Do Kitchen Exhaust Fans Need to Be Vented Outside?

Do Kitchen Exhaust Fans Need to Be Vented Outside?

Adding a new ventilation system to your commercial kitchen or bakery is more than just a good idea, and in certain circumstances it might even be a requirement of your local municipality. Making sure you follow all pertinent guidelines is important to ensuring everything is up to code and safe for your employees and patrons--and that starts with having a proper kitchen exhaust fan setup. Here is what you need to know.

Ventilation is Usually Required for Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Fans

While there might be the occasional exception to the rule, most commercial kitchens are required to have a kitchen exhaust fan that vents to the outside. The reason for this is that these types of fans are designed to move smokey, greasy polluted air outside, as recirculating it inside isn’t best for anyone’s health. After all, who really wants to enjoy a meal at their favorite restaurant while smelling every aroma coming out of the kitchen?

Generally, venting is accomplished by installing an inline duct fan designed specifically for kitchen use. There are various parts of the system that connect to your existing ductwork including an external vent, intake vent, and the fan itself. Since inline duct fans are connected to a section of the ductwork inside your ceiling, they aren’t visible and there’s usually more than one working together to push the tainted air outside through your existing HVAC system. In the end, this helps to automatically remove that smelly and hot air associated with cooking outside the building.

What to Look for When Purchasing a Commercial Exhaust Fan

If you’ve ever remodeled your home kitchen, you likely know that a range hood is simple enough to do the trick for ventilating the space. However, industrial exhaust fans are a whole different thing. That said, there are a few things to look out for when purchasing kitchen multi-purpose inline fans.

First of all, they are usually measured in terms of the amount of air they move through your duct, which is listed in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the CFM rate, the bigger the exhaust fan. And you’ll also need to know how far you have to push the air out through the HVAC system. For example, a single-story building with easily accessible outside walls might only need a minimal setup, while those that have to go through multiple stories inside a large building will require a much more intensive ventilation design.

Next, you want to choose a manufacturer known for their quality product. The most popular kitchen exhaust fan brand we carry is Soler & Palau and there are many different options to choose from depending on your needs. Soler & Palau multi-purpose inline fans offer a high level of quality at an affordable price.

Are you looking for the ideal kitchen exhaust fan for your commercial kitchen? Please get in touch with Industrial Fans Direct today and our dedicated team can help you choose the right one for your needs.