StandardRecommended
Cooking surface clearance (above)
NKBA Kitchen 18Description
Above the cooking surface: 24" minimum to non-combustible material, 30" minimum to combustible material (cabinets), 24"-30" optimal range hood clearance.
Why this exists
Cooking releases steam, grease, and heat; clearance prevents both fire and condensation damage.
Measurements
| Property | Operator | Value | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
nonCombustibleMin | min | 24 | in | |
combustibleMin | min | 30 | in |
Categories
Kitchen
Applies to
- Room types: kitchen
Source
NKBAno manifest entry
Kitchen Planning Guidelines (2024)
Section: Guideline 18
Published 2024-01-01 · last verified 2026-05-09
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Kitchen walkway and work-aisle widths · NKBA Kitchen 6
- Doorway clear width · NKBA Kitchen 1
- Door swing into work zones · NKBA Kitchen 2
- Distance between work zones · NKBA Kitchen 3
- Traffic through the work triangle · NKBA Kitchen 4
Last reviewed 2026-05-09.