Is a range hood required by code?

Understanding Range Hood Requirements

Kitchen range hoods serve many different purposes in both residential and commercial settings. Homeowners use them to vent grease and cooking odors from their residential kitchens; factories and warehouses use them to vent chemicals and potentially hazardous materials from enclosed spaces; commercial kitchens use them to vent heavy grease and combustion byproducts. These ventilation systems are critical for indoor air quality, fire safety, and ensuring the best experience while cooking.

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International Code Requirements

The International Code Council determines the rules and regulations for range hood codes across the United States. As of 2018, they publish revised manuals every three years with updated ventilation requirements for commercial and residential construction. The International Residential Code (IRC) and International Mechanical Code (IMC) outline specific requirements for mechanical systems, including kitchen ventilation systems.

Beyond the International Code requirements, your local building codes may have additional specific requirements. Contact your local authorities or a building inspector to discuss these range hood requirements before proceeding with range hood installation.

The 2018 International Mechanical Code has this to say about exhaust hood requirements:

An exhaust system shall be provided, maintained, and operated as specifically required by this section and for all occupied areas where machines, vats, tanks, furnaces, forges, salamanders and other appliances, equipment and processes in such areas produce or throw off dust or particles sufficiently light to float in the air, or emit heat, odors, fumes, spray, gas or smoke in such quantities so as to be irritating or injurious to health or safety.

In other words, in all places where fumes and combustion byproducts are produced at levels that are risky to your health, an exhaust system is required. These areas include, but are not limited to, equipment rooms in factories, dry cleaning rooms, commercial kitchens, fuel dispensing areas (especially for aircraft), and many more enclosed spaces where proper ventilation is critical.

Residential Range Hood Requirements

In the International Code manual, residential range hoods are not specifically required for single-family residential buildings. However, if you purchase an installed range hood for your home, it must abide by specific requirements outlined in the code. These building code requirements include compliance with Underwriters Laboratories’ safety standards, the range hood duct material (typically stainless steel), use of a backdraft damper, make-up air system requirements, and more.

The code requires a makeup air system for vent hoods over 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM), but this will largely depend on your cooking style and the size of your kitchen space. If you turn your vent hood on high CFM for long periods of time – or if you have a small kitchen – you should definitely consider a makeup air system to maintain fresh air circulation and energy efficiency.

Key Residential Requirements:

• Minimum Airflow Rate: Many states require at least 100 CFM intermittent or 25 CFM continuous mechanical ventilation
• Installation Height: Range hoods must typically be mounted 24-36 inches above the cooktop or cooking surface
• Ductwork: Ducted range hoods must use smooth interior surfaces made of galvanized stainless steel or other approved materials
• Backdraft Damper: Required to prevent exterior air from entering through the exhaust vent
• Exterior Termination: Range hood ducts cannot terminate in attics, crawl spaces, or enclosed spaces - they must vent to an exterior wall
• Energy Code Compliance: New installations must meet energy efficiency standards for energy savings

Ductless range hoods with charcoal filters are permitted as an alternative in most residential buildings, though ducted range hoods provide more effective ventilation for removing cooking odors, carbon monoxide, and grease accumulation.

Commercial Kitchen Requirements

In restaurants and commercial kitchens, exhaust hoods are required by code. This is what the ICC Mechanical Code says:

Type I hoods shall be installed where cooking appliances produce grease or smoke as a result of the cooking process.

Commercial vent hoods require a makeup air system and a fire suppression system to ensure fire safety and proper operation at high temperatures. The mechanical ventilation must maintain adequate indoor air quality and handle the combustion byproducts from gas ranges, stove tops, and other heat sources.

Commercial Kitchen Code Requirements:

• Type I exhaust hood for grease-producing appliances
• Fire suppression system to minimize fire hazard
• Makeup air system for proper air intake
• Regular cleaning to prevent grease buildup and grease accumulation
• Compliance with manufacturer's instructions for installation
• Independent exhaust ventilation system separate from HVAC system
• Stainless steel construction for durability

Beyond these requirements, the type of filters, gutters or trays, vent hood material, duct-to-hood joints, duct openings, and much more are outlined in the range hood codes and must follow best practices for commercial installations.

