Yes, if:
- The kitchen was installed or altered recently (must comply with Building Regs).
- There is damp/mould due to lack of ventilation.
- The property would be considered unsafe or unhealthy.
Not automatically required if:
- It’s an older property.
- There is already some form of adequate ventilation (e.g., openable window).
- There are no health hazards present.
Under Building Regulations 2010, specifically Part F (Ventilation) for intermittent extract ventilation (extractor fan or cooker hood) Minimum extraction rates are:
- 30 litres per second (l/s) if the fan is positioned over the hob
- 60 l/s if it is elsewhere in the kitchen
OR
- 13 l/s if it is a continuously running fan (lower rate but runs all the time)
The air should normally be discharged to the outside, not just recirculated.
👉 A recirculating cooker hood (with charcoal filter only) does not meet Part F on its own.
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