Seoul City Launches Pilot Project to Install 'Cooking Fume Reduction Devices' in Large-Scale Catering Facilities

Starting November, Installation of Cooking Fume Reduction Devices at 24 Large-Scale Meal Facilities Including Old District Office Cafeterias and Welfare Centers
Air Purifiers Inside Meal Facilities? Filters and Electrostatic Precipitators Installed in External Ventilation Ducts... 600 Million KRW Support

Standard (Dissemination) Model of Emission Reduction Facilities for Restaurants

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 26th that starting from November, it will pilot the installation of cooking fume reduction devices in 24 large-scale meal service facilities among public facilities in autonomous districts to reduce fine dust generated during cooking.

Cooking fumes generally refer to fine particles emitted when oil is heated at high temperatures. Recently, issues regarding kitchen ventilation have been raised, as cooks who have worked in cooking for long periods have been diagnosed with occupational respiratory cancers.

Currently, most cooking facilities are equipped with ventilation systems to reduce harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and cooking fumes generated during the cooking process. However, if overall kitchen ventilation is inadequate or the exhaust fan's airflow is insufficient, pollutants and heat released outside the exhaust vent can stagnate and remain inside the kitchen.

The facilities where the reduction devices will be installed are meal service facilities capable of serving 50 or more people at one time. The city received applications from 13 autonomous districts through a demand survey and will support 24 locations, including district office cafeterias and welfare center dining halls. Considering facility conditions, pollutant treatment efficiency, and economic feasibility, air purifiers will be installed indoors or cooking fume reduction facilities such as filters and electrostatic precipitators will be installed in external kitchen ventilation ducts.

To maximize the effectiveness of the project, the Seoul Green Environment Support Center is providing technical support before installing the reduction devices. Before installation, experts will provide on-site technical support for proper design of prevention facilities, including calculations of treated gas volume, blower capacity, and pressure loss.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to conduct research on pollutant generation status and indoor air quality improvement in large-scale meal service facilities until next year, along with the installation of reduction devices. To understand changes in air quality due to the operation of cooking fume reduction devices and to investigate major air pollutants in large-scale meal service facilities, concentrations of fine dust, ultrafine dust, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other pollutants will be measured.

Heo Jeong-won, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Living Environment Division, said, “Active management, not just simple ventilation, is necessary for various pollution sources around daily life,” adding, “We will ensure that there is no negligence in managing emission sources that could be harmful in daily surroundings.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.