Pittsburgh's commercial building inventory includes structures from every decade of the past century. Many restaurants occupy ground floors of buildings constructed before mechanical codes required engineered ventilation systems. When modern commercial kitchens get installed in these spaces, MUA units must compensate for the building's inherent air leakage and lack of vapor barriers. Winter temperatures that swing from 15 degrees to 45 degrees within 24 hours create thermal stress on outdoor MUA unit components. Heating coils experience repeated expansion and contraction that accelerates fatigue cracking. Damper actuators exposed to freezing rain and road salt corrode faster than units in climate-controlled environments. These conditions make commercial make-up air repair more frequent in Pittsburgh than in milder climates with newer building stock.
Allegheny County's commercial facility operators face regular health department and fire marshal inspections that verify ventilation system compliance. Inspectors check that MUA systems provide adequate replacement air for kitchen exhaust hoods and verify that negative pressure does not compromise fire door operation or create backdrafting at water heaters. Failed inspections trigger re-inspection fees and can force temporary closure until violations are corrected. Apex HVAC Pittsburgh works with facility managers who need documentation that their MUA unit installation meets current code interpretations. Our familiarity with local inspectors' expectations helps clients avoid violations and costly delays. When code requirements change, we notify existing clients about necessary upgrades before inspection issues arise.
