Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 May 27, 2013 5:19 am We're having a compact retirement home built for installation near Adelaide by a modular builder in Victoria. There is a small second/story mezzanine, and the kitchen bench with the gas stove is just under this mezzanine. The builder uses only Smeg appliances, with the Smeg PUM60X standard. We want to install a slightly larger cooktop, and will request an upgrade to the Smeg PASC5801 FPX (Twice the airflow for the same decibels of noise). Both of these units are overhead range hoods, and have the exhaust duct connecting at the top of the fan unit. I asked the builder's designer where the vent for the kitchen exhaust would come out (so as to verify that the vent wouldn't be emerging from the roof right in front of the mezzanine windows). I was surprised to learn that the builder's standard practice is to have the exhaust duct make a 180 degree turn and take it out through the floor under the house. Smeg's own installation guidelines specify no more than a 90 degree bend. When I inquired further, the builder told me not to worry, they do this all the time, and that they 'might' be able to connect the duct to the side of the unit. Since the fans are not downdraft units and are meant to be installed on ceilings, not walls, this seems unlikely to me. I'm thinking that starting out ignoring the installation guide is not a winning plan. Could anyone help me out and point to code that would support this point of view, or reassure me that while not ideal this is perfectly workable? Many thanks! Chris in Berkeley, California Chris On the threshold of retirement... and trying to check my assumptions at the door Re: SA codes for kitchen exhaust fans 2May 27, 2013 8:35 am I'd see if I could get something in writing from Smeg telling your builder not to do that or that the warranty would be void installing it that way etc etc. It is bad practice and I seem to recall reading somewhere something like a 25% loss of flow per 90º bend. Without seeing your plan or elevation I don't know how you are going to vent this rangehood straight up. Stewie Re: SA codes for kitchen exhaust fans 3May 28, 2013 2:09 am Thanks, Stewie, I'll give that a try... So far all Smeg would say is that they recommend installation of their fans as per their installation instructions. (No, really??) On the other hand, they were pretty responsive when I was figuring out that Australia may be the last country with a modern building code that will let you install a gas stove without a flame failure safety feature. 25% loss, eh? Thanks goodness we already decided to go with a more powerful unit. We're driving the builder crazy, I think, because the 'designer'/salesperson they have working with is poorly informed about building practices, and we keep asking questions. H1 is a tremendous help. Chris Chris On the threshold of retirement... and trying to check my assumptions at the door Re: SA codes for kitchen exhaust fans 4May 28, 2013 8:20 am Quote: Australia may be the last country with a modern building code that will let you install a gas stove without a flame failure safety feature. Hmmm. I didn't know that. I presumed that would be mandatory. Stewie Re: SA codes for kitchen exhaust fans 5Jun 04, 2013 1:45 am I was pretty surprised, myself, but verified it with Smeg. They make two cooktops in the 720-750mm size range with the wok burner off set to one side, which is what I want, and neither comes with a flame failure safety device. The US, NZ, and the entire EU would require one, but Aus has some substitute rule allowing cooktops without safeties when the house has a certain degree of constant air turnover. Since Smeg is Italian, they must either be manufacturing the safety-less cooktops just for Aus, or are shipping the old stock to the Antipodes.... The EU rule is pretty new. Chris Chris On the threshold of retirement... and trying to check my assumptions at the door My home office is hot with computer equipment running virtually 18 hours a day. When it gets unbearably warm I simply step out of my door into the living area which is… 0 5132 There may be answers here but can't find anything. I have a closed in veranda, four windows. North facing, just had sunblock blinds installed. A bit cooler (actually… 0 2983 No. It's not original. Circa early to mid 90s would be my guess and maybe even as late as early 2000s 1 6636 |