimate The Kitchen Layout

Your kitchen layout will help estimate the space requirements and whether your exhaust hood system will fit in it. In this case, the experts advise putting the hood 24 to 30 inches above the cooktop. But, you should also follow the manufacturer's advice.

Depending on the kitchen layout, the hoods can be mounted on the walls. You could even put it in your overhead canopy or cabinets. Even telescoping chimney hoods are available, which you may install or hide depending on your needs. Instead, you might go with a downdraft kitchen system. It is easy to set it aside when the stove is not in use. This is because it's easy to open from a specific slot on the kitchen countertop.

6) Select Placement Area For The Kitchen Exhaust System 

When choosing one, you must take into account where the kitchen exhaust ducting system will be placed. Three different kitchen areas must be kept in mind when positioning the commercial exhaust hoods. These are the ductwork inline, the walls, or the roof.

Also, the location of the stovetop affects the decision to put such an appliance. Fire regulations, design, size, and look are other important factors. Yet, you might also have to consider a few installations on the basis of the kind of exhaust system.

7) Consider the Physical Dimension Of the Kitchen Exhaust System

The next consideration is the hood's actual size if you're familiar with the system type, the exhaust rate, and the design. Check to see if the size of the kitchen exhaust ducting system is appropriate for the required airflow. Sometimes, the exhaust system needs to expand beyond the installation area to prevent any smoke or grease leaks.

In addition to physical dimensions, choosing the right installation height is crucial. Remember that some of these decisions will depend on the cooking appliances that your kitchen possesses. Therefore, it is important to speak with the expert before finalising your decision.

Summing Up

Never undervalue the importance of the exhaust system, whether you need a new restaurant kitchen or want to remodel the current space. All the things mentioned above can make it easier for you to design the right kitchen hood system that appropriately suits your needs. So, install the efficient kitchen duct system and keep your space free from smoke, fire hazards, grease, and airborne debris.