Commercial kitchens are busy environments where chefs and kitchen staff work hard to create delicious meals for their customers. However, with all the cooking, frying, grilling, and baking happening simultaneously, there is bound to be a lot of smoke, heat, and grease in the air. This is where exhaust hood canopies come in handy.

What is an Exhaust Hood Canopy?

An exhaust hood canopy is a ventilation system that removes smoke, heat, and grease from commercial kitchens. It is typically mounted above cooking equipment such as ranges, grills, and fryers. The canopy captures the hot air and smoke, removes it from the kitchen, and expels it outside the building through a duct system.

Why are Exhaust Hood Canopies Important?

There are several reasons why exhaust hood canopies are essential in commercial kitchens:

Safety: The accumulation of smoke and heat in a kitchen can pose a significant safety hazard to kitchen staff and customers. High temperatures and smoke inhalation can cause serious injuries or even fatalities. Exhaust hood canopies help to reduce these risks by removing smoke, heat, and grease from the kitchen, creating a safe working environment for kitchen staff.

Compliance with Regulations: Many local building codes and health department regulations require commercial kitchens to install exhaust hood canopies. Failure to obey these regulations can result in penalties, fines, or even the closure of the kitchen.

Improved Air Quality: Cooking produces smoke, heat, and grease, which can make the air in the kitchen unpleasant and unhealthy to breathe. Exhaust hood canopies help to remove these contaminants, creating a healthier and more comfortable environment for kitchen staff and customers.

Extended Equipment Life: The accumulation of grease and other contaminants on cooking equipment can cause damage, reducing lifespan. Exhaust hood canopies help prevent this by removing grease and other contaminants from the air before settling on the equipment.

Improved Efficiency: By removing heat and smoke from the kitchen, exhaust hood canopies help to regulate the temperature and humidity levels, creating a more comfortable environment for kitchen staff. This can improve their productivity and efficiency, leading to faster and more accurate food preparation.

Installation

Installing an exhaust hood canopy in a commercial kitchen is an important task that requires careful planning and attention to detail. Here are some steps to follow when installing an exhaust hood canopy:

Determine the location of the canopy: The canopy should be installed directly above the cooking equipment that produces smoke, heat, and grease. It should also be located in a way that allows easy access to the ductwork for cleaning and maintenance.

Choose the right size: The canopy size should be defined based on the size of the cooking equipment and the volume of air that needs to be removed from the kitchen. A canopy that is too small may need to be able to remove enough smoke and heat, while a canopy that is too large may be inefficient and costly.

Install the ductwork: The ductwork connects the canopy to the exhaust fan and exhausts the contaminated air outside the building. It is important to use the right size ductwork and ensure it is properly sealed to prevent leaks.

Install the exhaust fan: The exhaust fan is responsible for pulling the contaminated air out of the kitchen and pushing it through the ductwork. The fan should be sized appropriately for the volume of air that needs to be removed from the kitchen.

Install the canopy and baffle filters: The canopy should be securely mounted above the cooking equipment, and baffle filters should be installed inside the canopy to trap grease and other contaminants.

Connect the electrical wiring: The electrical wiring for the exhaust fan and canopy should be installed by a licensed electrician and obey local building codes.

Test the system: Once the installation is complete, it should be tested to ensure it works properly. This includes checking the airflow rate, verifying that the ductwork is sealed correctly, and testing the exhaust fan.

Cleaning

Regular cleaning of the exhaust hood canopy is essential to ensure it operates efficiently and safely. Here are some stages to follow when cleaning the exhaust hood canopy:

Turn off the cooking equipment: Before starting the cleaning process, turning off all the cooking equipment and allowing them to cool down is essential.

Remove the baffle filters: Baffle filters are designed to trap grease and other contaminants that are produced during cooking. They should be removed from the canopy and cleaned separately.

Soak the filters in a cleaning solution: The baffle filters should be soaked in a cleaning solution specifically designed to remove grease and other contaminants. The solution should be allowed to penetrate the filters for a short time.

Scrub the filters: After soaking, the baffle filters should be scrubbed using a non-abrasive brush to remove any remaining grease and contaminants. They should be rinsed thoroughly with clean water and dried before reinstalling.

Clean the interior of the canopy: The interior should be cleaned using a degreaser specifically designed to remove grease and other contaminants. The degreaser should be sprayed onto the interior surfaces of the canopy and allowed to sit for a recommended amount of time. Then, the surfaces should be scrubbed using a non-abrasive brush and rinsed thoroughly with clean water.

Clean the ductwork: The ductwork that connects the canopy to the exhaust fan should also be cleaned regularly. This can be done using a special duct cleaning brush designed to remove grease and other contaminants from the ductwork.

Test the system: After cleaning, it should be tested to ensure it works properly. This includes checking the airflow rate and verifying that the system is properly sealed to prevent leaks.

Conclusion

In summary, exhaust hood canopies are an essential component of commercial kitchens. They are vital in maintaining safety, compliance with regulations, air quality, equipment life, and efficiency. If you own or operate a commercial kitchen, it is essential to ensure that your exhaust hood canopies are correctly installed, maintained, and regularly inspected to ensure optimal performance.