The Hood Filter HAND BOOK Your Complete Guide to Commercial Kitchen Hood Filters BUYING | MAINTENANCE | CODE COMPLIANCE | FAQS [email protected] | 877.394.9731 Hood Filters 101 What are Hood Filters and Why do you Need Them? ood filters are the first layer of Filters are not only necessary, they are protection in a restaurant’s grease required in order to meet regulations Hmanagement and exhaust ventilation outlined by the National Fire Protection system. Their purpose is to prevent Association (NFPA), International Fire Code flames and flammable debris from (IFC), insurance providers and regularly entering the exhaust duct and to capture enforced by fire and health inspectors. This grease-laden vapors produced from underscores the importance of buying the cooking equipment. If this grease was right hood filters and properly maintaining not captured, it would build up in the them. A well maintained set of filters ventilation system and become a major provides many other benefits including fire hazard. lower utility costs, less strain on the exhaust system motor, and a cleaner, cooler kitchen. Hood filters prevent flames and flammable debris from entering the exhaust duct and capture grease-laden vapors produced from cooking equipment. [email protected] | 877.394.9731 2 Hood Filter Fire Codes NFPA 96 Fire Codes Related to Hood Filters FPA 96 is a set of fire codes and • 6.2.3.2 – Grease filters shall be of rigid standards for ventilation control and construction that will not distort or crush Nfire protection of commercial cooking under normal operation, handling, and operations. These standards are used by fire cleaning conditions. NFPA 96 is a set of fire codes and standards for inspectors or Authority Having Jurisdiction • 6.2.3.3 – Grease filters shall be arranged ventilation control and fire (AHJ) throughout the country. Here are so that all exhaust air passes through the protection of commercial some of the hood filter standards you grease filters. should be aware of in order to avoid cooking operations. • fines and safety hazards: 6.2.3.4 – Grease filters shall be easily accessible and removable for cleaning. • 6.1.1 – Listed grease filters, listed baffles, • 6.2.3.5 – Grease filters shall be installed or other listed grease removal devices for at an angle not less than 45 degrees from use with commercial cooking equipment the horizontal. shall be provided. • 14.5.2 – If airborne sparks and embers can UL is an independent safety • 6.1.2 – Listed grease filters and grease be generated by the solid fuel cooking science company. UL Listing removal devices that are removable but operation, spark arrestor devices shall be means that UL has tested not an integral component of a specific used prior to using the grease removal samples of a product and listed exhaust hood shall be listed in device to minimize the entrance of the determined that it meets accordance with UL 1046. sparks and embers into the grease removal UL requirements based on • 6.1.3 – Mesh filters shall not be used device and into the hood and duct system. published and nationally unless evaluated as an integral part recognized Standards More information can be found for Safety. of a listed exhaust hood or listed in at nfpa.org conjunction with a primary filter in accordance with UL 1046. • 6.2.3.1 – Grease filters shall be listed and constructed of steel or listed equivalent material. [email protected] | 877.394.9731 3 How to Choose the Right Hood Filter When it comes to selecting the right hood When choosing the right filter, corrosion filter, there are two features to compare: resistance should be a primary concern. When to Replace Between high heat, humidity, grease, air Hood Filters 1. Material: Stainless Steel, Galvanized particles and cleaning chemicals – hood or Aluminum There isn’t a standard filters are under constant bombardment replacement time line for hood Welded or Riveted 2. Construction: that leads to corrosion over time. Materials filters. It all depends on the Material is usually the most important such as stainless steel or galvanized steel will type of filters being used, the consideration. Two questions that can help resist corrosion, last longer and have to be type of operation they are you decide on the right material are: replaced less frequently. used in, and how well they are maintained. In some kitchens Do you have a high volume kitchen? Now that we know the two deciding factors If yes, you definitely want a heavy-duty for choosing the right hood filter, let’s look they could last for a couple material such as stainless steel or galvanized. at both in more detail on the following pages. years. In others, they could last 6 to 8 months. If no, you might be able to use a lower NOTE: If you are replacing only a few filters, grade aluminum hood filter. it’s