Scope of work
- Review of the kitchen equipment layout and cooking types to confirm hood sizes, extract volumes and make-up air requirements.
- Installation of welded or sealed grease ductwork with falls to drain points, access doors for cleaning and fire-rated enclosure where required.
- Kitchen hoods with baffle filters, and where specified, UV or electrostatic treatment to reduce grease and odour at discharge.
- Exhaust fans rated for grease-laden air, mounted for access and with discharge positions agreed against nearby intakes and neighbours.
- Make-up air units supplying tempered fresh air so the kitchen remains slightly negative without starving burners or slamming doors.
- Coordination with the wet chemical hood suppression system and gas shut-off interlocks.
- Commissioning of extract and make-up flows, with handover of a grease duct cleaning schedule.
- Separate extract for dishwash areas and cold rooms where steam and heat need removing without loading the grease system.
Systems we install
- Canopy and island hoods with baffle filters
- Welded grease ductwork with access doors
- Kitchen exhaust fans for grease-laden air
- Make-up air units with cooling coils
- UV or electrostatic odour control units
- Interlocks with gas valves and hood suppression
- Dishwash steam extract hoods and condensate drains
- Fire-rated enclosures around grease ducts in shafts
Codes, standards and approvals
- UAE Fire & Life Safety Code requirements for commercial kitchen exhaust and suppression, inspected by Civil Defence.
- NFPA kitchen ventilation principles referenced by the UAE code for grease duct construction and clearances.
- Municipality food establishment and environmental health requirements regarding odour and discharge location.
- ASHRAE ventilation guidance for kitchens and make-up air, commonly used by UAE consultants.
- Dubai Civil Defence, Sharjah Civil Defence or ADCDA inspection of the hood suppression interlock and fire-rated grease duct enclosure before trading.
- UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE FLSC) — national code governing fire-fighting, fire alarm, smoke control and egress
UAE site and climate challenges
- Make-up air drawn from outside is very hot and humid in summer, so it is cooled or partially treated to keep kitchen staff comfortable without overloading the main HVAC system.
- Rooftop kitchen exhaust fans run continuously in intense heat while handling hot, greasy air, so motors are selected for high ambient, positioned out of the airstream where possible and given safe maintenance access.
- Discharge in dense urban areas can send odours into neighbouring air intakes and balconies, so discharge height and direction are coordinated with surrounding fresh-air intakes and adjacent buildings.
- Sand and dust collect in exhaust discharge cowls, make-up air filters and fan housings, so access panels and cleaning routines are part of the maintenance plan from handover.
- In mall food courts and hotel kitchens on podium levels, exhaust stacks often discharge close to fresh-air intakes of neighbouring AHUs, and hot prevailing winds can push plumes back, so separation distances and stack heights are checked against wind direction.
Decisions to make early
- Odour control level: baffle filters alone suit some locations, while UV or electrostatic treatment is needed where discharge is close to residential units, hotel rooms or terraces.
- Make-up air treatment: cooled make-up air improves comfort and staff retention in hot kitchens, but increases cooling load, equipment cost and plant space requirements.
- Ductwork routing and enclosure, where shorter routes reduce fire risk and cleaning effort but may conflict with architectural layouts, structural beams and shaft availability.
- Variable speed extract based on cooking activity or hood temperature sensors, which saves energy outside rush periods but needs careful control integration and commissioning.
- Central kitchen extract shared across food court tenants versus individual systems per unit: shared systems save riser space, while individual systems simplify tenant fit-out, billing and liability for cleaning.
What you receive at handover
- Approved kitchen extract shop drawings
- Grease duct leakage and integrity records
- Extract and make-up air balancing results
- Interlock test records with suppression and gas
- Cleaning access schedule and O&M manual
- Hood suppression and fan shutdown interface record
How we deliver: 8 stages
- 01Appointment & review
- 02Mobilisation & approvals
- 03Planning
- 04Engineering & shop drawings
- 05Procurement & execution
- 06Monitoring & reporting
- 07Quality inspection
- 08Testing, commissioning & handover
Why clients appoint Manolia
Manolia Group has delivered MEP and building contracts in the UAE since 2001: more than 100 projects and over AED 1.1 billion of completed work, including towers above 50 floors. Delivery follows an 8-stage process under a QMS structured to ISO 9001 requirements, with HSE controls and in-house engineering for shop drawings, coordination and commissioning.
Relevant Manolia projects
Time Asma Hotel, Dubai
Dubai · Building · Completed
Mid-rise hotel with restaurant level and rooftop pool.
G+14 hotel, Sharjah
Sharjah · HVAC & Firefighting · Completed
HVAC and fire-fighting package for a 14-storey hotel.
Ramla Mall, Dubai
Dubai · Building · Completed
Two-storey retail mall.
Frequently asked questions
Why must kitchen grease ducts be welded or sealed?
Grease builds up inside kitchen exhaust ducts and can ignite. Sealed or welded ducts prevent grease leaking into ceiling voids and make cleaning effective. Access doors along the route allow inspection and cleaning, which are required for safe long-term operation. Civil Defence inspects grease duct construction and enclosure.
What is make-up air and why does a kitchen need it?
Make-up air replaces the large volume of air removed by kitchen hoods. Without it, the kitchen becomes heavily negative, doors are hard to open, hoods capture poorly and smells drift. A make-up air unit supplies tempered air at a rate slightly below extract so the kitchen stays negative relative to dining areas.
Do you install kitchen extract for hotels?
Yes. Manolia's track record includes HVAC and MEP packages on hotels in Dubai and Sharjah, such as the Armada Towers hotel in JLT and a prestige five-star hotel in Dubai. Hotel kitchens need careful coordination of hoods, grease duct routes and make-up air with other services.
How often should kitchen exhaust ducts be cleaned?
Frequency depends on cooking volume and type. High-volume kitchens need more frequent cleaning than light-use pantries. Manolia includes the access arrangements and a recommended cleaning schedule in the O&M manual, and the operator or a maintenance contractor carries out cleaning accordingly. Records of cleaning are commonly requested during inspections.
How do you deal with odour complaints from neighbours?
Options include relocating or raising the discharge, adding UV or electrostatic treatment, improving filter maintenance and adjusting fan speed. Manolia reviews the existing system and discharge location before proposing a solution. Changes are tested before the kitchen returns to full operation.