Complete Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hood Ventilation System

Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hood Ventilation Systems

Restaurant Kitchen Exhaust Hood with Air Cooler

A commercial kitchen exhaust system for restaurant and comprises of :

  1. Exhaust Hood
  2. Grease Filters
  3. Oil Collector
  4. Fan Motor
  5. Duct Work
  6. Silencer*
  7. Fresh Air Supply (make-up air)*

*optional

Kitchen Exhaust Hood and Motor Sizing

Correctly sizing the kitchen hood, fan and motor is essential for capture efficiency, comfort and safety. We size by duty class, hood length, canopy style, duct routing and accessories (filters/ESP), then select the fan at the required airflow and total static pressure with an engineering safety margin.

Restaurant Kitchen Exhaust Hood with Air Cooler

  • Pick duty class: light / medium / heavy / solid-fuel.
  • Estimate airflow using hood length × duty factor (validated on site).
  • Build a static-pressure budget: hood loss + duct friction + elbows + accessories (pre-filter, ESP, backdraft damper, roof cowl).
  • Select fan & motor at the design duty point, with ≥10–15% margin.
  • Choose Single-phase (240V) or Three-phase (415V) exhaust motor.
  • Determine to add silencer or not.
  • Optional to add-on inverter if speed-adjusting is preferred.
 

Indicative airflow per linear metre of hood (guide only; confirm on site):

  • Light: 1,500–2,000 m³/h per m
  • Medium: 2,000–2,800 m³/h per m
  • Heavy (wok/grill): 2,800–3,600 m³/h per m
  • Solid-fuel: 3,600–4,500 m³/h per m
 

Example (Malaysia heavy-duty wok line):
3.0 m canopy → target 7,000–9,000 m³/h. Duct ~12 m with 4 elbows → 350–500 Pa total static. Fan selected at the duty point with ~15% margin; motor typically 2.2–3.0 kW, depending on final routing.

Micro-CTA: Need help? We’ll size your hood, fan and motor based on drawings or a site visit.

Fresh Air Intake / Make-up Air / Evaporative Air Cooler

Why it matters:
Exhaust without make-up air causes negative pressure, cross-drafts and poor capture. Evaporative make-up air provides large volumes of cooler supply air with low energy, improving staff comfort and hood performance.

Best-practice integration (bullets):

  • Target 60–85% of exhaust volume as make-up air (project-dependent).
  • Deliver supply above/near the hood edge to avoid cross-draft across the cooking line.
  • Diffuse air via supply plenum or slot diffusers; ensure drain line & service access.
  • For service/dining zones, consider indirect or two-stage evaporative to limit added humidity.
  • Interlock fan & cooler with hood/exhaust controls to maintain pressure balance.
  • Include filters and screens to protect cooling media; plan periodic media flushing.

Benefits:

  • Improved capture & containment at the hood.
  • Lower kitchen temperature and operator fatigue.
  • Lower electrical load vs. compressor-based cooling at high airflows.

Micro-CTA: Design my make-up air plan (we’ll match airflow to your exhaust and layout).

Kitchen Exhaust Hood System with Air Cooler Fresh Air Make-up
Kitchen Exhaust Hood System with Air Cooler Fresh Air Make-up

Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)

The electrostatic precipitator is the future of the kitchen exhaust hood system which effectively remove the oil mist/grease and release only clean air . This system is extremely useful when:

    1. Installation of duct work from kitchen to the outside of premises is not possible.
    2. Only clean air is allow to be discharged. (due to the rules set by local council or building management.)
CrystalAir Electrostatic Precipitator for Commercial Exhaust Hood System
Standalone Electrostatic Precipitator
Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hood with Integrated Electrostatic Precipitator
Exhaust Hood with Integrated ESP for small and light cooking kitchen. No ductwork and external exhaust fan needed.

What it does:
ESP removes fine smoke and grease aerosols from the exhaust airstream, keeping ducts cleaner, reducing odour complaints and lowering fire risk—ideal for malls, dense urban sites and heavy cooking.

Benefits (bullets):

  • Removes fine smoke & grease (≥95% typical).
  • Lower pressure drop than loaded media filters → better energy performance.
  • Washable plates; long service life.
  • Optional carbon/UV modules for odour control.

Placement (one-line):
Hood → Pre-Filter → ESP → Fan → Duct & Discharge (capture contaminants early, protect fan and duct).

Typical ESP Specifications:

CrystalAir Electrostatic Percipitator For Kitchen Catalogue
 

Maintenance note: cleaning interval depends on load (wok/charcoal lines need more frequent washing); include access doors and a wash bay or service workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The primary purpose of an exhaust hood in a commercial kitchen is to remove smoke, heat, grease, and odors from the cooking area. It improves air quality, ensures a comfortable working environment, and reduces fire hazards by venting harmful contaminants outside.

A commercial kitchen exhaust hood should be cleaned regularly to prevent grease buildup, which can pose fire hazards. The frequency of cleaning depends on the volume of cooking, but generally, it should be done every three to six months.

There are several types of exhaust hoods, including canopy hoods, downdraft hoods, wall-mounted hoods, under-cabinet hoods, and island hoods. The choice depends on the kitchen layout and specific ventilation needs. When selecting an exhaust hood, consider the kitchen layout, cooking volume, and specific ventilation requirements. The size of the hood should extend beyond the cooking surface for optimal capture and ventilation.

The size of the exhaust hood depends on the size and type of cooking equipment used. A general rule is that the hood should extend 6 inches beyond the cooking surface on all sides for optimal ventilation.

An exhaust hood and a vent hood perform similar functions, but an exhaust hood is typically used in commercial settings and is designed to handle larger volumes of smoke, grease, and heat, while a vent hood is more common in residential kitchens.