Kitchen Hood Design: Code-Compliant Guide for UAE & MENA Kitchens | Klima Global

Designing a safe, efficient, and code-compliant kitchen hood system is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a business-critical investment for every commercial kitchen in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Whether you’re planning a new kitchen or upgrading an existing one, your kitchen hood design must account for proper airflow, fire suppression, and hygiene standards to pass local inspections and ensure safety.

In this guide, Klima Global walks you through the step-by-step design principles that align with key international and GCC-specific fire codes, including NFPA 96, DW172, and the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code. You’ll learn how to size your hood, optimize ductwork, integrate suppression systems, and design smarter exhaust systems using advanced controls like Intelli-Hood®.

Let’s explore what goes into designing a kitchen hood system that protects your staff, complies with local laws, and reduces operational costs.

For a complete understanding of all commercial hood options, check our Commercial Kitchen Hoods – Complete Guide and see how design fits into an efficient, code-compliant system.

Key Regulations You Must Know

A proper kitchen hood design must align with safety, ventilation, and fire protection standards mandated across the UAE and wider GCC region. While international standards apply, each country may have its own enforcement rules. Below are the key codes you need to understand:

NFPA 96 – International Fire Code

NFPA 96 is the international standard for ventilation control and fire protection of commercial cooking operations. It provides requirements for:

• Minimum clearances
• Hood materials and construction
• Grease removal devices
• Ductwork configuration
• Fire suppression systems

This forms the foundation for design practices even in GCC jurisdictions.

UAE Fire & Life Safety Code

This comprehensive code governs the design, installation, and maintenance of kitchen ventilation systems in the UAE. Specific to hoods, it requires:

• Exhaust rates based on equipment load
• Use of fire-rated ductwork (120 minutes minimum)
• Integration of UL 300-approved suppression systems
• Certification from civil defense authorities (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)

DW172 – UK-Based Hood Design Standard

DW172 is widely accepted in the Middle East, especially by consultants and engineers working on LEED/Estidama projects. It includes:

• Airflow rates per cooking appliance
• Hood sizing charts and formulas
• Duct cleaning access panel requirements
• Capture and containment performance benchmarks

Saudi Civil Defense Requirements

Saudi Arabia adopts a hybrid approach using elements of NFPA 96 and its own guidelines. Municipalities like Riyadh and Jeddah may ask for local compliance documentation, Arabic-language drawings, and demonstration of capture efficiency.

Understanding these regulations ensures your kitchen hood system not only performs effectively but passes approval the first time—saving time, cost, and compliance risks.

To see how smart design connects with the right equipment, explore our kitchen hood selection guide for matching hoods to appliances safely.

Kitchen Hood Design Fundamentals

Proper kitchen hood design starts with understanding the physical relationship between the cooking line, exhaust capture area, and airflow dynamics. Each component of the design must work together to remove heat, smoke, grease, and moisture effectively, while also preventing fire hazards and air imbalance in the kitchen.

Canopy Size & Layout

The hood canopy must extend past the cooking equipment on all sides:

• Minimum overhang: 150mm–300mm on front and sides depending on hood type
• Mounting height: Typically 700–1200mm above the cookline
• Hood width and depth: Proportional to appliance footprint and configuration

Capture & Containment Efficiency

High-efficiency design ensures contaminants are captured before escaping into the kitchen. Consider:

• Proper angles and internal geometry
• Integrated grease troughs and filters
• DW172 or ASHRAE performance testing compliance

Grease Filtration Technologies

Different kitchens may require different filter technologies:

• Baffle Filters: Standard for most applications, easy to maintain
• UV-C Filters: Neutralize grease vapors and odors (ideal for urban GCC settings)
• Water Mist Systems: Essential for tandoor, grill, and solid fuel kitchens

Airflow Rates by Equipment Type

Each cooking appliance type has a corresponding exhaust rate. Use tables from DW172 or UAE Fire Code as a guideline. For example:

• Deep fat fryer: 0.5–0.75 m³/s per meter of hood
• Solid fuel grill: up to 1.0 m³/s per meter

These rates must be calculated precisely during the design phase to size ducting and fans accurately.

Smart, code-informed kitchen hood design ensures that your system performs efficiently, stays compliant, and creates a safer environment for both staff and guests.

Other Extract Calculation Methods and Why DW172 Is Preferred

While there are different ways to calculate extract airflow for a proper kitchen hood design—such as using ASHRAE 154 guidelines, national fire code tables, or manufacturer thumb rules—these often vary by project and may overlook practical factors in high-load commercial kitchens.

DW172 is popular in the GCC because it standardizes kitchen hood design calculations with clear capture efficiency benchmarks, detailed exhaust sizing charts, and consistent formulas for different hood types and cooking lines. Designers choose DW172 because it aligns with UAE Fire Code standards and speeds up civil defense approvals.

Combining DW172 with Klima Global’s local expertise ensures your kitchen hood design stays compliant, energy-efficient, and optimized for real-world conditions in the Middle East.

Placement is equally important—read our hood capture efficiency article to ensure your design traps vapors effectively and stays compliant.

Exhaust & Make-Up Air Design

An often-overlooked but critical part of kitchen hood design is the airflow balance between what is removed from the kitchen (exhaust) and what is introduced (make-up air). Proper design avoids pressure imbalances, enhances energy efficiency, and ensures a comfortable working environment.

