Frequently Asked Questions :

Each project or kitchen installation is different and requires specific tailoring of the exhaust canopy to achieve satisfactory extraction and supply air to meet  Australian Standards as well as ensure a safe comfortable working environment without any cooking by-products escaping to the kitchen or venue. To narrow down the type of canopy you require or one that may be most suitable, we have an easy to use “Select a Canopy” page just for this purpose.
Here you can nominate your requirements of Extract or Extract & Supply Air, whether you are needing a wall or island mounting, canopy height, UV requirements, determining the average load of your kitchen (eg Average, High, Wok/solid fuel) etc.
You will then be presented with suggestions on which canopy types or models are most suitable. Of course there is considerable science behind canopy selection and so we strongly suggest you talk to one of our Britannia consultants  about which model best suits your needs.

Britannia UK has invested thousands of man-years and considerable resources over the last twenty years to engineer a reliable, accurate method of determining the amount of extract air necessary to remove the cooking plume, POCs, smoke, particulates, grease etc. from any given cook bank. Each cooking appliance under is entered to a spreadsheet by nominating the type, size and fuel used to determine an air quantity for that appliance. Once all equipment and bench* space has been computed, proprietary software computes the total amount of extract air required to perform to International and Australian Standards. Britannia Hoods are specifically engineered around the co-efficient of the individual cooking equipment under, potentially reducing extract volumes required by up to 50% over conventional canopies. The overall size of the canopy, number of Superstream 3050 filters, canopy type, location of extraction filters etc. are all used to arrive at this final calculation.

Consideration is given to the kitchen environment as well.
Methods such as Face Velocity and Air Change are no longer considered accurate enough for these calculations.
*bench space may also be used to compute hot holding or refrigeration areas in these calculations. 

Somewhere, some how, air has to be introduced around the cooking process itself.
If you were to design a simple, single-sided canopy and for argument’s sake the extract volume is calculated at 2m³/s then you would normally calculate the supply volume as 85% of this, which would be 1.7m³/s. The remaining 15% would infiltrate from outside the room around gaps around doors and windows. This would be supplied into the room space, enveloping & replacing the air around the cooking equipment so ensuring that the full 2 m³/s of air is extracted from the cooking process. This creates negative pressure in the kitchen, containing cooking odours.
It is important to get the balance correct as too much negative pressure can also adversely affect the kitchen environment, and correct balance reduces undesirable vacuums or cross draughts.

Make up air is usually supplied through a plenum to the periphery of the canopy, or can be through registers in the ceiling etc. Supply air plenums can also be fitted with ‘spot coolers’ for operator comfort.

Britannia Front diffuser panels (with integral filters) provide air to the kitchen area without uncomfortable draughts and any risk of introducing foreign matter to the area.

All calculations of canopy sizing must be based on specifications stated in AS1668.2.2012 as regards to required overhangs. A scaled drawing of equipment under, or list of equipment and their sequential position is necessary to calculate the minimum canopy size required for correct performance and compliance to the relevant standards. Generally a deeper canopy will provide better containment of the exhaust plume/contaminants.

All Britannia canopies (except DWE & Mistream models) come with Britannia Superstream 3050 Baffle Filters for optimum performance. Independent European Laboratory tests confirm that Superstream 3050 baffle filters are superior in particulate capture, even down to 3.5 microns in size, providing better filtration and cleaner, safer ductwork.

Britannia baffle filters offer superior performance and life compared to other models and outdated honeycomb type filters and also provide significant flame retarding.

In the past, (and still today sometimes), the attraction of a cheap canopy price leads to this question.
Simple box-like canopy designs, using inefficient honeycomb type filters have been in use for decades. They require high volumes of air by today’s standards, and require frequent cleaning maintenance to maintain extraction levels and minimise fire risks from the filters themselves.

Britannia canopies are the result of engineering experience and real world testing and design to produce a canopy and filter technology that performs better, at lower air rates, and without the inherent fire risks of these out-dated technologies.
The end result is a better performing canopy that will keep the kitchen environment and surrounds clean and healthy for staff and customers. Additionally, the much lower air volumes required saves considerably on the costs associated with duct and fan sizing, as well as on-going running costs.
In the long run, the more expensive engineered solution results in lower overall costs over the life of the exhaust canopy, with far superior grease, particulate and smoke extraction all contributing to a better work and restaurant environment with lower operating costs and less maintenance

Under our licensing agreement with Britannia UK, all canopies are manufactured in Australia (except Silverline), by Australians at our  facility and so are proudly Australian made. Because Britannia canopies are modular, manufacturing is computer aided from drawing to final construction for superior, repeatable quality and ease of transport and installation.

