Features and Unique Uses of a Stainless Steel Hood

The hood makes a vital component of the total kitchen exhaust system. There are different types of hoods, used according to different requirements. The features naturally vary according to the style. In commercial kitchens, canopies serve the vital purpose of keeping the indoor air free from impurities and promotes a healthy and hygienic environment to work. Read on to find the different types of hoods and their unique features and usage. It will help you determine the right exhaust system for your needs. You may also talk to a reputed stainless steel hood supplier for more detail. 

 

Type 1 Hoods

These are also known as the grease or vented hoods. They come with a duct and are equipped to handle grease and fumes produced during cooking and frying. Type 1 hoods are typically installed over powerful cooking equipment like the gas cooktops that produce a high amount of smoke and grease during cooking. The required power of the exhaust depends on the amount of greasy food prepared on the appliance. If a cooking device produces more grease and heat, the exhaust needs to be more powerful to catch and filter it. 

Along with the grease and other by-products that mix with the air during cooking, these canopies are also equipped to remove heat and smoke. At one hand, it makes the environment more hygienic, hospitable, and on the other, it also reduces any chance of fire incidents due to increasing temperature. These canopies again can differ depending on the style and construction features. There is Type 1 wall mounted canopy, single and double island hoods as well as the proximity variety. The suction capacity of the exhaust varies considerably depending on the style. And it is crucial to decide the required power for a particular commercial kitchen exhaust after considering all these factors. 

The typical use of a Type 1 hood includes, 

 

• Should be installed at or above commercial kitchen equipment used in cooking, e.g. fryers, grills, broilers, ranges, burners, BBQs, ovens, and any other type of equipment that produces smoke and grease in less or high amount. 

 

• Type 1 canopies capture the air contaminated with grease, other toxins produced during cooking, heat, and smoke above the appliance before it mixes with the surrounding air and expels it to the outside through the duct system, helping to keep the indoor air hygienic and odour free. 

 

• The process removes the air from inside and hence are essentially installed with a make-up air (MUA) system. The MUA device ensures that the air expelled outside by the exhaust is replaced by clean and fresh air. The continuous working of the exhaust and the MUA in tandem ensures that the inside air quality is healthy and free from contaminants, smoke, grease, or odour.    

 

Type 2 Hoods

Commonly known as the ductless or the condensate hood this variety comes without ducts and has no need of using a make-up air device. It differs considerably from the ducted ventilation systems in working principle and internal design. These utilities come with filters that help in separating the steam, vapour, heat, and odour from the air and puts the filtered air back into the room. While these systems have a number of benefits when it comes to installation, these are not suitable for use over cooking appliances that produce grease or used for cooking or frying greasy or fatty items. These are great to work over the ovens or benchtop catering equipment like the bain marie. 

Just like the type 1 exhausts, for type 2 canopies as well you need to decide the power of the device as per your need to get the best results. There might be norms set by the local authority that specifies the minimum power of a ducted exhaust for a specific device of particular capacity. So, check out the rules first. These compact ventilation systems often come with castors which gives them high mobility and flexibility to accommodate in different spaces as per your changing needs. 

The typical use of a ductless exhaust includes, 

 

• Should be installed over commercial kitchen equipment that produces no grease. These are designed to work efficiently over coffee machines, general ovens, non-conveying pizza ovens and commercial dishwashers that produce only steam or vapour. 

 

• It lacks a grease filter because the device is not designed to handle grease. It is excellent at controlling excess heat generated along with steam during baking or steaming. 

 

• The unit comes as a compact device without any ducts attached to it for pushing the captured air out of the room. At the same time, as it throws back the air into the room after filtering it, make-up air adjustment is not needed.   

 

Features that you should look for in hoods before purchase,

The right CFM – As noted above, there are various factors to consider for deciding the right power of the exhaust to meet your needs. Make sure that the device has sufficient CFM according to your specifications and any regulations set by the local authority. 

Heavy-duty construction – Irrespective of the type or style of exhaust you are buying, it is essential to make sure that it has a heavy-duty construction which is sturdy and can stand the continuous use of a commercial environment. Stainless steel is a good choice as it is perfect for heavy-duty use. However, every stainless steel is not the same. Do not settle for anything less than type 304 stainless steel. High-quality carbon or polyester filters are the best for canopies. 

Lighting – Canopies will create a shadow on the appliance and to compensate for that light it should come with proper LED lighting. Make sure that the lights are vapour proof so that the light intensity is not compromised by the vapour produced during cooking.

Noise level – This is an essential feature to consider for every ventilation system. While complete noiseless commercial ventilation system is yet to be designed, the noise factor can be reduced considerably by the use of latest technology. Buy a device that comes with a quiet motor and there are no parts that can create noise due to rattling while the motor is on. 

 

Ease of maintenance – Cleaning the system is a routine task. So, always settle for a model that has an easy to clean design. Stainless steel hoods are often preferred because they are easy to clean and maintain.