TheDW172 is The HVCA specification for Kitchen Ventilation Systems. This standard includes industry standard guidelines for the design of Kitchen Ventilation systems, including Supply Air, Canopy Design, Grease Filtration, Smoke and Odour Nuiscance Control, and extract discharge.
For Primary Grease filtration the DW172 suggests thatBaffle Style Grease Filtersshould be installed in the canopy to benefit from their easy clean style, high grease removal efficiency, and also their fire / flame protection properties. As a secondary filter, a mesh style grease filter can be installed after the baffle to offer further grease removal.
This has left the classicMesh Style Grease Filterby the wayside in new kitchen extract systems and to meet this demand in the market, Airclean manufacture a stylish and robust Stainless Steel Baffle Filter.
Despite this, sales of mesh filters are still consistent, and Airclean are still manufacturing these to meet demand. So why is this?
Stainless Steel Baffle Filters are commonly not effective when retro fitted into older systems which have been designed using the classic Mesh Type Grease Filters. This can present many problems in the Kitchen, and in the Kitchen Extract System.
A Stainless Steel Baffle Filter has a significantly higher resistance to airflow over the Mesh Style Grease Filter (30Pa in Mesh, 80-125Pa in Baffles). When retro fitted this can cause a significant loss of airflow leaving users with poorly ventilated kitchen, and hot chefs. Worse still this simple filter change can result in fan failures due to the increased resistance.
For effective grease removal (90% efficiency) with a Baffle Grease Filter the correct face velocity must be achieved across the filter. When like for like sized, and numbers of baffle filters are retro fitted in to a canopy, it is common that the required air speed is not achieved and the filters efficiency is greatly reduced. This results in excessive grease carry over, increasing fire risks, breakdowns, and the need for costly duct cleaning.
For these reasons Airclean recommend that when replacing Mesh Grease Filters for Stainless Steel Baffle Filters, a complete system re design should be investigated before suffering the effects of poor grease filtration. If this is not possible then like for like mesh style grease filters should be installed, possibly with the consideration of the more hard wearing Stainless Steel Mesh Grease Filters.
So we expect the demand Baffle Grease Filters to continue to increase, and the Mesh style eventually decrease. But for the time being we continue to offer both these products and offer advice for the right selection for your installation or replacement needs.
Stainless Steel Wedge Wire Mesh
What Filter Should I Get for My Kitchen Range Hood?
The ultimate question is this: mesh filters or baffle filters.
Mesh filters, or aluminum filters, have multiple layers of mesh that air must pass through so the grease sticks to the mesh. They pick up dust, lint, and hair, and their pressure loss increases over time until washed. The amount of these unwanted substances increases with added lint for a while until the flow drops and ventilation is compromised. To wash your mesh filters as thoroughly as possible, you should put them in the dishwasher and set it to steam. Nonetheless, the lint still doesn't always get removed by this method; you would have to do some additional, aggressive cleaning on your own. However, some still like how light and affordable mesh filters are. The mesh filters at K-Star are 5-layered, which is thicker than most other filters on the market. Each layer has its option, such as trapping or re-circulating oil.
Baffle filters, or permanent filters, force the air to move through a couple of 180 degree turns and in so doing deposits the grease in the bends. They maintain their efficiency over long periods of time and have a constant pressure loss that is probably lower than for mesh filters of the same size. Baffles wash easily because the surfaces do not trap lint.
You may have also heard of carbon filters, or charcoal filters. These filters are used for re-circulation, and they are needed if you want to make your range hood ductless. If your range hood has a duct, then carbon filters are not applicable.
Here is the bottom line: mesh filters are great if you are looking for an affordable option and don't mind doing some deep cleaning for them every now and then; baffle filters are the way to go if you would like your range hood to look premium and don't want to bother with filters for a long time to come.
If you still need any assistance choosing the right filter for your needs, don't hesitate to contact us. We will be glad to help!