Restaurant Kitchen Hood Access Panels & Hinge Kits Explained

The exhaust hood system is an essential part of any commercial kitchen and its ventilation. It removed smoke, soot, heat, steam, and grease from the kitchen. Moreover, it keeps the kitchen cool and clean for the workers to perform well. You may have to consider factors such as exhaust rate and size to choose the design of your commercial kitchen hood. 

Apart from deciding on the size and type of the kitchen hood the grease duct access and hinge kits are essential to ensure smooth working. Here we’ll explain the two for you to learn more about such an important system in your kitchen. With the right information, you will be able to understand how the commercial ventilation system works. This will, in turn, be useful in maintaining the kitchen hood’s efficiency in your restaurant. 

Kitchen Hood Access Doors & Panels 

Not every kitchen hood exhaust system can be designed to go straight up. When the engineers design an offset or a horizontal duct the National Fire Protection Association code governs the number and placement of access doors. These access doors allow a complete kitchen exhaust cleaning where every area of the grease duct is accessible. Duct access doors can be added to the commercial kitchen exhaust hood to facilitate kitchen exhaust cleaning. Access panels can be carbon or stainless steel with through bolds and fireproof fiberglass tape to seal the seams. Generally speaking you will find access panels every 10 linear feet of horizontal duct and at every offset in the kitchen exhaust system. Grease duct access doors are used for inspection in between scheduled commercial kitchen exhaust systems cleaning.

Kitchen Hood Hinge Kit

A hinge kit is simply a set of hinges on the exhaust fan that enable the cleaning crew to open and access the duct shaft from above. They may move the fan to the side for a better cleanup. As per the NFPA 96 guidelines, a hinge kit is an essential accessory that allows access to exhaust system fans. Often roof fans will have both access doors and hinge kits. Although not a code requirement we prefer stainless steel hinges and duct access doors on roof top exhaust systems. Stainless steel does not rust so these components stay operational over time allowing us to fan and duct access.  

Roof fans and ducts can not be cleaned efficiently without a hinge kit or duct access door. The hinge kit allows the free movement of the fan for deep cleaning. Duct access doors and access panels let cleaners clean and inspect all inside components of the commercial kitchen exhaust systems.

Wrapping Up 

It is necessary to follow all the local, building, and NFPA 96 rules and regulations so that you are in compliance with all. Moreover, maintain a cleaning schedule with a certified insured reliable hood cleaning company for your kitchen hood for it to work at maximum efficiency.