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Kitchen Ventilation Design Guide: Best Practices
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
This article discusses kitchen vent fans: kitchen vent fan types, ventilation rate, installation specifications, and noise ratings. We also discuss downdraft fans and kitchen fan noise issues.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Kitchen Ventilation Design Guide
This article series discusses current best design practices for kitchens and bathrooms, including layout, clearances, work space, and accessible kitchen and bathroom layout, clearances, turning space, grab bars, controls, etc. We include advice on choosing and installing kitchen countertops, cabinets, and kitchen or bathroom flooring, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures and fixture controls such as faucets.
A list of kitchen and bath product manufactures and sources is included. This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.
Also see our vent fan installation details and specifications at BATHROOM VENTILATION, and the general topic of building ventilation:VENTILATION in BUILDINGS.
As noted in Chapter 6 of Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:
Kitchens and bathrooms are key sources of indoor moisture
and other pollutants. Kitchens produce particulates
and atomized grease from cooking, and with a gas range,
they also produce combustion by-products including nitrogen
dioxide and carbon monoxide. Bathrooms produce
moisture, odors, and VOCs from aerosols and various personal
hygiene products. Effective spot ventilation in these
areas is critical for maintaining healthy levels of indoor
humidity levels and an overall healthy indoor environment
(see INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE).
Kitchen cooktops produce large amounts of water vapor,
atomized grease, particulates, and cooking odors. In addition,
gas cooktops produce combustion by-products,
including carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide,
and carbon monoxide (see BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT). The most effective way to remove the moisture
and contaminants from a cooktop is with an overhead
range hood vented to the outdoors. Unvented range hoods
offer no protection against moisture and combustion gases
and provide only minimal protection against grease,
smoke, and odors trapped by the filter.
Kitchen Range Hood Location Advice
Research at the University of
Minnesota has shown that many range hoods are too small,
too high, or not oriented properly to do their job well. According
to the study, the most effective range hoods are at
least as wide as the cooktop and rectangular rather than
angled in front.
For best performance, standard hoods
should be mounted no more than 24 inches above the
cooking surface and project out at least 20 inches from the
wall (see Figure 6-57).
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Figure 6-57
[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.] |
Some high-capacity ventilators are
designed to work from 24 to 30 inches above the cooking
surface, but the stronger fans increase the risk of backdrafting
other combustion appliances. Hoods integrated
with microwaves typically project out only 13 to 15 inches
and miss most of the contaminants generated by the front
burners.
Required Kitchen Fan Ventilation Rate
The minimum ventilation rate for
kitchens required by the 2003 International Residential
Code is 100 cfm intermittent or 25 cfm continuous (if
part of a whole-house ventilation system).
Most industry
experts recommend that overhead range hoods have a minimum
capacity of 150 cfm and recommend higher capacity
fans for open grilling, high-BTU commercial-style
ranges, and other cooking styles that generate greater than
average steam or smoke (see Table 6-14).
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Table 6-14
[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.] |
A rule of thumb
for high-output ranges is 1 cfm of ventilation per 100
BTU’s of output. With high-powered fans, multi speed controls
are best so the fan speed (and noise) can be lowered
when full power is not required.
Installation Specifications for Kitchen Island Hoods
Island hoods are typically installed at
least 27 inches above the cook surface so they do not interfere
with sight lines. Because they are farther from the
cooktop and subject to passing air currents, they require
more powerful fans than standard wall-mounted hoods.
HVI recommendations for wall-mounted and island hoods
are shown in Table 6-14 above.
Downdraft Fans for Kitchens
Because they lack a canopy to catch
contaminants and must overcome natural convection,
downdraft fans are less effective than overhead range
hoods. Typically sized at 400 to 600 cfm or more, they
do a reasonable job of venting barbecues and grills, but
are less effective with pots and pans taller than about
3 inches. Downdraft fans are either flush-mounted at
counter level or pop up about 8 inches at the back of the
range.
- Flush-mounted fans are typically located in the
center of the cooktop or to one side. They generally
do an adequate job of capturing combustion gases,
as well as water vapor and cooking odors from pans
3 inches or shorter. Vapors from taller pots tend to
escape.
- Pop-up fans in the rear do an adequate job of capturing
combustion gases and moisture, except for tall
pots on the front burners.
Kitchen Vent Fan Noise Ratings & Advice
Look for the unit with the lowest noise rating that
meets the ventilation requirements. Some hoods are rated
as low as 2.5 sones, although most range from 4 to 7 sones
at full power (one sone roughly equals the sound of one
quiet refrigerator).
