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Building Restaurant Exhaust System Ductwork for NYC Commercial Kitchens

Custom-fabricated grease ductwork for new builds, system upgrades, capacity expansions, and restaurant takeovers — built to NYC code and inspection reality.

Commercial Kitchen Ventilation NYC 1408 Seabury Ave, Bronx, NY 10461 Designing, fabricating, and installing commercial kitchen exhaust ductwork for NYC restaurants — including upgrades, replacements, and full system rebuilds. Serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx & Staten Island. Call (646) 772-1244
Building Restaurant Exhaust System Ductwork for NYC Commercial Kitchens 3
Building Restaurant Exhaust System Ductwork for NYC Commercial Kitchens 4
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1. Upgrading an Old Exhaust System Older restaurants often have undersized or patched ductwork that no longer meets code. We remove compromised sections and replace them with fully welded, properly sized steel ductwork built for modern cooking loads. 2. Expanding Kitchen Capacity or Menu Adding charbroilers, fryers, or higher-BTU equipment requires increased exhaust volume. We redesign and fabricate larger duct runs to handle higher grease and heat loads without smoke spillage or negative pressure. 3. Taking Over a Failed Restaurant Many failed restaurants leave behind non-compliant ductwork hidden above ceilings. We rebuild exhaust systems from the hood connection to the roof so new operators don’t inherit violations or shutdown risk. Case Study: East 57th Street Manhattan Restaurant Exhaust System Rebuild A long-standing restaurant on East 57th Street in Manhattan closed after decades in operation. When new ownership took over the space, they were able to preserve portions of the existing commercial kitchen infrastructure — including some equipment layouts and utility connections — but the exhaust system ductwork could not be salvaged. The original restaurant was a classic French concept, with lower-intensity cooking that relied on an aging exhaust system. Over time, the ductwork had become: Corroded from years of grease exposure Saturated with old grease particulates that produced strong odors Structurally worn and unsafe Non-compliant with current NYC fire and mechanical expectations The new owners planned a high-end omakase restaurant, requiring precision cooking, higher heat concentration, and stricter airflow control. Reusing the existing ductwork would have posed fire risk, inspection failure, and contamination concerns, especially given the change in cuisine and cooking style. Our Solution Commercial Kitchen Ventilation NYC removed the compromised duct runs and fabricated an entirely new exhaust ductwork system at our Bronx facility using 16-inch American-made steel sourced from Ohio. The new ductwork was designed specifically for the omakase layout, higher grease capture requirements, and modern inspection access standards — while integrating cleanly with the salvaged kitchen elements that remained viable. Result Elimination of grease odor and contamination risk Improved airflow performance matched to the new menu Fire-safe, fully welded ductwork built for inspection A clean transition from the old restaurant concept to the new one without inheriting hidden violations The new owners were able to open with confidence, knowing the exhaust system was built correctly from the hood to the roof — not patched onto a failing legacy system.
In New York City, restaurant exhaust system ductwork is not just a mechanical component — it is a fire-rated, inspection-driven life-safety system. When ductwork is undersized, poorly routed, thin-gauge, or improperly fabricated, it leads directly to grease buildup, airflow failure, violations, and shutdowns. Commercial Kitchen Ventilation NYC builds restaurant exhaust ductwork for new commercial kitchens, upgrades aging systems, expands capacity for menu changes, and replaces failed systems when restaurants change hands. We fabricate all grease ductwork in-house at our Bronx facility using 16-inch, best-in-class American-made steel sourced from Ohio, eliminating middlemen, shortening timelines, and reducing costs — while delivering systems designed to pass NYC inspections the first time.
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  • Why does restaurant exhaust ductwork matter so much in NYC?
    Because grease ducts are fire-rated systems inspected by FDNY and DOB. Failures lead to violations and shutdowns.
  • When should ductwork be replaced instead of repaired?
    When it is undersized, thin-gauge, improperly welded, or lacks required access panels.
  • What type of steel do you use for grease duct fabrication?
    We use 16-inch, American-made steel sourced from Ohio for durability and code compliance.
  • Do you fabricate ductwork in-house?
    Yes. All custom grease ductwork is fabricated at our Bronx facility, eliminating middlemen.
  • Can new ductwork help pass inspections?
    Yes. Properly designed and installed ductwork directly addresses common inspection failures.
Project Scenario Common Ductwork Issue Our Fabrication Approach Result
Aging Restaurant Thin-gauge, patched ducts Replace with welded 16-inch steel Improved safety & compliance
Menu Expansion Insufficient airflow Larger custom duct runs Proper smoke capture
Failed Restaurant Takeover Hidden violations Full system rebuild Clean inspection slate
Rooftop Termination Grease leakage Containment & curb correction Reduced fire risk
Inspection Prep Missing access panels Add compliant access points Inspection readiness
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Whether you’re upgrading an outdated exhaust system, expanding kitchen capacity, or taking over a failed restaurant, Commercial Kitchen Ventilation NYC builds exhaust ductwork designed for real NYC conditions. By fabricating heavy-gauge steel ductwork in-house at our Bronx facility, we control quality, shorten timelines, and save customers money — while delivering systems built to pass inspection and last.
Resumen en Español: Los sistemas de ductos de extracción en restaurantes de NYC deben cumplir con normas estrictas de seguridad contra incendios. Commercial Kitchen Ventilation NYC fabrica e instala ductos de acero de alta resistencia para cocinas comerciales nuevas, actualizaciones de sistemas antiguos, ampliaciones de capacidad y reaperturas de restaurantes fallidos. Fabricamos todo en nuestras instalaciones del Bronx para reducir costos y garantizar cumplimiento.

No restaurant owner or property manager wants to gamble with FDNY inspections, fire safety violations, or system failures — and that’s why so many NYC businesses rely on Master Fire Mechanical, the trusted fire protection and commercial kitchen fire safety specialists serving New York City.

We understand how stressful it can be to deal with failed inspections, violation notices, emergency shutdowns, and aging fire protection systems — especially when your business, staff, and customers are on the line. Our team works directly with restaurant owners, building managers, and contractors to correct issues quickly, document compliance properly, and keep systems operating safely.

From our Bronx-based operations, Master Fire Mechanical proudly serves all five NYC boroughs — including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island — providing fire suppression systems, hood & duct protection, exhaust system support, sprinkler coordination, inspections, testing, maintenance, and violations removal.

Whether you’re opening a new restaurant, upgrading an existing commercial kitchen, responding to a failed FDNY inspection, or taking over a previously closed space, Master Fire Mechanical is here to protect your operation and keep you compliant.

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