Kitchen Range Hoods
Range hoods are one of the most confusing requirements in the code — and one of the most common to fail. The hood has to be listed in the HVI or AHAM directory with a rated airflow and sound level that meet your home’s requirements. We don’t measure the hood; we verify the listing. If it isn’t listed, it fails.
Three things the hood must have
All three have to be in the directory listing for the exact model.
A listing
The exact model must be in the HVI or AHAM directory. Not listed = fails, no matter what the box says.
Enough airflow
Rated CFM at working or high speed that meets Table 150.0-G for your home’s floor area and cooktop fuel (below).
Quiet enough
A sound rating of 3.0 sones or less at a speed of at least 100 CFM. Many hoods are only rated at high speed — those don’t qualify.
Table 150.0-G — range hood airflow
Minimum rated airflow (or capture efficiency) by dwelling floor area and cooktop fuel. For an ADU, use the ADU’s floor area. Table 150.0-G
| Dwelling floor area (ft²) | Electric / induction | Gas | CE electric | CE gas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| >1,500 | 110 CFM | 180 CFM | 50% | 70% |
| >1,000–1,500 | 110 CFM | 250 CFM | 50% | 80% |
| 750–1,000 | 130 CFM | 280 CFM | 55% | 85% |
| <750 | 160 CFM | 280 CFM | 65% | 85% |
Other kitchen exhaust
Downdraft and non-hood exhaust fans, and continuous exhaust. Table 150.0-E (2022) · Table 150.0-E (2025) · Table 150.0-F
| Application | Enclosed kitchen | Nonenclosed kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Other kitchen exhaust fans, incl. downdraft (demand-controlled) — 2022 | 300 CFM or 5 ACH | 300 CFM |
| *NEW FOR 2025* Other kitchen exhaust fans, incl. downdraft (demand-controlled) The 5 ACH option is gone. | 300 CFM | 300 CFM |
| Continuous exhaust | 5 ACH (kitchen volume) | Not permitted — must be demand-controlled |
Table 150.0-H — duct sizing
The installer can skip measuring hood airflow if the duct meets this table: total duct 25 ft or less, no more than 3 elbows, and a full-size exterior termination. Fan rating at ≥0.25″ w.c. Table 150.0-H
| Fan rating (CFM) | ≤50 | ≤80 | ≤100 | ≤125 | ≤150 | ≤175 | ≤200 | ≤250 | ≤350 | ≤400 | ≤450 | ≤700 | ≤800 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid duct (in.) | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Flex duct (in.) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | NP | NP | NP |
What to expect
How we handle range hoods when you hire us.
Send us the model first
Send us the make and model before you order. We check the HVI or AHAM listing against your floor area and cooktop fuel, so you don’t install a hood that can’t pass. At inspection, we photograph the model number, confirm the listing, and record the rated CFM and sones on the CF2R/CF3R.
Read more: why so many range hoods fail, and how to pick one that passes →
Our IAQ Product Lookup checks any model against the HVI and AHAM listings for your floor area and cooktop fuel.
The code
Click a section to read the actual code language, or open it in the official CEC document.
§150.0(o)1GLocal mechanical exhaust
i. Nonenclosed kitchens shall have a demand-controlled mechanical exhaust system…
iii.b. Ventilation rate and capture efficiency. The system shall meet or exceed either the minimum airflow in accordance with Table 150.0-E or the minimum capture efficiency in accordance with Table 150.0-E, and Table 150.0-G. Capture efficiency ratings shall be determined in accordance with ASTM E3087 and listed in a product directory approved by the Energy Commission.
§150.0(o)1GviSound rating
Exception: Kitchen range hoods may be rated for sound at no less than 100 cfm at a static pressure determined at working speed as specified in HVI 916 section 7.2.
*NEW FOR 2025* The 2025 code references Section 7.3 of ASHRAE 62.2 for the sound rating; the requirement is otherwise unchanged.
§150.0(o)2Field verification of range hoods
Choosing a range hood?
Check the listing with our IAQ Product Lookup, or send us the make and model before you order.