BESPOKE KITCHEN CANOPY VENTILATION SYSTEMS

Client: Buzzworks Holdings (Scotts Restaurant)

Sector: Hospitality

Services Provided: Custom Kitchen Canopy Design, Integrated Make-Up Air System, Aesthetic-Focused Engineering

About the Client

Scotts, part of the Buzzworks Holdings group, is an upscale bar and restaurant located on the Greenock seafront, offering panoramic views over the River Clyde. As part of its design ethos, the restaurant places a high priority on visual appeal, making it essential that all mechanical and structural installations—particularly in its open-plan kitchen— blend seamlessly with the elegant interior aesthetic.

Challenges:

Sigma Engineering Product Design Ltd was appointed by Blue Refrigeration to design and install a bespoke commercial kitchen canopy at Scotts. The restaurant’s openplan layout meant the entire system would be visible to diners, requiring a solution that was:

• Fully compliant with TR/19, DW/172, and DW/144 specifications

• Visually seamless, with no exposed fasteners or obvious structural supports

• Engineered to integrate a make-up air system that would wrap around the canopy without disrupting the interior aesthetic

The canopy had to span an area of 7.1m x 3.2m, accommodating a high-performance extraction system while maintaining architectural discretion.

Our Engineering Approach

1. Central Filter Section Reinvention

The conventional method of hanging the baffle filter from the canopy roof was unsuitable due to the size of the structure. It risked deforming the roof and compromising performance. Sigma’s solution:

• Reinforced the top of the filter housing, making it structurally stiff enough to carry both its own weight and that of the roof

• Integrated ceiling-suspended rods that passed through pre-cut holes in the assembly

• Used nuts and washers to securely suspend the central filter bank and form a sealed plenum, ensuring even airflow on extract

2. Roof Panel Engineering

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The canopy roof was divided into twin panels positioned on either side of the central filter bank:

• Panels were designed with fabricated upstands for precise alignment and mechanical fixing to the filter section

• This eliminated the need for visible support brackets and maintained structural integrity

3. Side and Front Panel Integration

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• Side and front panels were fabricated with hemmed sections to receive the roof edges

• This created a locking mechanism, allowing the roof panels to slot in and be secured discreetly from within

• The result was a smooth, cohesive structure, ideal for high-visibility restaurant environments

Make-Up Air Strategy

To prevent thermal discomfort and air stagnation in the kitchen, Sigma designed a dualdirection make-up air system:

• Air was introduced horizontally across the kitchen to supply general ventilation

• Simultaneously, air was directed vertically downward at the canopy’s lip, improving airflow capture and maintaining temperature balance

• The system featured a custom-designed, removable ‘L’-shaped supply diffuser, which simply clipped into place for ease of maintenance and installation

The Outcome

Sigma EPD successfully delivered a high-performance, aesthetically refined canopy system tailored to the specific visual and functional demands of Scotts in Greenock. The result:

• A structurally robust, visually seamless canopy system

• Integrated dual-function make-up air delivery for thermal comfort and efficient extraction

• Compliance with all industry regulations while maintaining architectural harmony with the restaurant's luxury design

This project stands as an example of engineering excellence meeting high-end design, supporting both staff performance and customer experience in a visible, openplan kitchen setting.