Ventilation regulation DW172 requiring heat and fume extraction from all commercial kitchens has had an unfortunate by-product – many kitchens are finding their once super-heated environments are now too cold.
Since the regulation also demands automatic shut-off of cookers if the extractor hood is not operational, staff had little option but to shiver through the winter as cold external air was drawn into the kitchen to replace the extracted air.
Nordair-Niche, working with mechanical heating services specialists Spa Gas of Droitwich, has developed a tempered air unit especially for kitchen environments that delivers warmed fresh air to approximately 16°C – sufficient to maintain comfort conditions without overheating staff working in the area.
At Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls – just one example of the kitchen upgrade of state schools throughout the country – a Nordair-Niche MUA20 direct gas-fired unit heater was installed on the roof above the school kitchen.
Staff in the 150m² kitchen produce around 700 meals a day for pupils. A new extractor canopy had been installed to comply with DW172 and it proved so effective in extracting heat and fresh air venting that the existing radiator system could not effectively compensate.
Within the roof-mounted heater, a 70kW burner, controlled remotely from within the kitchen, heats incoming fresh air to comfort temperature. As the fierce heat from the cookers is extracted, warm make-up air provided by the Nordair-Niche heaters is discharged into the kitchen via ducting and two louvres at high level.
Linda Smith, business manager at the school, comments that the new heater is very effective in combating chill draughts. ‘We have had no complaints since the heater was installed,’ she says.
John Ierston of Spa Gas, joint developer of the MUA20 heater, adds: ‘There is a great need for a heater of this kind to ensure commercial kitchens remain comfortable for staff while still complying with legislation.’
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