Britannia has been one of the UK and Europe’s leading manufacturers and innovators for over 21 years now, since 1995. Based in the UK, Britannia innovations and designs have been at the forefront of Kitchen Ventilation technology, brought about by a team of highly skilled technical departments and real-world experience and constant laboratory and on-site testing in real kitchens.

We may not be as well-known as some other brands, but our product is often superior in performance, quality and value, and our team of personnel both here in Australia and in Britannia UK ensure that your experience and the end product fully meet or exceed your expectations. Britannia engineered technology also delivers air volumes that are amongst the lowest available – making for a more efficient canopy, lower long term operating costs, whilst our manufacturing processes produce a very high quality product and finish that is often praised by installers and customers. Importantly, we are responsive and listen to our clients’ needs and often provide better outcomes as a result.

Functional efficiency is paramount and the Britannia product range incorporates innovative concepts like modular construction which helps reduce onward running costs in many ways.
Modular construction consists of a range of uniquely-sized components that, when combined, creates a range of different sized canopies with standardised manufacturing processes, in effect creating unique canopies from standard components.

Each module is sized to maximise air efficiency, is self- supporting, easily transportable and handled, reducing the risks of damage in-transit yet extremely rigid once assembled. Even though Britannia canopies are modular, they have a very professional appearance and superior performance when compared to conventional canopies.

High quality  #304 Stainless Steel 0.9mm, with consistent seamless polished surfaces is used in the manufacturing process for all canopies produced. Component sizing has been carefully considered to minimise impacts on the environment and ensure safe handling. Some non-visible surfaces (such as top plates, spigots etc.) may be constructed from galvanised steel.

All Britannia canopies (except DWE models) come with integrated flush mount, low energy high frequency white light T5 lamps and ballasts.
Each twin light fitting has a hinged, sealed, toughened stippled glass diffuser with drop-down reflector and lamp assembly for easy maintenance. All lights are pre-wired to a junction box on the canopy and multiple lights are connected using pre-wired moulded plugs for easy build up after delivery. All lights are 240V 50Hz and are typically twin 36W units. The number of light units is determined by the size (and number of modules) of the canopy. Optional LED lighting is available.

Some installations require the complete destruction of grease particles prior to air discharge into the ductwork, for reasons of safety, vastly reduced site maintenance requirements, reduced odour, and maximum long term safety from fire hazards.

Britannia approved Desinfinator UV modules  are unique with lamp modules of special patented design and, when fitted into the extract chamber close to the filter bank, break down the grease molecules which are then exhausted through the ductwork. These lamp modules require no routine maintenance unlike cheaper methods which often require weekly cleaning of the lamps – a messy and difficult task. Britannia Desinfinator UV systems eliminate this maintenance time.
All Britannia UV canopies come equipped with interlocked safety switches and filter interlocks for operator safety and an easy to use information and control panel. UV modules can be retro fitted.

All Britannia canopy variants (except DWE models) have a ‘core’ measurement of 490mm deep, to accommodate the filters and necessary angles and plenums to achieve optimum air performance. So the minimum* height is 490mm for the canopy itself. A skirt of matching finely polished stainless steel is then added to make up the difference to meet the ceiling, and in most cases, go 50mm into the ceiling cavity to make finishing off to the ceiling easier.

*refers to Standard height Canopies. Other Britannia models offer Reduced Height Front  versions at 250mm.

The normal minimum height of Britannia canopies is 490mm.
All Britannia exhaust canopies (except DWE and Econex EFB variants) are available with the special Reduced Front feature.
Invaluable where ceiling height prevents conventional canopies from complying with the minimum height according to AS1668.2.2012, the Reduced Front feature has a (operator side) front height of only 250mm. So ceiling heights from 2250mm can be accommodated – saving on re-design, engineering and installation costs.

