516.2 Design Restrictions — 2025 California Mechanical Code
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-25 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Cite as: 2025 California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) § 516.2 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
All recirculating systems shall comply with the requirements of Section 516.2.1 through Section 516.2.9. [NFPA 96:14.2]
516.2.1 Gas/Electrically Fueled Cooking Appli- ances. Only gas-fueled or electrically fueled cooking appliances shall be used. Listed gas-fueled equipment designed for use with specific recirculating systems shall have the flue outlets connected in the intended manner. Gas-fueled appliances shall have a minimum 18 inches (457 mm) clearance from the flue outlet to the filter inlet in accordance with Section 509.2.2 through Section 509.2.2.3 and shall meet the installation requirements of this code, NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 or NFPA 58. {NFPA 96:14.2.1 – 14.2.3}
516.2.2 Recirculation. Recirculating systems shall be listed with a testing laboratory in accordance with UL 710B or equivalent. [NFPA 96:14.2.4]
516.2.3 Protection. Cooking appliances that require protection and that are under a recirculating hood shall be protected by either the integral fire protection system in accordance with UL 710B or a system in accordance with Section 513.0. [NFPA 96:14.2.4.2]
516.2.4 Maximum Limits. A recirculating system shall not use cooking equipment that exceeds that recirculating system’s labeled maximum limits for that type of equipment, stated in maximum energy input, maximum cooking temperature, and maximum square area of cooking surface or cubic volume of cooking cavity. [NFPA 96:14.2.6]
516.2.5 Label. The listing label shall show the type(s) of cooking equipment tested and the maximum limits specified in Section 516.2.4. [NFPA 96:14.2.7]
516.2.6 Fire Damper. A fire-actuated damper shall be installed at the exhaust outlet of the system. [NFPA 96:14.2.8] The actuation device for the fire damper shall have a maximum temperature rating of 375°F (191°C).
[NFPA 96:14.2.10]
516.2.7 Installation of Electrical Wiring. No electrical wiring shall be installed in the interior sections of the hood plenum that is capable of becoming exposed to grease.
Exception: As permitted by the California Electrical Code . 516.2.8 Power Supply. The power supply of any electrostatic precipitator (ESP) shall be of the “cold spark,” ferroresonant type in which the voltage falls off as the current draw of a short increases. [NFPA 96:14.2.11]
516.2.9 Listing Evaluation. Listing evaluation shall include the following:
(1) Capture and containment of vapors at published and labeled airflows.
(2) Grease discharge at the exhaust outlet of the system not to exceed an average of 2.9 E-09 (oz/in [3] ) (5.0 E-06 kg/m [3] ) of exhausted air sampled from that equipment at maximum amount of product that is capable of
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EXHAUST SYSTEMS
being processed over a continuous 8 hour test with the system operating at its minimum listed airflow.
(3) Listing and labeling of clearance to combustibles from all sides, top, and bottom.
(4) Electrical connection in the field in accordance with the California Electrical Code .
(5) Interlocks on all removable components that lie in the path of airflow within the unit to ensure that they are in place during operation of the cooking appliance. {NFPA 96:14.2.12}
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