The Imkanal 2012:2 is the latest update of the recommendations made by the ventilation industry in collaboration with organizations and authorities in 2010.

In addition to considering the relevant Swedish National Board of Housing and Work Environment guidelines and instructions, the recommendation has been based on regulatory requirements and general advice from Boverket’s building rules.

Recommendations for Commercial Kitchens

Part of the update contains higher requirements concerning the use of ozone generators, ultraviolet lights or similar technology. The news on ozone in Imkanal 2012:2 mainly focuses on:

Corrosion risks in the system are discussed. For duct channel parts directly exposed to high ozone concentrations, stainless steel is now the recommended material choice. When high levels of ozone can occur in conduits between an ozone generator and a flue channel, established players always recommend stainless steel or another ozone-resistant material.

Imkanal 2012:2 also discusses the risk of gases being transferred during heat recovery. Providing that supply air pressure is higher on the supply air side than exhaust air side, modern heat exchangers eliminate virtually all leakage risks between exhaust air and supply air. If you want even better indoor air quality, you can also add carbon filters to the supply air side after the unit to supplement the recycling system.

Workplace Safety

It is stressed how important it is to create a safe workplace. The recommendations emphasize that the kitchen staff should be taken into consideration. This is achieved by putting an ozone sensor in the kitchen. By installing an ozone sensor, you can ensure that a healthy and clean working environment is maintained. Additionally, all ozone generators, ultraviolet light sources or other similar systems should be interlocked over fans, pressure switches, or cleaning shutters to prevent accidental activation.

Imkanal 2012:2 follows the recommendations previously made. Consequently, it is still recommended that the choice of material for the duct system be any galvanized/stainless steel or sheet metal, as long as adequate ozone aggregates, UV light or equivalent technology are used for purification.

In addition to following the recommendations, it is important to appreciate that the industry also wants to participate in making the workplace safer. This will allow work on the vision for a modern large kitchen to continue – a kitchen with considerably less energy consumption than before, while also being fireproof, offering working people a comfortable and quiet atmosphere, and having little environmental impact accommodations for residents. In short: a kitchen in harmony with its surroundings.

The regulation of “Imkanal 2012:2” has been prepared by Fire Protection Sweden, Swedish Chimney Sweep Master’s National Association, the Contracting Companies, the Swedish Agency for Social Protection and Preparedness, the Swedish Technical Research Institute, Fläkt Woods, Lindab, Hallströms Workshops, Profiduct, Swedish Ventilation, and Paroc.

Remember that the Imkanal 2012:2 is a Swedish industry guideline for designers and installers of kitchen exhaust ventilation systems, and your local guidelines may be different.