1994 Uniform Building CodeÆs Exhaust Requirements

[CRG]

I am involved in a design / remodel of a commercial kitchen. Kitchen has an unusually low amount of heat producing equipment because they make a lot of cold sandwiches. The size of the kitchen will be smaller than before because of a new walk in cooler. Current design exhaust rate is about 75% what the 2000 IMC requires, Table 403.3 note f says, “The sum of the outdoor and transfer air form adjacent spaces shall be sufficient to provide an exhaust rate of not less than 1.5 cfm/ft^2.” I would prefer not installing a new makeup air heater to pick up the additional 25% load required for the additional exhaust air. When the kitchen was built the 1994 UMC & UBC was in effect in this area. I do not have a copy of these and wonder what the required exhaust rate was in those codes. Can someone help me?

I believe that it will be a waste of money to install a new makeup air heater unless I have to. With the existing exhaust air available, there is more than enough air required by all of the kitchen equipment. The architect calls this a new commercial kitchen in his drawings. It is a new floor plan; however, I would call it a remodeled commercial kitchen. If the kitchen is being remodeled, I believe that I need to ensure that kitchen meets the 1994 UBC ventilation requirements. The HVAC work that will be required for the remodel, if current exhaust air meets the 1994 UBC, will be to add a DX Coil in the duct for the kitchen. Also, a few diffusers will be relocated. Can anyone give me advice on what level of remodeling would constitute calling this a new commercial kitchen versus calling it a remodeled kitchen? At what point will it require meeting the 2000 IMC versus meeting the requirements of the kitchen when it was originally built?