Where to Locate Kitchen Hood Manual Release?

10/8/2020

Have a project at a local grocery store that has an end cap kiosk with a Class 1 commercial kitchen hood. The kiosk is 6-foot wide by 8-foot long and has one means of egress out of the kiosk. The kiosk is used for cooking demonstrations and to hand out food samples to the customers.

The predicaments we (AHJ, owner, designer of record, and contractor) are having is the location of the manual release station. There are no structural columns or architectural surfaces that are within the minimum distance of 10 feet or a maximum of 20 feet from the cooking surface to mount the manual release stations that are within the means of egress.

Any thoughts or suggestions on where to mount the manual release station?

Thanks in advance.

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8 Comments

Kelley S

10/8/2020 10:10:29 am

To the left of the oven on the wall surface in the only path of egress. Wouldn’t suggest putting it on the back of the kiosk, to much risk of being hidden or maliciously/accidentally pulled.

You’re likely to have the same minimum distance problem with hoods in food trucks.

Richard Mercer

10/8/2020 10:24:20 am

If the facility is sprinklered, you could provide hood protection per NFPA13 or you can apply for a code variance. I believe here in NYS, this was a common variance request for this type of installation.

Zac Geddies

10/8/2020 10:47:39 am

Look up EVO Event 35E www.evoamerica.com. It meets the requirements of IMC 507 exception 2. It has self contained recirculating exhaust and self contained fire suppression with the manual pull station mounted on the front of the unit.

Shane

10/8/2020 11:48:28 am

If you are going by the NFPA 17a or 96 standard the manual activation shall be located in a means of egress or at a location acceptable to the AHJ.
IFC has a specific distance ... between 10 and 20 feet from the hazard. in some cases it is not possible such as self contained units and food carts or small kitchens, this is where the AHJ can make the determination based on each scenario where this happens. The manufacturer may be able to provide some background on this as well.

Mr Glenn Scott Berger

10/8/2020 11:56:21 am

You can always add channel or angle framing to mount the release station.

John King

10/8/2020 06:23:14 pm

Adding to Mr. Berger's suggestion, make it look nice. I have the same issues with plumbing vent piping that is running out from floor sinks and fixtures/equipment and restricted in horizontal underground run. My first request is suggest to the architect and interiors solution of a deck to ceiling column at each end of the counter (symetrical). Run the rough conduit inside the column. 8 times out of 10 the architect has provided the columns.

Bill

10/9/2020 08:13:46 am

The minimum distance required for the pull station was removed from the standard quite some time ago. This allows greater flexibility and some common sense to be used. Placing it in the path of egress, away from any potential flame, would be the most appropriate.

Randy Kimbro

10/13/2020 08:17:46 am

IFC 2018, section 904.12.1 still lists the distance as not less than 10 feet and not more than 20 feet. The IFC does give an exception if there is an automatic sprinkler system, but as an AHJ, I feel the manual pull station is still valuable as it could be activated before heat built up enough to activate the automatic system.

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