ALTHOUGH SELDOM NOTICED, a plenum (shaft) runs from floor to ceiling through the lobby-level “Ladies Lounge.” (It continues through the mezzanine, too.) It’s behind the wall that is straight across from the door to the lounge from the lobby. What is it doing there?
Below the jump, this post discloses what’s inside that plenum—and why.
Contents: Exhaust ducts
The following photos were taken inside an attic space that is both above the basement kitchen and directly below the Ladies Lounge. The plenum originates in this space.
Presently the plenum contains two ducts side-by-side: a 36”x10” rectangular aluminum exhaust duct from the vents above each kitchen stove/oven, plus a 7”-diameter round steel exhaust duct from the ceiling of the women’s restroom.
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| Looking up from below, at the start of the plenum |
In the foreground of this photo is a water pipe, which runs along the concrete foundation wall that takes up most of the image. Farther away, at top of photo, the stove duct fits right up against a ledger board on that wall.
The inside dimension of the plenum appears to be 44” long x 10” wide.
Sizing
Both of the plenum’s ducts appear to be oversized. This fact is potentially important because the kitchen presently has no make-up air (intake) ventilation. Hence in order for proper exhaust hoods and fans to be installed, an intake vent and duct will need to be installed, as well. Perhaps the air can be brought in via a new duct that runs inside this same plenum—while reducing one or both of the existing ducts. On this approach, see here.
Rooftop
The two ducts inside the plenum emerge side-by-side on the roof.
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