Baffle Grease Filters: Stainless Steel for Commercial Kitchen Canopies
SS430 stainless steel baffle grease filters for commercial kitchen exhaust canopy hoods. Continuous-drain baffle design, dishwasher safe, fire-code compliant. Sized to fit your hood, with standard and custom dimensions available. Contact us with your canopy measurements and we will confirm the specification and pricing.
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Baffle grease filters are sized to fit your canopy hood. Dimensions vary by installation. Contact us with your hood width, filter bay height, and number of bays and we will confirm the correct filter size, material spec, and pricing by return.
- SS430 stainless steel construction
- Dishwasher safe: easy commercial cleaning
- Continuous drain design: no clogging
- Standard and custom sizes available
- 7-10 day lead time for non-stock sizes
A baffle grease filter is the first line of defence in any commercial kitchen exhaust system. Cooking generates grease-laden vapour: aerosol droplets of fat, oil, and moisture carried upward by the thermal plume from cooking equipment. Without an effective grease filter in the canopy hood, this aerosol enters the exhaust ductwork and accumulates as a flammable deposit. Prebur supplies SS430 stainless steel baffle grease filters sized for commercial kitchen canopy hoods across South Africa.
How Baffle Filters Work
The baffle design directs grease-laden airstream through a series of angled baffles. Each direction change causes heavier grease droplets to impinge on the baffle surfaces, coalesce, and drain by gravity into a collection channel at the base of the filter. Cleaned air continues into the exhaust duct. Unlike mesh filters, baffles drain continuously during cooking and do not clog, which means reduced fire risk and a more consistent pressure drop across the extraction system throughout the shift.
The drain channel discharges grease into a drip tray under the canopy. Emptying the drip tray regularly is part of the standard canopy maintenance routine. The filters themselves are removed and washed on a schedule determined by cooking volume, typically weekly or fortnightly in a standard commercial kitchen.
Material: SS430 Stainless Steel
Grade SS430 ferritic stainless steel is the industry-standard material for commercial kitchen baffle filters. It provides good resistance to the corrosive environment of a kitchen exhaust system (grease, steam, cleaning chemicals) while remaining fully non-magnetic and non-combustible. SS430 is cost-effective relative to SS304 and is the appropriate choice for standard canopy grease filter applications where magnetic-free properties are not a requirement.
The stainless construction is compatible with commercial dishwashers and hot degreaser soak tanks. Avoid abrasive scourers on the polished face. Surface scratching creates grease traps that accelerate fouling between cleaning cycles.
Fire Safety and Compliance
SANS 10400-T (South African National Standard for fire protection in buildings) and most building insurance underwriting conditions require that kitchen exhaust grease extraction systems be maintained in a clean and serviceable condition. A failed, missing, or incorrectly specified grease filter is a fire code non-compliance and may void fire insurance cover. SS430 baffle filters are non-combustible and the correct specification for fire-code-compliant canopy exhaust systems.
Material Specification
| Material | Grade SS430 ferritic stainless steel |
| Finish | Brushed / mill finish (polished face) |
| Frame | Integrated SS430 frame, same material as baffles |
| Construction | Spot-welded baffle assembly, continuous drain channel |
| Non-combustible | Yes: does not contribute to fire load |
| Magnetic | Yes (ferritic SS, standard for kitchen applications) |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes: commercial dishwasher and hot degreaser soak compatible |
| Cleaning method | Dishwasher, hot degreaser soak, or hot water rinse with degreaser spray |
| Grease collection | Continuous drain: grease drains to canopy drip tray during operation |
Standard Sizes
Baffle grease filters are supplied in the size required to fit your canopy hood and filter bay. Common standard sizes for commercial kitchen canopies in South Africa are listed below. If your required size is not listed, contact us. Custom sizes are available on a 7-10 working day lead time.
| Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Depth (mm) | Approx. Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 500 | 50 | 1.6 kg |
| 500 | 400 | 50 | 1.3 kg |
| 400 | 500 | 50 | 1.3 kg |
| 400 | 400 | 50 | 1.0 kg |
| 500 | 325 | 50 | 1.1 kg |
| 500 | 300 | 50 | 1.0 kg |
| 465 | 395 | 50 | 1.2 kg |
| 345 | 395 | 50 | 0.9 kg |
All sizes: SS430 stainless steel, 50mm nominal depth, continuous drain channel. Custom sizes available on request. Contact us with your canopy dimensions.