What's the Difference Between a Type I and a Type II Vent Hood?

Type I vent hoods are built for grease and smoke-producing appliances at the cooking surface, whereas Type II hoods vent heat, moisture, or vapor outside of the room – not grease or smoke. A range hood over your stainless steel grill, gas stove, or in a restaurant kitchen is a Type I hood. A hood over a commercial dishwasher or water heater is a Type II hood. Unless otherwise stated, residential range hoods and commercial kitchen hoods are Type I.

Is a Range Hood Required for an Electric Stove?

A range hood is required by code for an electric stove if the stove top produces less than 5 micrograms of grease when tested at 500 CFM. This specific requirement is more relevant for electric stoves in commercial kitchens. You won't really be able to test this in your own residential kitchen. So, we recommend installing a Type I fan over your electric stove to ensure all the unwanted contaminants and cooking odors are vented out of your kitchen space. This will keep the kitchen air clean and fresh, improving indoor air quality throughout your living room and home.

On average, electric stoves produce less heat, grease, and smoke than gas stoves. So, you won't need a range hood that moves as many cubic feet per minute (CFM) as a gas range. However, proper ventilation is still important for maintaining good indoor air quality and preventing grease accumulation over time, which can add home value and improve your overall cooking experience.

State-by-State Code Requirements

Is a Range Hood Required by Code in California?

In California, the California Building Code requires kitchen ventilation systems that produce 100 CFM or more intermittently or produce 5 air exchanges in one hour. This requirement applies to all residential areas, remodeled homes, or kitchen renovation projects in areas that are 1000 square feet or larger. The California Energy Code also mandates energy efficiency standards for energy use and energy savings.

Is a Range Hood Required by Code in Texas?

Texas abides by the IMC, so an exhaust hood is required in commercial environments. In addition, kitchen air cannot be vented into an attic, soffit, ridge vent, or crawl space. The range hood vent must exhaust to an exterior wall. However, ductless range hoods are permitted as an exception to this rule.

Residential kitchens must be vented with a minimum airflow rate of 25 CFM of continuous air or 100 CFM intermittent air. This is so little CFM that you don't need a range hood to reach this threshold. In fact, residential exhaust fans can reach up to 2000 CFM for the best experience.

Check out Texas' full ventilation requirements here.

Is a Range Hood Required by Code in Florida?

The Florida building code requirements are the same as Texas, which requires ducted range hoods in commercial environments. Ductless range hoods are permitted in residential buildings, where at least 25 cubic feet per minute of continuous air or 100 CFM intermittent exhaust ventilation is required.

Read more about Florida's code requirements here.

Is a Range Hood Required by Code in Virginia?

Virginia abides by the requirements outlined in the IMC, which requires range hoods for commercial environments. They are not required in residential areas, but range hood ducts must be made of stainless steel, copper, aluminum, or galvanized stainless steel. The installation height must follow manufacturer's instructions and local building codes.

To view the full list of specific requirements, click here.

Is a Range Hood Required by Code in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts also requires an exhaust hood that produces at least 100 intermittent CFM or 25 CFM continuously. Again, you can achieve that power without a vent hood – the important part is that your kitchen space is adequately ventilated for proper ventilation and indoor air quality.

In Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, and Virginia, your hood must be mounted at least 24 inches away from the cooktop. We recommend mounting it between 28 and 36 inches away for maximum efficiency and effective ventilation. This installation height helps optimize performance while maintaining fire safety.

For more details, take a look at this document.

Is a Range Hood Required by Code in New York?

