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Exhaust hood systems are essential to any commercial kitchen space to remove airborne particles that can contaminate kitchen surfaces as well as pollute the air quality of the kitchen. There are many components that come into play in your exhaust hood set up - you have your blower motor, exhaust fan, grease traps, ductwork, etc. To fully understand how each and every part of the exhaust hood works can be overwhelming and daunting, however understanding these components not only helps when it comes to troubleshooting what may be wrong if your exhaust hood is acting up, but also allows you to better grasp how everything is working to best optimize your exhaust hood system for you kitchen space.

Exhaust fans may seem pretty simple in appearance, however they are complex and have many components that help to ensure they work as efficiently as possible. One of these components are the louvers - the horizontal slats that cover the input area of the fan. The purpose of the louvers is not just cosmetics - the angle and other variables of the louvers help create an optimized air flow while protecting the fan from excess debris. The louvers are designed using a series of criteria:

1) Free Area - the free area of the louver is what allows air to freely pass between the openings. Free area is determined by taking the total louver face area, and subtracting the airflow restrictions a la the blades and fans. The purpose of free area is to prevent excess debris from mak...