Greetings InterNACHI Community,
I’m preparing for my second go at the National Home Inspector Examination, and there was a series of questions related to the minimum ventilation requirements for kitchens and I haven’t been successful in locating this information in the InterNACHI resources.
Could someone direct me to the most current information regarding this topic?
Thank you.
Scott Simonsen
Also a whole house fan should discharge to the exterior,correct?
You will have to be more specific… IRC does not require kitchen exhaust per se. So good luck with that. There is a California thing… about kitchen ventilation, see this:
https://homes.lbl.gov/ventilate-right/step-2-kitchen-and-bath-ventilation
A whole house fan can vent into a private attic space… otherwise all mechanical exhausts are to vent to the outdoors.
It’ll just continue out the ridge to gable vents, no?
Oh, welcome to our forum, Scott!..Enjoy! 
Larry, I am not sure what you are asking. If vented into an attic its air would then be expelled through whichever means the attic is vented. I was just saying that unlike all other mechanical exhausts, a whole house fan is allowed to dump into an attic.
That’s what I was trying to say, Simon. Thanks.
I get what you are saying.
Scott,
For the NHIE, their text book references (1)IRC 2018 M150.3 (exhaust equipment), M150.4 (exhaust ducts and duct terminations), table M1505.4.4 (local exhaust rates), M1901 (clearance to combustibles), G2447 (gas cooking appliances, E3703.2 (kitchen receptacle circuits), and E4101.3 (range hood dedicated branch circuit).
Hope this helps.
Scott, This is from someone outside the rabbit hole you’ve gone down. Climb out - Haha. The likelihood of more than 1 or 2 questions about this is minimal. Concentrate on larger categories (moisture intrusion, roof systems/structure, drainage, clearance requirements and stuff like that). You can learn all you want about kitchen exhaust later. Relax, many of the questions are common sense so don’t overthink it. Good luck, I’m sure you’ll do great.
Just make sure there is adequate exhaust venting to the exterior from the attic. If not, it can pressurize the attic. Have seen drywall pushed downward. Only cause we could find was the whole house ventilator. Wasn’t enough exhaust. One gable vent was blocked.
Yes, Greg, I saw it blowing out cellulose insulation through the gable and soffit vents before.
You must be referring to kitchen Exhaust ventilation for a stove or a hood . That needs to be done according to manufacture specifications depending on the appliance .
This response was helpful as one of the multiple choice answers was “exhaust into the private attic”
My follow up question for Whole house Fans is: What controls are mandatory for this device? (Manual override, Timer, Service light,
Thank you Larry, I appreciate your input
I could agree more, my first attempt present three questions regarding kitchen ventilation. I’ve done a comprehensive review of all other segments and take my second attempt today. Wish me luck!
This information was very helpful, you’ve helped me check the box in this category.
Thank you Simon, I appreciate you input and engagement throughout the interNACHI forums. I’m sitting for the exam today and look forward to presenting real life cases in the near future. 
I haven’t really encountered this through NACHI, but I do energy audits in MD and the DOE requirements that I have to recommend to all customers is that a kitchen range vent should pull at least 100CFM and be vented to the exterior of the home, absolutely not just into the attic, which I see a lot.
If the kitchen is all electric they seem to worry less about it, but if it’s gas it’s got to be vented and pull at least 100 CFM.
I don’t know if that varies by locality. During a home inspection I just note the presence of lack thereof and note if it is properly vented.
I’m not sure if you know, but there is a “whole-house fan” and then! there is “whole house mechanical ventilation”. The two are not to be confused, while a whole-house fan could be part of the whole house mechanical ventilation, it doesn’t have to be. Having said this, I’m not aware of any required minimum controls for a whole-house fan beyond its manufacturer installation requirements. A whole house mechanical ventilation, however!, must include a control for manual override.
Good luck with the test! the key is to have a relaxed and well rested mind 