best to pick new ones that match the The most important thing to do is inspect your hood filters Can customers see your kitchen? filters you already have. This is especially If yes, you want a stainless steel filter which important in open kitchens to preserve a on a regular basis for dents, offers a bright shiny finish. Aluminum can consistent and attractive appearance. If you corrosion, holes or warped also be an option if durability and corrosion are installing a new hood system, or replacing metal. When a filter is damaged resistance isn’t important. all the filters at once, your choices are wider. or worn, it cannot perform its job effectively, and becomes a fire and safety hazard. Between high heat, When a filter is not operating humidity, grease, air at full capacity, it can allow particles and cleaning grease and/or embers into the chemicals – hood filters ventilation system, which can are under constant cause a fire. It could also make bombardment that leads you kitchen hotter, smokier and to corrosion over time. inflate your utility bills. If a filter is worn, damaged, clogged or has excessive build up – it should be replaced right away. [email protected] | 877.394.9731 4 Hood Filter Material Material is the most important consideration in choosing the right hood filter. The good news is, there are only three material types to pick from: Stainless Steel, Galvanized or Aluminum. Let’s look at each one. Stainless Steel Stainless steel filters are the most durable, retain their shiny finish even after applying easiest to clean and the best choice for high- degreasers. This makes them very popular volume operations. With its combination of for open cooking environments where the strength, attractive shiny finish and ability to kitchen is visible to patrons. stand up to harsh chemicals and frequent Of the three materials, stainless steel is cleanings, stainless steel is by far the best the more expensive option. If you’re on selling hood filter material. a tight budget, it may not be the best fit. Stainless steel filters are popular for their However, they will last the longest and cost Flame Gard Stainless resistance to corrosion, and they will less over time. Steel Hood Filter Hood Filter Magnet Test When choosing a stainless steel filter, Simply place the magnet on the front of keep in mind that all stainless steel is not the steel surface and see if it sticks. If it created equal. There are varying grades does, then that filter is constructed of a of metal that impact corrosion resistance lower quality stainless steel, which is less – which is one of the most important resistant to corrosion. If it does NOT stick, features of any hood filter. then you know it’s a premium quality steel that will last longer and not corrode easily. To determine stainless steel quality, all you need is a common refrigerator magnet. Learn more by watching the video [email protected] | 877.394.9731 5 Hood Filter Material Galvanized Galvanized filters are strong, long-lasting For this reason, and also due to its dull and provide excellent performance for finish, galvanized filters are the least an affordable price. Galvanized steel can attractive option and typically not used stand up to degreasers and cleaning in open kitchens where patrons have chemicals, but the metal can become clear view of the ventilation hood. discolored after you use them. Kason Galvanized Hood Filter Aluminum Aluminum filters are lighter weight and less steel or galvanized filters. Another issue expensive than stainless steel, but more prone to consider is that they are incompatible to corrosion and damage. Their shiny finish with harsh degreasers and other caustic makes them a good fit for open kitchens with cleaning chemicals. If these compounds lower cooking volume. Their lighter weight are applied to aluminum, the metal will also makes them easier to handle. begin to corrode almost immediately. Although aluminum filters may cost less in the short-term, they will need to be replaced much sooner than stainless Trine Aluminum Hood Filter [email protected] | 877.394.9731 6 Hood Filter Construction Once you’ve selected a material type, the next step is to select the construction. This choice is even easier as it comes down to Fire Code Compliance two options: Welded or Riveted. When choosing a hood filter, it’s always wise to choose one Although they differ in how they are constructed, welded and that is UL Listed. That ensures it will pass all fire codes, riveted filters share common characteristics. First, they are both insurance requirements and available in all three material types and second, they both share safety standards. If the filter the same design relying on a series of vertical baffles to trap and isn’t advertised as UL Listed, keep grease away from the duct system.