Gennaio 12, 2021
How To Choose The Right Equipment For A Restaurant Kitchen
Many factors come into play when choosing the right equipment for a restaurant kitchen. Let’s explore these decisions from a restaurant design view.
We’ll do this by highlighting refrigerators, a piece of equipment that you’ll find in most commercial kitchens, and looking at a few items to keep in mind when designing a restaurant.
Using KCL, the foodservice industry’s leading restaurant design software, we will walk you through how to select the right commercial kitchen equipment and visualize your final design.
Steps to Simplify the Process
Here are the steps you can take to simplify the process of designing a commercial kitchen:
- Go to app.kclcad.com.
- Next, search our catalog of over 131,000 pieces of restaurant equipment from 230 top foodservice manufacturers to find the product you seek.
- Then choose the 2D or 3D CAD blocks to include in your restaurant design.
- Finally, design your kitchen using KCL NapkinSketch, AutoCAD®, or Revit®.
You can do this now with a free trial of the KCL design software; sign up today.
Example: Refrigerators
When it comes to including a refrigerator in your restaurant design and ultimately a finished kitchen, there are a few things that you’ll want to consider.
Usage and Type of Refrigerator
First, think through how the restaurant will use the refrigerator. This step will help you choose the type of fridge to install along with other options.
For example, if the back-of-house staff needs to grab items out of a refrigerator quickly, a reach-in refrigerator with hinged glass doors may be the best solution. If the doors need to be left open while the staff makes pre-plated foods, an air curtain fridge might be the best choice.
Below is a shortlist of refrigerator types that you may find in a restaurant kitchen, along with the KCL URL. Click on the link next to a type to view a list of models you can include in your next design.
To view all of the refrigerator models available in KCL, visit app.kclcad.com and search for “refrigerator” within the “category” tab.
Size
Now that you know how the restaurant will use the refrigerator, you’ll need to find one that fits the kitchen you’re designing. To find the dimensions, choose a fridge model in KCL and open the attached spec sheet.
Here’s an example of a spec sheet from Continental Refrigerator.
When choosing a refrigerator for a restaurant, pay special attention to the height of the casters or legs. In the example spec sheet, 6″ casters are included, but 3″ casters or 6″ legs are available as options.
Also, make sure the door swings open the right way for the kitchen you’re designing. A left or a right door hinge is typically an option that manufacturers include within a spec sheet. When placing a fridge’s CAD symbol in KCL NapkinSketch or AutoCAD®, the door swing is shown by a dashed red line.
Utilities
Once you know the refrigerator will fit, you’ll need to verify that it meets all MEP requirements for the restaurant kitchen. In KCL, look for the light bulb symbol to view models with highlighted utilities.
The utility section will tell you the number of amps, volts, type of electrical cord/plug, and other vital details for a fridge.
ENERGY STAR
Choosing an ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator for a restaurant is a great way to save money. According to their website, “commercial refrigerators and freezers that have earned the ENERGY STAR are on average 20 percent more energy-efficient than standard models because they are designed with components such as ECM evaporator and condenser fan motors, hot gas anti-sweat heaters, or high-efficiency compressors, which will significantly reduce energy consumption and utility bills.” ENERGY STAR equipment may also qualify for rebates from local utilities.
Within KCL, look for the blue star next to a model in the search results or the ENERGY STAR certified seal on a model’s detail screen.
Choosing The Right Restaurant Kitchen Equipment
A lot of factors go into choosing the right equipment for a restaurant kitchen. This article was only the tip of the iceberg, but we hope that after reading it, you have a better idea of the things to look for when planning a restaurant design and where to find the info you need in KCL.
Not a current subscriber? Download a free two-week trial and get started today!
You can view our tutorials on this site or the KCL YouTube Channel.
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