Restaurant Systems: Ensure Safety by Replacing Lost or Damaged Components
By Mark Conroy
NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Equipment establishes a reasonable level of safety for employees and patrons of restaurants and similar cooking operations. Your knowledge of the
safety components that are required by NFPA 96 will enable you to install the most appropriate replacement safety products for your customers’ establishments.
Grease Filters
According to NFPA 96, grease filters are required to be listed. Brooks’ filters are UL listed and comply with NFPA requirements. Grease filters are aluminum (good), galvanized steel (better), or stainless steel (best).
Some restaurant managers prefer the lightweight aluminum or the economy of galvanized. Let them know you carry all three types of filters and that you can match the sizes of damaged filters.
Restaurant Grease Filters
| H x W (in) |
Stainless |
Galvanized |
Aluminum |
| 16 x 16 |
SSF1616 |
GVF1616 |
AF1616 |
| 16 x 20 |
SSF1620 |
GVF1620 |
AF1620 |
| 16 x 25 |
SSF1625 |
GVF1625 |
AF1625 |
| 20 x 16 |
- |
GVF2016 |
AF2016 |
| 20 x 20 |
SSF2020 |
GVF2020 |
AF2020 |
| 20 x 25 |
SSF2025 |
GVF2025 |
AF2025 |
| 25 x 16 |
- |
GVF2516 |
AF2516 |
| 25 x 20 |
SSF2020 |
GVF2520 |
AF2520 |
Grease Filter Spacers
Filter spacers are required to fill voids beside grease filters. Spacers are routinely removed for cleaning and get lost. Cooking without the spacers is unsafe as voids allow the grease vapors to pass by the
filters and create a fire hazard in the ductwork. All Brooks’ spacers are 20 gauge, 430 stainless with a brushed finish and are available in 2, 3, or 4 inch widths that match common filter lengths.
Filter Spacers
| Length (in) |
Width 2 (in) |
Width 3 (in) |
Width 4 (in) |
| 10 |
FGF210 |
FGF310 |
FGF410 |
| 12 |
FGF212 |
FGF312 |
FGF412 |
| 16 |
FGF216 |
FGF316 |
FGF416 |
| 20 |
FGF220 |
FGF320 |
FGF420 |
| 25 |
FGF225 |
FGF325 |
FGF425 |
Grease Filter Locking Handles
Locking handles are common components of many grease filters and they often get damaged or lost. Locking handles are required in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Order replacement locking handles
to match existing filters. Brooks’ locking handles are easy to install without any tools.
Locking Handle Grease Filter*
| H x W (in) |
P/N |
| 20 x 20 |
LHF2020 |
| 20 x 25 |
LHF2025 |
| 25 x 20 |
LHF2520 |
*Replacement Locking Handles P/N FLH2
Fryer Panels
Another component that is critical for safety, and often misplaced or lost, is the fryer panel. NFPA allows fryer panels to be installed where the 16 inch maximum spacing between a fryer and surface flames from an
adjacent cooking appliance is not achievable (NFPA 96, 12.1.2.5). Every Brooks’ fryer panel is stainless with a radius cut corner added for safety.
Fryer Panels
| H x W (in) |
P/N |
| 12 x 30 |
FP1230 |
| 18 x 30 |
FP1830 |
It is unsafe for restaurants to conduct cooking operations without these critical safety components. Help your customers by installing Brooks’ matching replacement safety equipment that is code compliant.
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Mark Conroy is an engineer in our Boston, MA office and a member of the NFPA 96 Technical Committee © 2017, Brooks Equipment® Company, LLC.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the above Tech Series article are the author’s only and provide limited information. Although the information is believed to be reliable, Brooks Equipment® Company, LLC expressly disclaims any warranty with respect to the information and any liability for errors or omissions. The user of this article or the product(s) is responsible for verifying the information’s accuracy from all available sources, including the product manufacturer. The authority having jurisdiction should be contacted for code interpretations.