Thanks to the new air cleaning unit, waste air can be released into the adjacent park. Technology used elsewhere in the world is now being used in Finland in this way for the first time.
Halton has delivered an exceptionally large emissions control system to Finlandia Hall. The equipment was installed underground in connection with the new kitchen, and the exhaust air is directed to ground level through a waste air tower. The solution is unique in Finland.
“Efficient air purification enables waste air to be directed out to the street level safely and without odor nuisance. Halton was the only equipment supplier that could offer such a solution as a finished product,” says Skanska’s building technology expert Mikko Niemi.
As many as 3,000 food portions are prepared in the Finlandia Hall’s kitchen per day. The exhaust air flow is ten cubic meters per second, which is 4–5 times more than in standard professional kitchens. The exhaust air of large kitchens contains unpleasant smells and particles that are dangerous to health.
Normally, the exhaust air ducts of professional kitchens are led to the roof of the building. In Finlandia Hall, this was not possible because the building is protected.
“During a previous renovation, exhaust ducts were installed on the roof. Now we could dismantle these structures that do not belong to the original facade,” says Niemi.
Halton’s Pollustop emission control unit is approximately six meters long and two and a half meters wide. The unit includes a fan section, a heat recovery system and a series of filters, including HEPA filters and activated carbon filters. Exhaust air is blown through them.
The air is cleaned from the P4 class, which is the dirtiest end of the scale, to close to the cleanest P1 class. The system also includes a control module that monitors the load on the filters and adjusts the air pressure automatically.
“The Finlandia building is one of the most famous buildings in Finland. We are proud to be involved in this historic renovation. The project is also interesting from a technical point of view, as this is the largest emission control unit we have delivered in Finland”, says Jere Kaistinen, Halton’s Sales Manager .
“From the point of view of emissions, such a large kitchen can be compared to an industrial plant. When the air is cleaned effectively, the exhaust air can be blown into the park next to the bike path,” says Kaistinen.
Finnish legislation requires, as a rule, that the exhaust air of restaurant kitchens is directed to the roof of the building. It makes it difficult to set up restaurants on the ground floor of existing buildings, as it is often impossible to build an exhaust duct through the house. This is a drawback that hinders the development of city centers, Kaistinen says.
“As can be seen from Finlandia Hall, we have technology that allows exhaust air to be released to street level. For example, in London we constantly do projects where the air is cleaned and blown out into the street or recirculated. When the pedestrian center is further developed Helsinki, it would be necessary to update the legislation.”
About 900 events are held at Finlandia Hall each year, and 200,000 customers visit there. The renovation of the building will be completed in the fall, and the renovated house will be opened to the public in early 2025. The Finnish government is preparing a proposal to add the Finlandia House, completed in 1971, to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Additional information
Jere Kaistinen, Sales Manager
Halton Oy
+358 40 833 0349
jere.kaistinen@halton.com
