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Overview of international regulations for kitchen exhaust
In addition to the obvious benefits of cleaning the exhaust air from kitchens and restaurants, industry standards and recommendations are essential to take into account in order to achieve a safer and more pleasant working environment. Standards and recommendations aim to harmonize the requirements for technical solutions and the entrepreneurs delivering them.
The new EU standard – a step closer to sustainable commercial kitchens
The EN 16282 standard for ventilation in commercial kitchens was released in autumn 2017. This section aims to describe and discuss the new regulations and requirements for commercial air treatment methods. Before choosing your treatment method, take a minute to read this.
Smart demands for increased quality, safety and a greener world
EN 16282 – New EU standard for ventilation in commercial kitchens
EU’s new standard for equipment in commercial kitchens is long-awaited and well-produced. It covers everything from the hood to the point of discharge. It took 14 years to finalize and aims to harmonize competition within the EU as well as setting quality requirements for functionality, safety and the environment.
Air purification technologies are described in part 8 where requirements are defined for equipment for treating kitchen exhaust air. The air treatment reduces fire hazards as well as problems with odors. It is also a prerequisite for installing heat exchangers in the exhaust air stream enabling heat recovery.
The new EU standard has had a great response and is quickly spreading across Europe resulting in a considerable reduction of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. A driving force is the Ecodesign Directive, which states that heat recovery used in real estates shall have a minimum thermal efficiency of 68% for batterybased heat exchangers and 73% for plate-/ countercurrent heat exchangers by January 1, 2018.
The eight sections of the new EU standard EN 16282*
- General requirements
- Kitchen ventilation hoods
- Kitchen ventilation ceilings
- Air inlets and outlets
- Air ducts
- Requirements and testing
- Aerosol separators
- Fixed fire extinguishing systems
- Installations for treatment of aerosols
*EN 16282 Equipment for commercial kitchens. Components for ventilation in commercial kitchens. The EU standard EN 16282-8 can be obtained from your National Organization for Standardization.
We have read the standard thoroughly and what follows is a summary of how some of the treatment technologies are affected.
The ecodesign directive – a focus on energy usage
The Directive was adopted by the EU in 2005 and is aimed at reducing energy usage, and thereby greenhouse gas emissions by 20%.
General requirements for purification techniques
- For technical safety reasons, components immersed in the air stream shall be designed to withstand a constant temperature of at least 60 °C. The exhaust air may, therefore, require cooling.
- The installation must be easy to access for maintenance and cleaning purposes
- Components exposed to UV-radiation or ozone should comprise of suitable materials
- If ozone is emitted at ground level, concentrations must be below the applicable limit values
- If ozone sensors are used, they shall be labelled “OZONE SENSOR” and have a unique traceable calibration certificate
- Connections between the ozone generator and the kitchen exhaust duct must be visibly labelled “OZONE” every ten meters
New requirements for ozone generators
For ozone generators fed with oxygen (for example, our high-performance RENA system), there are now several new smart requirements.
- Installation, repair and maintenance shall be carried out by personnel educated by the manufacturer
- The ozone generator shall only be in operation when the exhaust fan is running
- Suitable equipment, such as flow and/or pressure sensor(s), shal l ensure that ozone is not released into the building. If the system is equipped with a pressure sensor, it needs to be set up so that the ozone system is shut down should the differential pressure fall below 20 Pa
- Inspection hatches on the exhaust duct shall carry a warning sign that reads: “WARNING — Ozone Treatment”
New requirement for air-fed ozone generators
In addition to the general requirements for commercial air treatment technologies and ozone generators, the standard specifies that oxygen-fed ozone generators shall be used for total exhaust airflows exceeding 2,500 m3/h. The reason for this is that air-fed ozone generators produce too high amounts of nitrogen oxides and nitric acid. The standard states:
“NOTE: To safe-guard against NOx and HNO3 build-up in the extract air, an oxygen-fed ozone generator will be used for a total extract flow exceeding 2500 m3/h.”