Cleaning and Maintenance
| Recommended cleaning frequency | Weekly to fortnightly (high-output kitchens may require twice weekly) |
| Dishwasher cycle | Standard commercial dishwasher, any temperature cycle |
| Degreaser soak | Hot water + commercial degreaser, 15-30 min soak, rinse and dry |
| Drip tray | Empty at the start of each shift or as needed. Do not allow to overflow. |
| Inspection | Check baffles for deformation or corrosion at each cleaning. Replace damaged filters immediately. |
| Storage | Store dry. Do not stack with grease-laden filters against other surfaces. |
Stainless steel baffle grease filters are required in any commercial kitchen where cooking generates grease-laden vapour. The canopy hood captures the thermal plume from the cooking equipment. The baffle filter sits in the hood and prevents grease from entering the exhaust ductwork. Every installation from a single-line restaurant kitchen to a large hotel banqueting operation requires compliant grease filtration.
Any commercial canopy over open-flame burners, griddle plates, fryers, or solid-top ranges requires grease filtration. Stainless steel baffles are the standard specification for health inspection compliance and fire code compliance in South African restaurants.
High-volume hotel kitchens with multiple cooking lines and extended operating hours generate significant grease output. Baffle filters sized for the canopy and maintained on a regular cleaning schedule keep the extraction system performing and compliant with fire safety requirements.
Healthcare facility kitchens face stringent hygiene audits and fire safety inspections. Stainless steel construction is specified for ease of cleaning and resistance to the strong alkaline cleaning chemicals used in healthcare catering environments.
Industrial food processing facilities with overhead extraction hoods over cooking, frying, or smoking operations require grease filtration to prevent duct contamination and comply with industrial fire codes. SS430 construction handles the heavier grease loading typical of continuous production operations.
Temporary and permanent commercial kitchen installations for contract caterers and event venues. Filter sizing matched to the canopy hood and cooking equipment load. Contact us with your hood dimensions for a recommendation.
Replacement grease filters for existing canopy hoods where the original filters have been damaged, deformed, or are no longer available from the original supplier. Provide your current filter dimensions and we will confirm the correct replacement specification.
What does a baffle grease filter do?
A baffle grease filter captures grease-laden aerosol produced during cooking before it can enter the exhaust ductwork. Grease-laden air is directed through angled baffles; the direction changes force heavier grease droplets to impinge on the baffle surfaces, coalesce, and drain into a collection channel. Cleaned air continues into the exhaust duct. Unlike mesh filters, baffles drain continuously during cooking and do not clog.
How often should baffle grease filters be cleaned?
In a typical commercial kitchen, baffle filters should be cleaned weekly or fortnightly depending on cooking volume. High-output kitchens (such as fast food, hotel banqueting, or industrial catering) may require twice-weekly cleaning. SANS 10400-T and most insurance underwriting conditions require that grease extraction systems be maintained in a clean and serviceable condition at all times.
Are these filters dishwasher safe?
Yes. SS430 stainless steel baffle filters are fully dishwasher safe and can also be soaked in a hot degreaser solution. The stainless construction resists commercial kitchen cleaning chemicals, including caustic degreasers. Avoid abrasive scourers on the polished face. These cause surface scratching that can trap grease over time.
Can you supply custom sizes?
Yes. Baffle grease filters are sized to fit the canopy hood and filter bay. Dimensions vary by installation. Contact us with your canopy width, height, and number of filter bays and we will confirm the correct filter dimensions and lead time. Standard lead time for non-stock sizes is 7-10 working days.
Do baffle filters provide a fire safety rating?
SS430 stainless steel baffle filters are non-combustible and are the material of choice for fire-code-compliant kitchen exhaust systems. The baffle design prevents direct flame path from the cooking surface into the ductwork, and the continuous grease drainage reduces the accumulation of flammable deposits. Always confirm that the installed filter specification meets the requirements of your fire safety compliance authority.
How do I place an order?
Contact us via the form on our contact page or call Nick Els directly on +27 74 159 1634. Provide your canopy dimensions and number of filter bays. We will confirm the filter size, material specification, and pricing by return. Standard sizes may be available from stock; non-standard dimensions are made to order.