Carrie,

Are you sure?? Who told you this? Ask for the code and section. Then look it up at the link below. I just got done doing a kitchen in NJ and was not required to provide make up air. I also looked at the mechanical code and did not see it required. NJ has a uniform code meaning it is the same no matter where you are located in NJ.

Tom

Here is a link that might be useful: link to nj codes

oops I looked again and it IS required section m1503.4 of the 2009 residential code

OMG. I just ordered a capital precision and a 700 cfm hood. Im NOT paying for a make up air system. I asked my contractor if a makeup air system was required and he said no. How strict are they being with this? This is a 2009 code - and Ive never heard of anyone being required to install a make up air system in NJ. Id rather get a regular old stove than deal with another expense. Ugh. When would this be discovered by the town? I guess on final inspection??

From the link noted below, note grace period, so it depends when your project started.

International Residential Code -NJ ed., 2009
Adoption Date:Sept-07-2010

Grace Period

For a period of six months following the operative date of a subcode revision, applicants may submit a complete permit application, including all prior approvals, to be reviewed under the code in force immediately preceeding the subcode revision. Provided that the application is complete, the construction official and applicable subcode officials shall perform the plan review and issue construction permit(s) based on the code in force immediately prior to the operative date of the subcode revision. This grace period shall apply only to revisions of subcodes.

Here is a link that might be useful: NJ Codes

Any idea of the cost of a makeup air system???

The expensive make-up air systems are self-contained motorized fans. Instead, we are installing a motorized damper on a current sensing relay switch - much cheaper. We bought a Broan MD6T motorized damper, special order through Lowe's, about $115.00. The current sensing relay switch was about $20.00 from an electrical supply house.

Note: we are not in NJ, so I don't know if what we are doing will meet NJ code.

Sorry, haven't been on the computer for most of the day. The codes referenced are IRC m1503.4 and IRC m1507.3. These took effect Sept. 2010. The first estimate for a makeup air system was almost 10K. We think that we can do something for a lot less using a damper system somewhat like dekeoboe was talking about. As it is nailed down, I will post what we are doing. From what I understand, if you were permitted in September of last year or earlier you are not part of this. Our permits are from May of this year so we are stuck in this new mess. We have an engineer in the architect office working with the township fire inspector.

As far as when your town would discover it, ours is notorious for following the letter of the code as well as just being persnickity. (a nice way of saying something else.) I will keep you all posted of our progress this week as we solve this without spending 10K!

If a municipality is a stickler about MUA, then it is most likely that a heat exchanger/ERV would be required to be a component of the system. A home engineered system won't work unless you have an expert HVAC person being creative. That's assuming an inspector feels like being generous. Anything less that a component designed UL listed MUA might not pass inspection with some locations. It will all depend on your inspector.

this is insanty. I'll just exchange my hood for a 400 cfm and hope for the best.

The ventilation needs to match the cooking product used, and the home that both are used in. It's a hand in glove decision, and one cannot be divorced from the other. Inadequate ventilation is just as bad as having strong ventilation with no makeup air. Yes, it may require more engineering to do all of this properly. The price has to be paid if you want restaurant quality results at home. Luxury costs. You pay the costs to be the boss. :) Or don't. You can always choose a regular consumer grade range that a 400 CFM hood will be adequate for.

I'm on the other coast, but MUA is also required here for 400cfms and above. (My understanding is that most locales have this requirement as a default now unless they decide to override it with something more stringent.) I had my former GC check with the city when I knew I'd be getting more cfms. I certainly didn't want to have to put in a $$ MUA system! Our city has never enforced this rule. Ever. My GC routinely put in hoods well over limit and has never been asked for MUA. I'm gambling that I won't either. I'm not a gambler by nature, although I feel confident about this one.

I guess it depends on how strict your municipality is. I'd ask around to see if you can find out what's usually done in your area. Also, do some research on the Appliances forum. I've seen a couple people use MUA systems that aren't major money.

Any kitchen range hood pulling more than 400 CFM from a space must have makeup air brought back into the space simutaneously equal to what's being pulled out of space or it will create a negative pressure and it will pull flue gases from your gas fired or oil fired appliances back into the house.