Hi everyone,
We have a multifamily project with more than 100 units, and we have a doubt regarding the kitchen exhaust requirement for LEED. According to table 6-4 in ASHRAE 62.1 2010 the kitchens need an exhaust of 50 or 100 cfm regardless of if the range is electric or uses gas. However, section 5.6 allows to use recirculating hoods if there is non-combustion equipment, and the recirculating hood is designed to discharge indoors.
“5.6 Local Capture of Contaminants. The discharge from non-combustion equipment that captures the contaminants generated by the equipment shall be ducted directly to the outdoors.
Exception: Equipment specifically designed for discharge indoors in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.”
Also, there is an ASHRAE interpretation (62.1 2010-9), where ASHRAE rules in item 1 that it is feasible to discharge indoors if allowed by the manufacturer when the space has an electric stove.
So, my question is: if the project has electric stoves, is it valid to use recirculating hoods in the kitchen to meet the LEED IQp1?
Thank you,
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Phil Vetterkind
DirectorSustainable Building Solutions
3 thumbs up
April 14, 2023 - 2:45 pm
Nicolas, have you had any luck getting an anwer for this?
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
495 thumbs up
April 15, 2023 - 8:00 am
Nicolas,
I believe you are correct. Kitchens require the exhaust you listed; exhaust for gas ranges must be vented to the outdoors; exhaust for electric ranges can be recirculated. Per the ASHRAE section/exemption you pointed out.
Furthermore, the LEED reference guide specifically states "gas ranges must have hoods that exhaust air directly to the outdoors". This is found within the 'Project Type Variations - residential' section of the EQp1 prerequisite language. The reference guide does not specifically state that electric ranges require the exhaust to be vented to the outdoors, nor does the language generally state "ranges must be exhausted....."
Hope this helps!
Camilo Velez
PrincipalSimgea
15 thumbs up
April 16, 2023 - 1:46 pm
Hi David,
To further this discussion, I have a counterpoint.
Without getting into the exception from ASHRAE 62.1 section 5.6 that Nicolas points out to, my understanding is that the current requirement is to have exhaust to the outdoor in the kitchens regardless of what type of stove is used, based on the following arguments:
To me all of these point that the kitchen exhaust, without taking into account the type of range, should be to the outdoors.
That being said, the exception from section 5.6 and the following ASHRAE interpretation that Nicolas points out to in the opening post, to me opens another can of worms:
I guess that this is one of those things where the devil is in the details, but it definitely would have a big impact on what we are requiring or not from Multifamily projects. Let me know your thoughts, thanks.
Phil Vetterkind
DirectorSustainable Building Solutions
3 thumbs up
April 17, 2023 - 8:35 am
Soooo..... do we have to exhaust a kitchen hood if there is a gas hood??? haha Clear as mud.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
495 thumbs up
April 17, 2023 - 8:43 am
Hello Camilo,
Thanks for the post, you provide excellent points.
It might be best for the project team to contact LEED coach for an official ruling....seems like there is a good point/counter point on this technical issue.
Camilo Velez
PrincipalSimgea
15 thumbs up
April 17, 2023 - 4:05 pm
Hi all,
Yeah, I think that would be the best, to get an official ruling from LEED to clear this issue (I don't want to take risks with a prerequisite).
Thank you
Camilo Velez
PrincipalSimgea
15 thumbs up
April 25, 2023 - 5:33 pm
Hi all,
We got this reply from GBCI regarding the original question which clears things up:
So according to this, a recirculating hood is valid (if it complies with the ASHRAE 62.1 5.6 exception), but the air would still need to be exhausted from the kitchen to the outdoors "irrespective of the type of range provided" to comply with the requirement.