Building Works For You

From the foundation to the roof top, it’s important that every element of your building is designed to suite your needs. As consultants new take a look at the basic necessities that must be designed into the structure.

Foundation: Careful consideration of your building’s foundation will be an important factor in determining the equipment layout and design. As we place the necessary customer and employee areas to function efficiently with your business, we will also consider foundation requirements such as: pit depressions for walk in coolers, sub floor insulation, crawl space requirements and underfloor utility distribution for power, water and drainage.

Does Coke or Pepsi know where to run their soda syrup lines?

Walls: Wall treatments in commercial kitchens must be specific and coordinated with the contractors. There are many options that can be implemented to the design that will provide a lifetime of savings. Some common suggestions are placing wainscot on the booth walls to prevent scratches on the walls. FRP in the kitchen makes for a cost effective, non-absorbent material that is easy to clean and is very durable. We will also ensure that your vent hood walls are made of noncombustible materials such as metal stud, to be safe and code compliant.

Did you know that commercial bathrooms require no less than 48” H of moisture resistant material applied to all interior walls?

Doors: Door sizes are dictated by codes such as the IBC and the ADA handicap and accessibility standards. These parameters set up the minimum needed to operate in compliance. We take this a step further to make sure that the door sizes are adequate for your business needs. Does your door require diamond thread reinforcement? Will there be an air curtain above the delivery door? Is your delivery door wide enough for merchandise?

Ceiling: Make sure that you pay attention to the design of your ceiling. Aesthetic have more freedom in the dining rooms but in the kitchen and food production areas, there are guidelines to go buy. First, understand that even though you don’t see it at first glance in a kitchen, there is an entire infrastructure of mechanical electrical and plumbing components that exist above the ceiling grid. We recommend making your kitchen to 9ft suspended non absorbent washable ceiling tiles. This allows to have access above your ceiling, and provides additional clearances for duct work, piping and cable raceways. The building needs to be design so that the components required for all the equipment or work are respected. Ductwork for example often requires long sweeping runs several feet across. The smoother and more gradual these turns are, the more efficiently they will operate.

 

Call an expert to discuss your building!

361-259-9703