Duct Routing & Fire Safety

• Keep duct runs straight to minimize resistance and cleaning difficulty
• Use fire-rated ductwork (typically 2-hour rating) as per UAE Fire Code
• Install clean-out access panels at every change in direction, every 3 meters, or as required by DW172

Fan Sizing & Placement

• Choose centrifugal upblast fans for grease-laden exhaust
• Size fans according to the total airflow demand and pressure drop
• Mount fans on the rooftop with vibration isolation and weatherproofing

Replacement Air Strategies

• Back-of-hood plenum supply to introduce tempered air directly at hood face
• Ceiling diffusers for ambient makeup air in larger kitchens
• Maintain neutral to slightly negative pressure in kitchen zone

Addressing GCC Climate Conditions

• Use pre-cooled air to maintain comfort in extreme heat (Dubai, Riyadh)
• Prevent condensation on ductwork using insulated or double-wall ducts
• Balance airflow carefully in sealed buildings to avoid backdraft

A well-balanced exhaust and make-up air plan ensures optimal capture efficiency, better staff comfort, and code compliance in the challenging environments of the MENA region.

Proper kitchen hood design also depends on a balanced replacement air system to maintain pressure and support optimal airflow.

Fire Safety & Suppression System Integration

An essential element of any kitchen hood design is its ability to integrate seamlessly with fire detection and suppression systems. GCC fire codes—including the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code and Saudi Civil Defense standards—mandate specific guidelines that must be factored in from the design stage.

Suppression System Compatibility

• Hoods must accommodate UL 300 or LPCB-certified wet chemical systems
• Include nozzle cutouts above critical cooking surfaces (e.g., fryers, grills, ovens)
• Maintain minimum clearance between filters and nozzles per manufacturer specs

Access & Control Integration

• Design must provide clear access to:
  • Manual pull stations
  • Control panels with system indicators
  • Electrical shutoff switches for gas and appliances

Safety Code Highlights from GCC

• Dubai & Abu Dhabi require civil defense-approved fire suppression drawings
• Saudi municipalities demand zone-based suppression for multi-line kitchens
• Qatar enforces dual verification of suppression logic with BMS integration

Fire Wraps & Duct Enclosures

• Install fire wraps or enclosures around vertical and horizontal duct runs
• Ensure 2-hour rating with proper certification and labeling

Early coordination between mechanical, electrical, and fire contractors ensures your hood system not only performs but passes civil defense inspection without delays.

Klima Global’s KVENT Hood Range comes pre-engineered for Intelli-Hood® integration, advanced suppression, and GCC fire code compliance.

Electrical, Controls & DCKV Considerations

In modern commercial kitchens, automation and energy efficiency are integral to effective kitchen hood design. Demand-Controlled Kitchen Ventilation (DCKV) systems like Intelli-Hood® can dramatically reduce energy usage while improving responsiveness and control.

Sensor-Based Control Systems

• Integrate temperature and optical sensors within the hood plenum
• Sensors detect heat and smoke to modulate exhaust fan speed dynamically
• Ideal for kitchens with variable cooking loads (e.g., hotels, QSRs, ghost kitchens)

Intelli-Hood® Integration

• Offers 10–100% fan modulation
• Achieves energy savings up to 97%
• Includes centralized control panel with fault monitoring and BMS integration

Electrical Design Best Practices

• Route power lines for hood lights, fire suppression, DCKV, and alarms separately
• Use weatherproof and grease-resistant conduit and junction boxes
• Provide clear access to control panels for fire inspectors and maintenance

Zoning for Cookline Diversity

• Segment hoods by cooking type (e.g., solid fuel, frying, steaming)
• Program DCKV zones individually for better energy and airflow control
• Ensure control logic matches kitchen layout and hood coverage

Smart control integration not only enhances performance but ensures long-term savings, easier maintenance, and sustainability certifications like LEED and Estidama.

Klima Global’s Approach to Code-Compliant Hood Design

At Klima Global, we’ve spent years perfecting kitchen hood design for the demanding environments of the UAE and the wider GCC. Our systems go beyond compliance—delivering precision, performance, and sustainability at every step.

BIM & CAD-Driven Design

• We use detailed CAD drawings and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to visualize airflow, equipment placement, and duct routing early in the design phase.
• This ensures better coordination with architects, MEP consultants, and fire safety engineers.

Pre-Approval Support

• Our team helps you prepare drawings for civil defense approval in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and other municipalities.
• We align every hood system with NFPA 96, DW172, and local authority requirements.

Customization for Complex Kitchens

• Whether it’s a hotel with multiple cooklines or a retrofit in a confined kitchen, Klima Global designs flexible hood systems using:
  • Modular canopy segments
  • Integrated DCKV zones
  • UV-C and water mist hybrids

Klima Global’s strength lies in tailoring technically sound, locally compliant ventilation solutions that work—on paper and in practice.

Conclusion

Designing a code-compliant kitchen hood system is about more than just ticking boxes—it’s about creating a safer, more efficient, and future-ready kitchen environment. From understanding airflow and filtration to complying with NFPA 96 and UAE civil defense regulations, every detail matters.

At Klima Global, we combine regional expertise with engineering precision to help businesses across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait build smarter kitchens that meet today’s safety standards and tomorrow’s energy goals.

For proven projects and product specs, see our KVENT commercial kitchen hoods trusted across the UAE and MENA.

FAQ on Kitchen Hood Design