What Are the Emission Standards for Kitchen Fume Purifiers?

Many foodservice operators know they must install a kitchen fume purifier, yet they are still fined because the residual concentration or cleaning efficiency does not meet the discharge limit. What is that limit? CHINENG explains below.

Emission standards for kitchen fume purifiers

There are currently two layers of limits: national and local. The national standard requires cooking-fume concentration below 2.0 mg/m³. Some cities—such as Zhengzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai—also apply local rules: concentration below 1.0 mg/m³, plus treatment of particulate matter and non-methane hydrocarbons.

1. Local limits are generally tighter than the national standard. When buying a purifier, check the maximum emission allowed locally. If the locality has no extra rule, follow the national limit of less than 2.0 mg/m³.

2. Where environmental authorities require performance no weaker than the national standard after installation, specify a low-level discharge purifier (efficiency above 90%, i.e. less than 1.0 mg/m³).

Those are the main emission standards. Local rules are usually stricter, so confirm the allowed maximum before purchase. If there is no local figure, buy to the national limit of less than 2.0 mg/m³. If inspectors require better than the national floor, choose a low-level unit with over 90% efficiency (less than 1.0 mg/m³). Reliable fume-cleaning equipment is essential if a restaurant is to stay in compliance. Follow the CHINENG website for more.