Commercial Hoods Company Discusses Pros/Cons of UV Hoods - By: Farazandeh

June 7, 2009 —DENVER, COLORADO— Taking steps to be more environmentally friendly has become important to more Americans in recent years, and the “green” movement has reached nearly every industry.

But when it comes to Commercial Kitchen Hoods, more environmentally friendly options aren’t ideal for every commercial kitchen, and in some cases they aren’t yet cost effective, said Massoud Farazandeh, general manager of Nationwide Fire Protection Corp., an affiliate of American Professional Services (APS-Hoods).

Farazandeh has witnessed many changes in the commercial hoods sales industry since he entered it in 1989. When manufacturers of ultraviolet hood systems touted environmental friendliness, cost effectiveness and reduced cleaning costs, he decided to research the issue further.

UV hood systems have been used in Europe since 1998 and in the U.S. since 2000, according to a Feb. 17 Food Equipment News article by Tom Carter, vice president of sales for Caddy Corporation. Caddy Corp. manufactures food service equipment, including UV hood systems.

UV Systems- How They Work

Oils and greases used in restaurant cooking processes collect over time in traditional kitchen exhaust fans, hoods and ducts, Farazandeh said. When these parts of the hood system aren’t cleaned on a regular basis, these cooking materials pose a fire hazard.

UV hood system manufacturers claim that their systems provide a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cleaning methods because they are equipped with a series of removable grease-particulate extractors, Carter stated in his article.

Other benefits of the UV hood systems cited in Carter’s article include:
• No special installation costs or requirements.
• Equipped with self-monitoring capability for fan operation and lamps.
• Does not require wash down.
• Uses less than 300 watts of light for every seven feet of hood.
• Identical maintenance requirements to standard baffle filter hoods, and the filters can be cleaned in a dishwasher when needed.
• Grease is prevented from collecting in ductwork, which helps keep the duct system and exhaust fan clean.

Myths Busted

The initial information Farazandeh heard about the UV hood systems sounded promising, he said.

“But for some of these claims, the field realities are different,” Farazandeh said. “Personally, I believe that routine maintenance costs are more expensive.”

UV hood systems require less maintenance than traditional hood systems, according to manufacturers. Where traditional hood systems may need cleaning four times each year, UV systems can be cleaned twice a year. However, the cleaning and maintenance they require is more involved and technical than that of its traditional counterparts. UV systems require servicing by technicians who have been specially trained by the UV hood manufacturers. These technicians must possess specific knowledge on how to arm and disarm the system and how to dismantle and clean the extractors filtering system.

Farazandeh also disagrees with manufacturer claims that maintenance of these systems is more economical.

“I have spoken with manufacturer reps and to the best of my knowledge, the maintenance costs of these systems can be as much as four times the cost of maintaining traditional hood systems,” he said.

And although the manufacturers recommend UV hood systems for widespread applications, Farazandeh said they aren’t for everyone.

“I don’t think I would be recommending the right thing to my customer if I said that they were a viable option for everyone because of the costs involved after installation,” he said. “In my opinion, the product is good, but people should do their homework prior to purchasing the system.”

Read the full article titled "Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hoods Company Discusses Pros/Cons of UV Hoods".

About APS-Hoods

American Professional Services (APS-Hoods) is a full-service restaurant fire protection business that installs, services, repairs and performs routine inspections and sales for hood and fire suppression systems. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Massoud Farazandeh in 1989, APS-Hoods has grown into a national leader in hood sales and fire protection for restaurants and facilities.

APS-Hoods provides superior service, a quality guarantee and maintains a highly qualified and dependable staff. All crew members are professionally trained to comply with the National Fire Prevention Association Standards and state and local codes. APS-Hoods is fully insured and bonded. They are licensed in the mechanical and electrical fields, as well as fire protection contracting.

APS-Hoods is affiliated with the National Fire Protection Agency and the Colorado Division of Fire Safety Fire Suppression Program.

-end-

About the Author

If you would like to learn more about hood sales, please call: (800) 750-7313.

© 2009 Sinai Website SEO Marketing and APS-Hoods. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Farazandeh/32266

Additional Articles From - Home | Business | Industry