Why The Electrical System In Your Restaurant Matters

29

May

1

Every restaurant is going to have at least some electrical equipment. Because of this it is important that everyone running a kitchen should have a general knowledge of electricity. Having a basic knowledge of everything electrical in your kitchen with pay off when you need to make decisions on what equipment you need to buy, and what you want the layout of your kitchen to be.  

The basics of electricity

Circuits

A circuit is a closed path that allows electricity to flow from one place to another, without any gaps or breaks.

Amperage

Amps is the measurement of the amount of electricity.

Voltage

Voltage is the pressure or force of the electricity.

Wattage

Is another measurement used which is calculated by multiplying the amps by the volts.

Kitchen Electrical Code

The codes put in place for kitchens may seem to be unnecessary when you think about them, but really there are good reasons for them. While we aren’t going to go over every item on the kitchen code, there are some examples and ideas that will help us understand why the code is useful.

The electrical code has requirements for small appliances, lighting, dishwasher circuits, range circuits, and distance between circuits just to name a few. The reasoning for these is to ensure safety and functionality in the kitchen. If you don’t have the proper outlet delivering the right amperage somewhere it may be very costly to rewire. You may also have an unexpected malfunction during daily operations. If you are moving into a new kitchen area, remodeling an old kitchen, or even buying a new piece of kitchen equipment, it is a good idea to have a local inspector check the electrical and inform you of the capabilities of the electrical system.

Understanding these basic ideas about electrical will help anyone operating a restaurant kitchen.  While it doesn’t make you an electrician, it will help you know what you need to know when hiring one. We hope you feel more informed and confident with your kitchens electrical system.

Touchstone Commercial Services is dedicated to helping our customers be more comfortable in their kitchens. Although we aren’t structural electricians we do repair and maintain electrical equipment such as commercial refrigerators, and HVAC units, as well as other restaurant equipment. If you have any questions or need a maintenance and repair provider, contact us we are happy to help.