No, all ductwork and fans are the responsibility of the mechanical contractors/fitters. Britannia specify the size and configuration of the canopy required, and the optimum air extraction/supply volume data required for proper performance and conformance with 1668.2 guidelines.

Kitchen Exhaust Canopies are either Wall or Island mounted, and the location of full height walls has a bearing on the air capture performance of the canopy, so this must be nominated/calculated in the Air Volume Calculations.

Island mounted canopies typically require more extract air to perform to specification compared to wall mounted canopies.  With Double Island canopies, the mounting of two island canopies side-by-side enables effective extraction for large/heavy duty island cookbanks.

All Britannia Exhaust canopies (except DWE Dishwash variants) are mounted via brooker rods, from each corner of every module that makes up the canopy. This enables easy and precise installation for even large canopies. DWE (Dishwash) models are usually wall mounted, with optional front hanging with brooker rods.

Do you have a special requirement for your project, such as a special colour or finish?
Or a custom shape or style to suit  front of house installation?
Bring your plans and talk to your Britannia representative about the many options.

Once we have your scaled floorplan and elevations, shop drawings can be available in less than two days for most projects.
If the project specifies one of the standard modular sizes in our QSS Range, the drawing is available within one day, usually within hours. For larger more complex installations, and ventilated ceilings, allow more time. Manufacture of your canopy can only commence once we have your signed approval copy of the drawing.

Typically, it takes approximately 4 weeks from the time that we receive your signed approved drawing to have your canopy ready for delivery.
If the canopy is from our QSS System of pre-programmed sizes, drawings are already available, the only change that may be required is the ceiling height. Larger orders or custom sizes may take longer depending on factory work-loads at the time. We always endeavour to keep times to a minimum and keep you informed of the progress.

All canopies are warranted against faulty manufacture or workmanship for a period of 13 months from instal /delivery date. Exclusions to this warranty are any glass components (eg light fitting) or globes/lamps which are deemed to be a consumable. See our Terms and Conditions for full information. All items outside the canopy are not warranted (except UV Module components that form part of the Britannia canopy installation).

Yes, we have several companies that work with us nation-wide to ensure your canopies are installed with the same attention to quality and detail as the canopy itself. We can put you in touch with these companies once your canopy manufacture is underway.

BRITSTREAM

Britstream models are Extract only, for those installations where supply air is introduced through means other than the canopy itself, such as return air ceiling registers.
Available in Wall Mount, Island Mount, Double Island mount and Reduced Front variants.

CAPTURESTEAM

Capturestream models provide Extract, Supply Air, Spot Coolers and the patented 3-sided Capturestream induced air stream technology for superior capture of the cooking plume and particulates, using less air than comparable canopies. Available in Wall Mount, Island Mount, Double Island mount.

ECONEX

Econex models provide enormous flexibility for site specific requirements and extreme cooking equipment by providing:

• Front  Extract  only
• Front Extract with Supply Air
• Front and Back Extract only
• Front and Back Extract with Supply Air
• Available in Wall Mount, Island Mount, Double Island Mount.

REFRESH

A unique, self-contained extraction system for sites where external ducting is not possible. Suitable for low to medium use kitchens, these models provide extract and multi-level filtering performance comparable to the finest canopies available, all in one compact system.

SILVERLINE

Extensively used overseas, Silverline Ventilated ceilings are ideal where aesthetic qualities are paramount as well as clear line-of-sight through the kitchen, whilst providing excellent extraction capacity for the high load cooking banks. Increasingly popular with todays’ contemporary design where kitchens become part of the dining experience.

MISTREAM

Mistream is designed to fit within the Britannia range and was developed to reduce the risk of fire over solid fuelled appliances such as BBQ’s, grills and ovens. Mistream utilises 3 stages of filtration, including the continuous fine mist delivered by very low consumption spray heads. The cold mist spray also aids in the reduction of in-duct, transported air temperatures as well as acting as a natural spark arrester.

DISHWASH  DWE

The DWE Models other class-leading Britannia products have been designed, refined and are now manufactured in Australia.

The Britannia range of Condensate (DWE) model canopies provides optimum condensate extraction. Suitable for use on all types of pot/dishwash applications including rack & pass through/conveyor installations.
Britannia DWE models represent the best in condensate canopy design, and are specified with optimum overhang to ensure  complete extraction of condensate plume. Available in standard or custom sizes and heights.