Without the huge expense of a fire suppression system and hood, what Type of equipment can I use?
Answer Neil – Depending on the part of the country you will be opening this cafe’, you need to check with the local fire marshall to give you council on hood or no hood, fire or no fire system. The general NFPA96 rule is that a class A hood needs to be installed over any piece of equipment that has a flame, so all gas fired equipment needs a hood unless it is occasional use like a small hot plate that is used for buffet ommlets and eggs as an example. Also, a class A hood is required if the appliance (gas or electric) produces grease laden air. Fire systems are required only with cooking equipment that has the potential to catch on fire. Generally excluded from this list are electric convection ovens, electric steamers, microwaves, electric kettles, and occasional use appliances. I am fairly certain that they will require you to put an exhaust hood over your pizza oven, because it does produce grease laden air. You don’t need to spend lots of money on the hood. It can be a used painted
