Your business needs a commercial kitchen hood. How do you know if the hood that you are buying adheres to existing rules? What are the applicable standards for commercial hoods?
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Point 6.2.2.7 of the National Building Code of Canada 2010 says that the design, construction, and installation of systems for the ventilation of commercial cooking equipment must conform to the standard of NFPA 96 2011.
Point 5.2.13.1 of the National Building Code of Canada 2015 (amended) is applicable for all buildings whose construction begins after December 27, 2021. It stipulates that:
- Commercial cooking air extraction installations with a cumulative flow rate of more than 2360 L/s (5000 CFM) must have an intelligent variable flow hood system.
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ)
The RBQ establishes the Construction Code in Québec. Chapter I of the code has been in force since November 7, 2000. The new version of this chapter, which went into effect on June 15, 2015, consists of the National Building Code of Canada 2010, with amendments for Québec. You can obtain a copy of this version via the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). It is the Quebec Construction Code that enforces the standards set out by the National Research Council Canada (NRC).
Authorities with Jurisdiction
The RBQ confirms that the “authorities (…)” are municipalities and their fire protection service, which can request superior requirements to the code in question.
Some municipal authorities may demand higher requirements than the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). Therefore, before beginning any work, it is important to consult the requirements of the municipal fire protection by-law.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
The NFPA is a non-profit American organization established to eliminate death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire. To that end, the NFPA has more than 300 codes and regulations governing the creation, construction, transformation, service, and installation throughout the world.
If NFPA96 is applicable either by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) or the authorities having jurisdiction (local fire prevention specialist), a commercial hood system will be required.
When the NFPA96 2011 code refers to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), you must consult the local fire prevention specialists.
Point 11.4 of the code NFPA96 2011 mentions that the complete evacuation system must be inspected by a competent company or person(s), duly formed and certified, acceptable with the authorities with jurisdiction.
Currently, the organizations that issue this type of certification are, among others: IKECA (International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association), Phil Ackland and HTI Certification.
International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association (IKECA)
IKECA is the first professional association of the exhaust cleaning industry in existence.
In 2009, IKECA joined the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a standards developer.
Since then, IKECA has helped to develop standards for cleaning, inspecting, and maintenance of commercial kitchen exhaust systems.
The certified members of IKECA provide complete cleaning of the exhaust system, from the kitchen hood to the fan on the roof and air ducts. They follow the cleaning and inspection standards of the NFPA96, the International Mechanical Code, and the International Fire Code.
Cadexair, the Reference in Canada
With over 35 years of experience, Cadexair is the reference for standards and regulations concerning commercial kitchen hoods.
By doing business with Cadexair, you will obtain the best commercial kitchen exhaust system, innovative, safe, specialized, and custom-made.
Cadexair differentiates itself by the expertise of its team of accredited engineers, highly qualified and among the best in the industry. All Cadexair products are built according to the highest quality and engineering standards, according to the CSA, NSF, UL and ULC standards.
Cadexair has been an active member of the IKECA association for more than 10 years regarding its preventive maintenance, inspection, and cleaning service. Therefore, you can be assured that the work completed by Cadexair is executed in strict accordance with Canadian codes and standards.
With Cadexair, you have the guarantee of receiving outstanding service, quality products adapted to your needs, and a competent and professional team.
