Kitchens are kitchen, no matter where it is. In your home, workplace, restaurants, and commercial kitchens, all are the same. They cook food, maybe in different batch sizes, but basically, they are cooking. Right?
While it is practically true, there are a lot of differences, between a regular kitchen and a commercial kitchen. Apart from the big batches of food being cooked, the equipment is also different. And with all that equipment comes a lot of heat and fume. This is where the exhaust hoods come in.
As we all know exhaust hoods are good as their installment, so how high should a commercial kitchen exhaust hood be? Regular hoods should be 24” to 36” from the stove or cooktop. But for commercial exhaust hoods, the number also goes a bit down or a bit too high. It ranges from 1.5 feet to 3.5 feet above the cooking surface.
Yes, they go over any heat surfaces. Let’s talk more about that including the NFPA standards.
How High Should A Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hood Hang? The Recommended Explanation
Commercial kitchen exhaust hoods almost have the same height preference as a regular range hood. The difference is in where you are using on which kind of appliance. And depending on that, your kitchen exhaust hood height will differ. Here are the 3 main heights from where you should hang them.
1. For Exposed Flame Surfaces
Exposed flames mean gas stoves, induction cooktops, and open flame fryers of commercial grade. When installing an exhaust hood on top of any of them, you have to install it 1.5 feet above the appliance. This is due to the reason these appliances’ heat radiates to a very low level.
2. For Burners And Flames
Commercial burners, gas or electric, induction burners, charbroilers, and flat-top grills need their exhaust installed 2 feet above them. As the heat rises more than a regular cooktop, you can install it a bit higher depending on the size of the appliance.
3. Charcoal Grills And Charbroilers
Charcoal-operated grills and charboilers should have their exhaust installed at least 3 feet above the appliance. This is due to the charcoal getting burnt if the exhaust suctions up too fast. As kitchen exhausts are way more powerful than regular home exhaust hoods, they will burn off the charcoal faster and the heat will dissipate.
The Reason Behind The Height Of Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hood
There are mainly 2 reasons behind the height of the commercial kitchen exhaust hood.
- The law and standard
- The kitchen size and appliance size
1. The Law and Standard
The law and the industrial standard of a commercial kitchen are above everything. Whatever these organizations have set, should be followed. These include the International Building Code or IBC standard, the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 96 standard, and the National Restaurant Association standards. They put them in place for a reason, for the safety of the people working inside the kitchen and around it. Which is why you should always follow them accordingly.
2. The Kitchen Size and Appliance Size
The kitchen size and appliance size come in second place, as you need a different size of exhaust for different situations. You need a main exhaust, then additional exhaust hoods for your appliances. So going through with an expert would do you good rather you doing it yourself.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What is the standard height for a commercial kitchen hood?
The standard height of a commercial kitchen hood should be between 78” to 84”. It also depends on the size of the appliance and the size of the kitchen. Looking at the local building code will give you a clear idea about it.
What is the minimum ceiling height for a commercial kitchen hood?
The minimum recommended ceiling height for a commercial kitchen hood is 9′-0′. This can go down depending on the kitchen appliances’ height and size. But not above that range.
How do you size a commercial kitchen exhaust hood?
The recommended way to size your commercial kitchen hood by the NFC (National Fire Code) is to have it 6 inches larger than your appliance on all sides.
Conclusion
Commercial kitchen exhaust hoods are powerful and hefty. As the kitchen appliances are also bigger and function in an industrial manner, they are required that way. The height seems almost the same as installing a regular exhaust hood, but they are very much different. And different states and regions have different laws for them. So make sure you look into them before installing the exhaust hood on your own preference.
