What Happens During a Commercial Kitchen Installation
There are several stages involved in a commercial kitchen installation and each stage must be completed before the next can begin in order to avoid delays and extra costs to complete the kitchen installation.
Strip-Out and Site Preparation
Start with a strip out of the current kitchen and a full site survey to determine what existing services are available (e.g. gas supply size, drainage position, water supply position, electrical distribution board position). Engineers will then design the kitchen layout and draw up plans for the first fix of services (i.e. running of new pipes, drainage, electrical circuits etc) before any commercial kitchen equipment is specified or ordered.
First-Fix Services
In the first-fix stage of the kitchen installation process, the relevant trades (plumbers, electricians etc.) will run all the necessary pipework, drainage and electrical work to the relevant points as identified on the kitchen design drawings. The gas pipework will be sized to meet the combined loads of all appliances in the kitchen. It is very important that this work is carried out in accordance with the relevant gas safety requirements for commercial properties, and so only a Gas Safe registered engineer should carry out this work.
Ventilation and Canopy Fitting
The Canopies and duct work will be installed first as a lot of the duct work will run through walls and ceilings that other trades will complete after the kitchen installation. The make-up air grilles will also be installed at this time. A single canopy installation would take around 2-4 days to complete.
Equipment Delivery and Positioning
Large items of equipment, such as refrigeration units and cooking ranges, are delivered first. The remaining items of equipment are then delivered and positioned within the kitchen to complete the installation. This will usually mean that smaller items of equipment will be positioned within the remaining space.
Second-Fix Connections and Commissioning
The plumbers, electricians and Gas Safe registered engineers will return to the site to connect the various appliances. They will test the gas pressure at every point and check the extraction rates from the kitchen to ensure that they meet the necessary environmental standards. After testing the various pieces of equipment at maximum capacity the Commercial Kitchen Installation will be completed and all the appropriate documentation handed over to the client.
Sign-Off and Handover
Finally the kitchen installation is complete and you are given all relevant certificates, including gas commissioning certificates, electrical installation certificates and ventilation test results. These will be needed to satisfy your local Environmental Health Department and your insurance company.
A typical installation will take around 1-3 weeks, depending on the size of the kitchen and the amount of first-fix work required on the existing services.
