Commercial kitchens are the engines that power any restaurant operation, and the most vital part of these kitchens is the hood system. Without a well-functioning and safely installed commercial kitchen hood, operations will suffer but more importantly there could be grave safety concerns and you could be out of compliance with Florida’s Fire Prevention Code.

Not surprisingly, installing a commercial kitchen hood system is far from simple. It requires a well-coordinated effort across multiple trades to make sure it’s done correctly. In this post, we’ll discuss these 5 critical trades you need for a coordinated hood installation. 

The Complexity of Hood Installations

Commercial kitchen hoods are intricate systems designed to operate sequentially and in sync with life safety protocols, mechanical systems, plumbing, electrical setups, fire alarms and HVAC systems. The placement and function of these systems dictate where your hood can be located, which means coordination is essential starting right away during the design phase.

What makes the process even more challenging is the number of different trades involved. Typically, five distinct trades must come together to install the hood system properly: gas, plumbing electrical, fire and mechanical. On top of that, seamless coordination with a professional hood company is required to ensure that the system functions perfectly. At Seacoast Consulting Group, we’ve found that partnering closely with professional hood installation companies, such as CaptiveAire, ensures a smoother installation process.

Pre-Testing Your Hood System with All 5 Trades

One of the biggest mistakes contractors make is failing to test the hood system before it’s needed in a real emergency. This can have dire consequences. At Seacoast Consulting Group, we insist on pre-testing the hood system as part of our installation contracts. We schedule all trades for a specific time to run through a test as if the system were operational. During the pre-test, we make sure every component works as required to meet fire and life safety codes.

Specifically, we’re looking for things like:

• Does the gas shut off if the system detects heat?
• Is the fire department notified if Hood 1 shows a problem?
• Will the ANSUL system or sprinkler system activate in an emergency?

We thoroughly test these sequences with the full team to ensure everything is in working order before the final inspection. Skipping this step can be disastrous. When a real emergency strikes, an untested hood system can fail and put lives and property at risk. 

Contact Us Seacoast Consulting Group and Seacoast Construction

The success of any restaurant buildout depends heavily on the correct installation of the kitchen hood system. Beyond the build phase, the proper setup of this equipment plays a key role in the long-term safety, efficiency and sustainability of the restaurant.

At Seacoast Consulting Group, we have years of experience guiding restaurant owners through the complexities of hood system installations in South Florida. If you have questions or need assistance with your restaurant buildout, whether it’s ensuring your space is hood-ready or managing the installation, reach out to us at 305-845-7785.