New requirements for photocatalytic air treatment (often called ozone-free UV light treatment)
- F9- filter (ISO 16890, ePM1 80%+) shall be fitted prior to the photocatalytic system. The filter must be resistant to ozone and UV. The filter shall not be fitted in the kitchen hood/ceiling
- For UV lamps, the maximum operating temperature specified by the manufacturer should not be exceeded
- Hoods equipped with UV lamps shall carry a visible warning sign: “WARNING — UV radiation”
- Inspection hatches on the exhaust duct shall carry a warning sign that reads: “WARNING — Ozone Treatment
Note! As this technology contains both UV and ozone, the requirements for each treatment technology must also be taken into account.
Here are the requirements you can ask for
- Capacity to remove air-borne grease during high airflows
- Minimum requirement for manual cleansing of ducts
- Simple to install the distribution of the ozone – even when the ducts are difficult to access
- Capacity to treat air with high grease content
- Low energy consumption
- The ozone distribution should not interfere with the activities of the kitchen nor be aesthetically disturbing
- Stable and consistent treatment capacity
- Low operational costs
- The ozone system should be able to be installed where it is out of the way of the activities being undertaken in the premises
- Ability to prevent grease build-ups in ducts
- Minimum lifespan of 20 years
- Remote 24/7 monitoring to detect any interference
- Does not disturb the ventilation balance
- Lowest total cost of all purification technologies over time
- The system should include an ozone sensor which turns off the system if ambient ozone levels exceed set threshold. The sensor shall be supplied with a uniquely traceable calibration certificate
- No components installed in the air flow
- The purification system should turn on/off when the ventilation system turns on/off
- One single system should be able to treat several kitchens in, for example, a food court
- High operational reliability
- Stepless variable treatment capacity
- For larger projects with high treatment requirements, several ozone systems should be able to be installed together
- Minimum maintenance requirements
- Easy adjustment of treatment capacity
- Comply with requirements of EN16282-8
- Minimum service requirements
- Easy to upgrade the system’s total capacity
You are always welcome to contact us if you have any questions about the standard or if you are interested in our solutions and ozone treatment in general.
Swedish imkanal 2022
Imkanal 2022 is the latest update to the recommendations produced jointly by the ventilation industry, trade organizations, and authorities.
The recommendation is based on regulatory requirements as well as general advice in Boverket’s building rules and incorporates The Swedish National Board of Housing and Work Environment’s instructions and guidelines for the rules. It emphasizes work environment and practical advice for designers, installers, and building owners.
Key points carried over and expanded in the 2022 update:
- Corrosion risk. Stainless steel is still recommended for duct sections directly exposed to high ozone concentrations, meaning the duct/pipe section between the ozone generator and the ventilation system). Always use stainless steel or other ozone-resistant material in connections between the ozone generator and the exhaust/extract duct where high concentrations of ozone occur.
- Work environment. Ozone concentrations may never exceed the exposure limits set in the local Occupational Health & Safety Authority (e.g. Swedish Work Environment Authority’s regulations, AFS 2025:5). These are maximum values, rather than operating targets. Ozone and/or UV-system’s operation must be interlocked with the exhaust fan operation, with a run-on period after shutdown to clear residual ozone, and an ozone detector with an alarm should be installed in the kitchen.
- Heat recovery. Air leakage from the exhaust air to the supply air with heat recovery remains a risk area. Rotary heat exchangers are not recommended as the rotary units carry a higher risk of leakage between airstreams.
- Duct material. Sheet metal, galvanized steel, or stainless steel, remain acceptable duct materials as long as adequate ozone, UV, or equivalent exhaust air treatment is used.
Mellifiq welcomes these clarifications and recommendations and will keep supporting the industry for a safer work environment. Our vision for the modern kitchen continues – a more energy-efficient, sustainable and safer commercial kitchen with minimal impact on its surroundings.
Imkanal 2022 has been prepared by the Swedish Chimney Sweep Master’s National Association (Sveriges Skorstensfejaremästares Riksförbund – SSR), Plåt & Ventföretagen, Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF, formerly MSB), Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), the Swedish Fire Protection Association (Brandskyddsföreningen), Lindab, Fläkt Woods, Hallströms Verkstäder, Profiduct, Swedish Ventilation, Paroc, and Fluetec.
Keep in mind that Imkanal 2022 is a Swedish industry guideline for Swedish kitchen exhaust ventilation designers and installers. Guidelines in your country may differ.
The Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket), the Swedish National Board of Housing (Boverket) and Brandkonsulten AB contributed comments to both the original recommendation and the 2022 update.