Evaluation of Ventilation Effectiveness Before and After Kitchen Renovation in Schools of Gyeongsangnam-do

경남지역 학교 급식조리실 개선 전후 환기성능 평가

Objectives: Many cases of lung cancer have been reported by school kitchen workers as occupational cancer. Twenty-eight schools in Gyeongsangnam-do Province were selected to evaluate the effect of improved kitchen ventilation systems. Ventilation characteristics before and after renovation were compared and design techniques were identified. Methods: In the design stage for kitchen ventilation systems, expert intervention was used to improve the designs. Ventilation characteristics and air quality were evaluated before and after the renovations. Hood face velocity and fan flow rate were measured and the smoke visualization technique was used to evaluate the capability of protecting worker's breathing zone. The concentrations of PM_0.3 were measured at points not adjacent to cooking equipment because these concentrations fluctuate greatly. Results: Mean hood face velocity increased from 0.29 m/s before renovation to 0.7m/s after renovation. The concentrations of PM_0.3 showed a roughly 95% reduction. Concentrations of CO showed more than a 75% reduction. Smoke visualization showed greater protection of workers' breathing zone. Conclusions: Advanced design techniques for school kitchen ventilation systems were applied to renovate old kitchen ventilation systems. The performance of the new kitchen ventilation systems was nearly excellent. Further improvement of design techniques is still needed, however.