2017 ASHRAE Annual Conference

The commercial kitchen ventilation (CKV) system is just that, a system, complete with hoods, exhaust and makeup air fans, makeup air conditioning and delivery and in many cases, demand-based controls. Simply stated, when commissioning (Cx) is compromised, CKV performance falls short of client expectations! Unfortunately, commissioning a CKV system is a complex, multi-phase task not always understood by the design community. Many times, the failure of an exhaust hood to capture effluent from the cooking process could have been mitigated through effective commissioning. This is a high-level perspective on the commissioning process applied to a commercial kitchen.

What are the common issues typically found while performing a test and balance of a CKV system? Several examples are presented that display the common issues found when performing a test and balance as part of both new construction and rebalancing of existing sites due to inadequate design, improper installation and poor maintenance.

Commercial kitchen ventilation systems (CKV) are a subset within the overall building HVAC, which requires a proper approach to system design, installation and commissioning for operation and performance. System design, quality products and integration are critical; however, the realities of field installations shows that, “where the rubber meets the road, your mileage may vary.” This seminar highlights many of the common issues discovered in the field when performing a system design verification to ensure proper and sustainable operation.