As any restaurant owner can tell you, a restaurant’s mechanical systems play a critical role in ensuring the comfort of guests and employees, as well as the health and safety of everyone in the building. Proper design and installation of these systems is therefore essential to the success of any restaurant. In this post, we’ll take a look at the key mechanical systems that make up a restaurant, including makeup air (MUA), heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), heat recovery ventilation (HRV), and canopy designs.

Makeup Air (MUA)

Makeup air is the air that is brought into a restaurant to replace the air that is exhausted by the HVAC system and cooking appliances. MUA is typically required to meet local building codes and to ensure that exhaust systems operate efficiently. In a restaurant, MUA is typically supplied through dedicated outdoor air units (DOAS) that condition the air and distribute it throughout the building.

HVAC Systems

HVAC systems are designed to maintain a comfortable and healthy indoor environment for occupants of a building. In a restaurant, HVAC systems play an important role in keeping guests and employees comfortable while removing odors, humidity, and airborne contaminants from the building. HVAC systems also work in tandem with the MUA system to ensure that air is properly circulated throughout the building.

Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV)

Heat recovery ventilation systems are designed to recover the heat from exhaust air and use it to preheat incoming fresh air. These systems are commonly used in restaurants to help reduce heating and cooling costs while also improving indoor air quality. HRVs can be standalone units or can be integrated into the MUA and HVAC systems.

Canopy Designs

Canopy designs refer to the hood systems that are used to capture and exhaust smoke, heat, and grease from cooking appliances. Canopies are typically custom-designed to meet the unique requirements of a restaurant’s cooking equipment and layout. Canopy designs must be carefully integrated with the restaurant’s MUA and HVAC systems to ensure proper operation and safety.

In conclusion, proper design and installation of mechanical systems is critical for the success of any restaurant. This includes the makeup air (MUA), heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), heat recovery ventilation (HRV), and canopy designs. At Hunar Construction, we have extensive experience designing and installing restaurant mechanical systems, and we can help ensure that your restaurant meets all of your comfort, safety, and energy efficiency needs. Contact us today to learn more!