New York shares many of the same range hood requirements of Massachusetts, California, Florida, and Texas. A range hood must move at least 100 CFM intermittently, or 25 CFM continuously. The code further states:

Range hoods shall discharge to the outdoors through a duct. The duct serving the hood shall have a smooth interior surface, shall be airtight, shall be equipped with a backdraft damper, and shall be independent of all other exhaust systems. Ducts serving range hoods shall not terminate in an attic or crawl space or areas inside the building.

One exception to this rule is ductless range hoods with charcoal filters. Note that the dryer exhaust duct must be separate from the range hood vent system.

To view the full document, click here.

Is a Range Hood Required by Code in Ontario?

Commercial range hoods are required in Ontario, along with fire suppression systems for fire safety. For all range hoods, the ductwork must be an independent system separate from the HVAC system, be made of durable corrosion-resistant material like stainless steel, and properly supported to maximize durability. The range hood must include grease filters to prevent grease buildup.

Residential range hoods are not required for single-story homes. For multi-story residential buildings or large residential areas, you must consult with an architect or home inspector to determine if mechanical ventilation is required.

Review the full Ontario ventilation codes at this link.

What Can I Use If I Don't Have a Range Hood?

If you don't have a range hood, a microwave vent hood is your next best option. But these are much less powerful than vent hoods for removing cooking odors, carbon monoxide, and grease accumulation, so we don't recommend them for the best experience. Downdraft systems and downdraft vents are another alternative, though they are typically less effective than overhead exhaust hoods.

Recap and Best Practices

Key Takeaways:

• Many states across the United States have similar ventilation requirements
• The most important things to keep in mind are the installation height and to avoid venting into your attic or joists in your ceiling
• Most states don't require a stove top hood specifically, but they want to ensure adequate mechanical ventilation
• Commercial vent hoods must abide by stricter regulations with fire suppression systems
• Local building codes take precedence over international code

Many states have similar ventilation requirements throughout the United States. The most important best practices to keep in mind are the proper installation height and to avoid venting into your attic or joists in your ceiling. The range hood vent must exhaust to an exterior wall or approved termination point.

Most states don't require a stove top hood specifically, but they want to ensure that your home is adequately ventilated with some type of exhaust ventilation fan to maintain indoor air quality and remove combustion byproducts.

Commercial vent hoods, on the other hand, must abide by stricter regulations, following the guidelines laid out by the Underwriters Laboratories and installing safety equipment such as fire suppression systems to minimize fire hazard.

Local building codes take precedence over international code since your local area has the freedom to regulate ventilation within their state, whereas the international requirements have to be more standardized. Code changes occur regularly, so staying updated is important.

Be sure to contact your local authorities, a building inspector, or a home inspector and ask about range hood codes before you proceed with the installation. Following manufacturer's instructions is also critical for proper range hood installation.

Important Considerations:

Exhaust fans are becoming increasingly popular because of recent studies  highlighting their benefits for indoor air quality. We highly recommend thinking through your cooking habits and behaviors in the kitchen to determine if you need one. Also, consider the size of your kitchen space. The International Mechanical Code calculated CFM based on the square footage of the room.

For more information on CFM, check out our comprehensive article on how to determine the CFM of your range hood.

Even if you don't do a lot of cooking, we recommend purchasing some type of exhaust system. It will vent all the contaminants, cooking odors, and carbon monoxide rising from your cooking surface and give you peace of mind while cooking. It is incredibly convenient for those with preexisting conditions, such as asthma or who have other breathing complications. Proper ventilation improves indoor air quality throughout your home, from the kitchen to the living room.

An installed range hood also provides energy savings through efficient operation, improves home value, prevents grease accumulation on surfaces, and enhances fire safety by reducing the fire hazard from grease buildup near the heat source.

We hope that this article on building codes and ventilation was useful. These range hood codes cover gas range venting, electric stove venting, and everything in between.

We highlighted some of the most important ventilation requirements for a few states as well as internationally, but this article is not exhaustive. For complete specific requirements, please refer to the comprehensive reports linked in the article or consult with customer service professionals who can guide you through your kitchen renovation or new residential construction project.

Thanks for reading!

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