Ductwork Suggestions for Kitchen Fans
Like bathroom fans, the airflow from kitchen
exhaust fans is generally rated at a static pressure of 0.1 in.
(see “Ductwork,” page 262). This is roughly equivalent to
30 feet of smooth 7-inch round or 3 1/4x10 in. metal duct
venting a 200 cfm fan. For good performance, the total
equivalent duct length, not counting the wall or roof cap,
should not exceed about 30 feet. Equivalent duct lengths
for common fittings are shown in Table 6-15.
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Table 6-15
[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.] |
Backdrafting & Safety Issues with Exhaust Fans
With large-capacity exhaust fans of
200 cfm or greater, there is a risk of causing backdrafting
of a fireplace or atmospherically vented boiler, furnace, or
water heater. The potential for backdrafting can be tested
by a heating system technician and should be conducted
with all household exhaust fans running to simulate the
worst-case scenario. A simple preliminary test can be done
by holding a stick of incense next to the draft diverter or
dilution port of each combustion appliance with the furnace
fan on and off.
If the smoke spills into the room for more than 30 seconds,
then dedicated makeup air is most likely required.
Modest amounts of makeup air can be delivered through a
passive duct with an automatic damper, but significant
depressurization may require an active supply fan. The
makeup air supply should be delivered into the kitchen or
a nearby room not blocked by a door. (For more information see BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT.)
Bath Fan Manufacturers
American Aldes
www.americanaldes.com
Remote location single- and multi-port exhaust ventilators
Broan-Nutone LLC
www.broan.com
Low-sone Broan bath fans, also single- and multiport
remote location exhaust ventilators; Nutone ceiling-mount
bath fans
Fan Tech
www.fantech.com
Remote location inline-duct fans
Kanalflakt
www.kanalflakt.com
Remote location inline-duct fans
Marley Engineered Products
www.marleymeh.com
Ceiling-mount bath fans and general kitchen and room
exhaust fans
Panasonic
www.panasonic.ca/English/ventilationfans
Low-sone, Energy-Star-compliant ceiling-mount, inline,
and wall bath fans
Kitchen Exhaust Fan Companies
Amana
www.amana.com
Pop-up and traditional range hoods
Bosch
www.boschappliances.com
Chimney style, downdraft, and traditional range hoods,
stainless steel and colors
Kitchenaid
www.kitchenaid.com
Retractable downdraft, slide out, island, and traditional
range hoods
Broan-Nutone LLC
www.nutone.com
Nutone downdraft, island, and traditional range hoods
Dacor
www.dacorappl.com
Commercial-style, stainless-steel pop-up and overhead
range hoods; hood liners for custom canopies
Gaggenau
www.gaggenau.com/us
Chimney-style, pop-up, slide-out, and island range hoods
in stainless-steel, aluminum, and glass
Jenn Aire/Maytag Corp
www.jennaire.com
Pop-up, under-cabinet, wall, soffit, island, and fans and
hood liners for custom canopies
Thermador
www.thermador.com
Updraft, downdraft, and island-range hoods
Wolf Appliance Co.
www.wolfappliance.com
Pop-up, chimney-style, wall, and island-range hoods
in stainless steel
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- "The Elimination of Unsafe Guardrails, a Progress Report," Elliott O. Stephenson, Building Standards, March-April 1993
- "Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp" Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
- Access Ramp building codes:
- UBC 1003.3.4.3
- BOCA 1016.3
- ADA 4.8.2
- IBC 1010.2
- Access Ramp Standards:
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
- ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
- ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standards)
- America's Favorite Homes, mail-order catalogues as a guide to popular early 20th-century houses, Robert Schweitzer, Michael W.R. Davis, 1990, Wayne State University Press ISBN 0814320066 (may be available from Wayne State University Press)
- American Plywood Association, APA, "Portland Manufacturing Company, No. 1, a series of monographs on the history of plywood manufacturing",Plywood Pioneers Association, 31 March, 1967, www.apawood.org
- ASHRAE resource on dew point and wall condensation - see the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, available in many libraries. The following three ASHRAE Handbooks are also available at the InspectAPedia bookstore in the third page of our Insulate-Ventilate section:
- 2005 ASHRAE Handbook : Fundamentals : Inch-Pound Edition (2005 ASHRAE HANDBOOK : Fundamentals : I-P Edition) (Hardcover), Thomas H. Kuehn (Contributor), R. J. Couvillion (Contributor), John W. Coleman (Contributor), Narasipur Suryanarayana (Contributor), Zahid Ayub (Contributor), Robert Parsons (Author), ISBN-10: 1931862702 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862707
- 2004 ASHRAE Handbook : Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning: Systems and Equipment : Inch-Pound Edition (2004 ASHRAE Handbook : HVAC Systems and Equipment : I-P Edition) (Hardcover)
by American Society of Heating, ISBN-10: 1931862478 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862479
