Standardization News

A proposed new ASTM International standard will help determine how well a kitchen range hood exhausts pollutants from a stovetop. These pollutants include moisture, odors, and chemicals and particles that are health hazards. 

The proposed standard (WK55797, Test Method for Measuring Capture Efficiency of Domestic Range Hoods) is being developed by ASTM International’s committee on performance of buildings (E06).

ASTM member Iain Walker notes that the standard will determine a “capture efficiency rating” that tells what fraction of the cooking emissions are vented directly outside. A higher rating indicates better performance.

“We anticipate that the standard will be used by the kitchen ventilation industry,” says Walker, a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “Products could be labeled with their capture efficiency rating, allowing contractors and consumers to ask for higher performing range hoods.”

In addition, codes-related organizations and other bodies could use the standard to specify minimum performance requirements or to provide incentives for higher performing range hoods.  Also, manufacturers could use the rating to distinguish between classes of performance for marketing purposes and in the development of higher performance range hoods. Finally, ratings could be included in broader home ventilation product ratings.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings Next Meeting: April 2-5, 2017, April Committee Week, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Technical Contact: Iain Walker, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif., tel +1.510.486.4692  
ASTM Staff Contact: Stephen Mawn, tel +1.610.832.9726