David Martel said: My first suggestion is to find out if the co op
has the building owners
permission to do this project. If this was a home DIY job I'd advise
looking
here
http://www.easy2diy.com/cm/easy/diy_...d=35720146&par...

for a general idea on how to approach it.

The co-op owns the building and has been in the same location for
almost 30 years. Thanks for the helpful link.

he also said:
Don't understand why you
feel it's necessary for the fan motor to be on it's own circuit breaker

I just try to be conservative when running new circuits since I am not
a real electrician. One thing is that the existing circuits likely
have refrigeration and freezers on them. I would not want to place
an additional load on such critical circuits. I haven't looked at the
breaker box yet but if there are no free breaker locations available
then I am capable of performing an inventory of the existing circuits
and their cooresponding breakers in order to determine what is
appropriate.

he also said:
But I have no idea about the requirements for a commercial restaurant. I
don't think sizing the hood to meet the stove's BTU output is wise
since the
stove may be replaced some day.

This is not a commercial restaurant but a very small kitchen with one
residential style stove which they only use a few hours each day. I
have considered the fact that the stove might eventually be upgraded
and plan to suggest that this might be an opportunity to upgrade to a
bigger stove, possibly a gas range. But I doubt if they want to spend
any extra money because the co-op doesnt have much extra money and also
they plan to be in a larger building someday and therfore may want to
limit the dough they spend on this one.

he also said:
Don't presume that the small town does not have inspectors, assume that
the county does. The co op is putting in this hood because the
inspector
warned them. Do the work up to code

I don't presume anything, actually. I'm just saying that such things
are routinely ignored where I live. Inspections and enforcment
receive little funding. I don't defend it. I am not a liscensed
contractor and don't claim to be one. The co-op will be acting as
contractor in this case and I work for an hourly rate or even for
barter. It is their job to be concerned with codes and inspections and
I do not have that responsibility.

I know that is is the standard advice to be concerned with all
relevant codes and and regulations and that it would be irresponsible
to give any other advice so that is the advice I expect. My place is
to plan the job as best as possiible and to get it done. It is their
responsibility as contractor to supervise me in any way they wish and
to change the plan according to what they think is appropriate.

By the way, we were not warned by the building inspector but by the
health department, which is totally different.

Thank you for your ideas and for giving me consideration.

Lawrence