"2004 ASHRAE Handbook - HVAC Systems and Equipment The 2004 ASHRAE HandbookHVAC Systems and Equipment discusses various common systems and the equipment (components or assemblies) that comprise them, and describes features and differences. This information helps system designers and operators in selecting and using equipment. Major sections include Air-Conditioning and Heating Systems (chapters on system analysis and selection, air distribution, in-room terminal systems, centralized and decentralized systems, heat pumps, panel heating and cooling, cogeneration and engine-driven systems, heat recovery, steam and hydronic systems, district systems, small forced-air systems, infrared radiant heating, and water heating); Air-Handling Equipment (chapters on duct construction, air distribution, fans, coils, evaporative air-coolers, humidifiers, mechanical and desiccant dehumidification, air cleaners, industrial gas cleaning and air pollution control); Heating Equipment (chapters on automatic fuel-burning equipment, boilers, furnaces, in-space heaters, chimneys and flue vent systems, unit heaters, makeup air units, radiators, and solar equipment); General Components (chapters on compressors, condensers, cooling towers, liquid coolers, liquid-chilling systems, centrifugal pumps, motors and drives, pipes and fittings, valves, heat exchangers, and energy recovery equipment); and Unitary Equipment (chapters on air conditioners and heat pumps, room air conditioners and packaged terminal equipment, and a new chapter on mechanical dehumidifiers and heat pipes)."
- 1996 Ashrae Handbook Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment: Inch-Pound Edition (Hardcover), ISBN-10: 1883413346 or ISBN-13: 978-1883413347 ,
"The 1996 HVAC Systems and Equipment Handbook is the result of ASHRAE's continuing effort to update, expand and reorganize the Handbook Series. Over a third of the book has been revised and augmented with new chapters on hydronic heating and cooling systems design; fans; unit ventilator; unit heaters; and makeup air units. Extensive changes have been added to chapters on panel heating and cooling; cogeneration systems and engine and turbine drives; applied heat pump and heat recovery systems; humidifiers; desiccant dehumidification and pressure drying equipment, air-heating coils; chimney, gas vent, fireplace systems; cooling towers; centrifugal pumps; and air-to-air energy recovery. Separate I-P and SI editions."
- Principles of Heating, Ventilating, And Air Conditioning: A textbook with Design Data Based on 2005 AShrae Handbook - Fundamentals (Hardcover), Harry J., Jr. Sauer (Author), Ronald H. Howell, ISBN-10: 1931862923 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862929
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- Building Research Council, BRC, nee Small Homes Council, SHC, School of Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, brc.arch.uiuc.edu. "The Small Homes Council (our original name) was organized in 1944 during the war at the request of the President of the University of Illinois to consider the role of the university in meeting the demand for housing in the United States. Soldiers would be coming home after the war and would be needing good low-cost housing. ... In 1993, the Council became part of the School of Architecture, and since then has been known as the School of Architecture-Building Research Council. ... The Council's researchers answered many critical questions that would affect the quality of the nation's housing stock.
- How could homes be designed and built more efficiently?
- What kinds of construction and production techniques worked well and which did not?
- How did people use different kinds of spaces in their homes?
- What roles did community planning, zoning, and interior design play in how neighborhoods worked
- The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
- Energy Savers: Whole House Systems Approach to Energy Efficient Home Design [copy on file as /interiors/Whole_House_Energy_Efficiency_DOE.pdf ] - U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Whole-House Supply Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Whole-House_Supply_Vent.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11880?print
- "Energy Savers: Whole-House Exhaust Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Whole-House_Exhaust.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11870
- "Energy Savers: Ventilation [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Ventilation.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Natural Ventilation [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Natural_Ventilation.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Energy_Recovery_Venting.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11900
- "Energy Savers: Detecting Air Leaks [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Detect_Air_Leaks.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Air Sealing [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Air_Sealing_1.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- Gypsum Construction Guide, National Gypsum Corporation
- Gypsum
Construction Handbook [purchase at Amazon.com] H17, Technical
Folder SA920 and PM2, PM3 and PM4, United States Gypsum Company, 125 South Franklin ST., PO Box 806278, Chicago, IL 60680-4124,
- Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
- Ice Dam Leaks in building attics and roof cavities, how to inspect for evidence of leaks, identify causes, and
- What Style Is It?: A Guide to American Architecture, Rev., John C. Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers, Wiley; Rev Sub edition (October 6, 2003), ISBN-10: 0471250368, ISBN-13: 978-0471250364
- ...
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