The ventilation of your kitchen is something that is an essential consideration for every kitchen, and more so commercial catering kitchens. Our guide explains the different types of kitchen ventilation options at your disposal for your commercial kitchen.
What is a kitchen ventilation system?
Kitchen ventilation is a facet of ventilation specifically in the treatment of air within a kitchen. A kitchen ventilation system is specifically designed for use in kitchens to address problems that are specific to that area, such as grease, smoke and the humidity caused by cooking.
Aside from this, kitchen ventilation systems are necessary to remove the carbon monoxide created by combustion during cooking on a gas stove.
A kitchen ventilation system is made of three sections: the filtering system, canopy and hood. However, a kitchen ventilation system can come in a variety of configurations.
What are the different types of commercial kitchen ventilation?
In this guide, we are going to break down the different types of kitchen ventilation systems, more specifically kitchen ventilation hoods. Kitchen ventilation can be broadly classified into two types, a vented hood, and a ventless hood.
A vented hood is known for pushing the air out and has to be located on an exterior wall. While a ventless hood can be located on an interior wall and instead of pushing air out, it filters and returns the air to the kitchen.
Whilst kitchen ventilation hoods can be broken down into two different types, there are various different styles that can be used to meet your specific needs in both function and style.
What types of kitchen ventilation are there?
It can be quite easy to get confused by all the different types of kitchen ventilation available.
It is first important to identify the type of ventilation system that is best suited to your kitchen.
Downdraft
In a downdraft vent, the air is pulled through the vent. It is then replaced by air moving from the kitchen area and the rest of the house. This replaces the air that is being exhausted outside. In doing this, a jet stream of air will pass over the cooking vessel.
This type of kitchen ventilation system is particularly ideal for kitchens that cannot spare upper cabinet space or where cooking facilities are on an island.
Updraft ventilation
Standard overhead or updraft kitchen ventilation is the most common type of ventilation for a lot of kitchens.
Updraft ventilation hoods are designed to allow the steam to rise into a filter system where it is extracted from the kitchen and sent outside.
Updraft island ventilation
Island ventilation works similarly to updraft ventilation but in an island application, it is more critical to oversize the hood.
Cross drafts affect island hoods, so the larger the surface area the unit has, the better it will perform.
Island hoods are finished on all sides, whereas regular hoods are not as finished on the sides that wouldn’t be exposed.
Steel wall canopies
Steel wall canopies are most often slightly triangular in their profile with stainless steel wall cladding incorporated beneath them to protect the wall from heat damage.
Steel wall canopies are ideal kitchen ventilation systems for smaller units.
Commercial kitchen ventilation systems
Commercial kitchen ventilation systems are a little different to those you would find in a regular, domestic kitchen.
Single island canopy
The ventilation system is ceiling mounted to completely overhang a single area of cooking facilities.
Double island canopy
Ceiling mounted to completely overhand a double area of cooking facilities.
Wall mounted canopy
The system is wall mounted to overhand three sides of a single row of cooking facilities up against a wall.
Back shelf hood
A back shelf hood is either wall-mounted or free-standing, they are typically used above counter height equipment.
Eyebrow style hood
The ventilation system is directly mounted to the leading edge of pizza and deck ovens.
Pass-over style hood
Used for counter heigh equipment when a plate passing configuration (passing from cooking side to serving side) is required.
Mistakes to avoid when buying a ventilation hood
When choosing a make and model of a ventilation hood for your kitchen, it is important to have a brief idea of what you’re looking for. As well as this, it is also important to know what you should avoid.
Some common mistakes include:
Choosing too shallow of a hood
You don’t want to be choosing a ventilation system that has too shallow of a hood for your kitchen.
This distance the hood sticks out from the wall should cover as much of the cooking vessel as possible. This will give the hood a better capture area.
Buying the wrong duct size
When considering different ventilation systems, you also want to ensure you pick one with the right duct size.
A hood for minimum extraction in most kitchens should have at least a six-inch sized duct exhaust. The hood should also be flexible enough to connect the dust work on the top or rear of the unit.
Investing in the wrong style filters
Inexpensive mesh filters do not stand up to long-term cleaning and uncleaned mesh filters limit the extraction value of the hood and increase the noise level massively.
When you opt for a cheaper option, you may think you’re saving money but it will just cost you more money in the long run.
Buying range hoods with halogen lighting
Halogen lighting in hoods, while nice and bright, gets really hot and doesn’t last very long.
A vent hood with LED lighting is the best option as the bulbs last much longer and are easier to replace as they don’t get as hot.
Buying too low of CFM for the cooking style
Most regular cooking styles require a minimum of 300 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM).
This amount of air extraction can handle most boiling and frying methods. Avoid buying a type of ventilation hood that has too low of a CFM for your specific needs.
Discover the different types of kitchen ventilation with Dolphin Fabrications
We hope you found our guide on the different types of kitchen ventilation systems helpful. If you’d like to discuss having a kitchen ventilation system installed for your commercial kitchen, or have any questions, please do get in touch.
