Stainless grease duct exposed in kitchen
Visible commercial kitchen run
The approved design, adopted code, qualified procedure, and exact manufacturer instructions control this installation.
Before you start
- Grease duct is a fire/life-safety system. Verify the approved design, adopted code, hood and fan requirements, listed enclosure or shaft details, and inspection hold points before fabrication or installation.
- Confirm stainless grade, finish, weld procedure, filler, shielding or purge requirement, support material, dissimilar-metal isolation, and approved finish-restoration method.
- Review the exposed architectural appearance, seam and joint orientation, support layout, and cleaning requirements.
- Protect finished stainless from carbon-steel contamination, dirty gloves, grinding dust, and construction damage.
- Inspect all pieces for scratches, dents, heat tint from prior work, or mismatched finish before lifting.
Tools and materials
Stainless grease-duct sections, stainless-compatible welding equipment and filler, purge equipment when specified, dedicated stainless brushes and abrasives, soft slings, clean gloves, compatible supports and isolation materials, finish-restoration supplies, level or laser, and protective coverings.
Lay it out
- Laser the visible route, joint spacing, support rhythm, and bottom elevation.
- Mark weld and seam orientation so the exposed run looks consistent.
- Keep cleaning access, hood service, and fire-suppression components visually and physically accessible.
Set and support it
- Install neat, compatible supports before lifting the finished sections.
- Isolate dissimilar metals where the approved detail requires it.
- Use soft slings and padded contact surfaces to protect the finish.
Make the connection
- 1
Clean and prepare the stainless mating edges with dedicated tools.
- 2
Set both supported sections and verify visible alignment before tack welding.
- 3
Clamp and tack in a sequence that controls distortion.
- 4
Complete the continuous liquid-tight stainless weld using the qualified procedure.
- 5
Allow cooling, then clean heat tint and restore the finish using the approved method.
- 6
Inspect for contamination, pinholes, distortion, scratches, and visible mismatch.
- 7
Remove protective film and final-clean only when surrounding construction will not damage the surface.
Check the install
- The exposed run is straight, cleanable, and visually consistent.
- Welds are continuous, liquid-tight, and finished as specified.
- No carbon-steel contamination, rust staining, deep scratch, or uncontrolled heat tint remains.
- Supports are compatible, neat, and do not trap grease or cleaning residue.
- Access and service components remain usable.
Common mistakes
- Using carbon-steel brushes, grinding wheels, or contaminated work surfaces on stainless.
- Finishing one weld differently from the rest of the exposed run.
- Allowing support hardware to create unapproved dissimilar-metal contact.
- Removing protective film too early and damaging the final surface.
Stop and ask
Stop if stainless grade, filler, purge, finish-restoration method, dissimilar-metal isolation, or exposed appearance requirement is not approved, or if contamination cannot be removed properly.