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Work tables, shelves, sinks and counters in one grade and finish, sized to the line.
SUS304 stainless steel · Commercial kitchens
Stainless Steel Kitchen Equipment in Dubai
Stainless steel is the standard material for commercial kitchen equipment because it resists corrosion, wipes clean and does not absorb food or odours. SUS304 is the usual grade, SUS316 suits heavy salt and chlorine exposure, and FIAMMA supplies SUS304 cooking, cooling, washing and custom-fabricated equipment in Dubai.
Almost every kitchen equipment quotation in Dubai says stainless steel. Far fewer say which grade, how thick, how it is welded or what finish it has, and those details decide whether a table is still flat and clean after three years of daily washing. This page covers what to ask and what to look at, in plain terms.
FIAMMA's standard material is SUS304, across cooking, cooling, washing and custom-fabricated lines. Below you will find why stainless suits a kitchen, what 304, 316 and 430 mean, how thick each item should be, what to inspect before you accept delivery, how UAE humidity, salt and cleaning chemicals affect steel, and how to look after it. If you already have a drawing, send it through the contact page. For the grade question on its own, see our SUS304 vs SUS316 guide.
Why do commercial kitchens use stainless steel?
Stainless steel is not the cheapest material for a work table or a shelf, but over a few years it is usually the cheapest to own. Here is what it gives a kitchen:
- Hygiene. The surface is smooth and non-porous. It does not soak up liquids or odours, and it wipes clean. Food codes commonly ask for smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable surfaces in food areas, so confirm the exact wording with the authority.
- Corrosion resistance. Chromium in the steel forms a thin invisible oxide layer that repairs itself when scratched, as long as the surface is kept clean and the grade suits the environment.
- Heat and cold. It tolerates fryer and range heat and freezer cold without cracking, warping or flaking.
- Strength. It carries heavy pots, trays and daily knocks, and handles regular washing and cleaning products.
- Long life. Painted steel chips, laminate swells and aluminium dents. Well-made stainless keeps its shape and finish for years.
SUS304, 316 and 430: what the grades mean
SUS is the Japanese standard's prefix. SUS304 is what is called 304, or AISI 304, in most other places. The grade is the first thing to ask about, because it decides how the steel behaves in your kitchen:
- 304 (SUS304). A general-purpose austenitic grade with roughly 18 % chromium and 8 % nickel. It resists food acids, water and normal cleaning well, and it is the standard grade for kitchen equipment.
- 316 (SUS316). Adds about 2 % molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides such as salt, brine and bleach. It is worth considering near the sea, with heavy salt or seafood use, beside pools, or in harsh wash-down areas. It costs more.
- 430. A ferritic grade with chromium but no nickel. It is cheaper and magnetic. It can be fine for dry appliance panels, but it corrodes sooner in wet, salty or chlorinated conditions, so it is a poor choice for sinks and wet worktops.
- A magnet is not proof. A strong pull suggests 430 or something worse. Both 304 and 316 are only weakly magnetic or not at all, so a magnet cannot tell them apart, and cold-worked 304 can pull slightly. Ask any supplier for a material certificate for the sheet.
How thick should stainless steel be, and which finish?
Two choices shape how the piece looks and wears. The finish is the surface texture. The thickness is the sheet gauge, quoted in millimetres or in gauge numbers: about 1.2 mm is close to 18 gauge and about 1.5 mm is close to 16 gauge. Finishes first:
- No. 4 (satin or brushed). The usual kitchen finish. The grain runs in one direction and hides light scratches. FIAMMA's pick-up counter is listed with a smooth satin-finish top.
- 2B (mill finish). Smoother and a little duller. Common on sinks and drawn parts.
- Mirror or polished. Striking at the front of house and unforgiving, because it shows every fingerprint and scratch.
- Textured or embossed. Hides marks but is harder to clean, so it suits panels more than worktops.
| Item | Typical thickness | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Work table and infill table tops | about 1.2 to 1.5 mm | Stays flat under chopping and heavy pots when it has reinforcement underneath. |
| Pass and pick-up counter tops | about 1.5 mm | Plates, trays and people leaning on it all day. |
| Sinks and wash basins | about 1.0 to 1.5 mm | Formed bowls. Heavier gauges for heavy pot-wash duty. |
| Wall shelves and cabinets | about 1.0 to 1.2 mm | Strength comes from the folds and brackets as much as from the sheet. |
| Hoods and ducting | about 1.0 to 1.2 mm | Heat and weight above the cooking line. FIAMMA's extraction hood is listed at 1.2 mm. |
| Equipment side panels and doors | about 0.8 to 1.0 mm | Often double-skinned for stiffness. |
What to inspect: welds, edges, feet, drains and finish
Two pieces of stainless with the same grade and thickness can be very different products. Check these before you accept delivery, or ask for photos before you order:
| Item | What good looks like | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Welds | Continuous, ground smooth and blended into the finish, with heat tint removed. | Pinholes, gaps, rough beads, rainbow discolouration left on the metal. |
| Edges and corners | Folded or hemmed edges and rounded corners with no burrs. | Raw cut edges, sharp corners, visible burrs. |
| Worktop surface | Flat, even grain, no ripples, with a sound-deadening under-panel. | A hollow drumming sound, waves in the sheet, thin unsupported spans. |
| Feet and legs | Adjustable stainless feet and tubular legs with bracing. FIAMMA's infill table is listed with 40 × 40 mm tube legs and bullet feet adjustable up to 50 mm. | Painted or plated feet, wobble, no levelling. |
| Backsplash and wall joint | A turned-up backsplash (100 mm on FIAMMA's infill table) sealed to the wall. | A gap behind the table where water and food collect. |
| Sinks and drains | A sloped bowl that drains fully and rounded internal corners. | Flat bowls that hold water and sharp internal corners. |
| Fixings and hidden parts | Stainless fasteners and brackets. | Zinc-plated bolts or hidden carbon steel that rust and stain the stainless. |
Does stainless steel rust in UAE kitchens? Humidity, salt and chlorine
It can. Stainless resists corrosion, it does not ignore it. In UAE kitchens, four things do most of the damage:
- Humidity and standing water. Water that sits in joints, under equipment or in badly ventilated dish areas keeps the oxide layer from recovering.
- Salt. Coastal air and salty food leave chlorides on the surface. This is where 316 starts to make sense.
- Chlorine cleaners. Bleach, some descalers and some floor cleaners cause pitting and brown spots if they are left on the metal or not rinsed off.
- Iron contamination. Steel wool, carbon steel brushes and grinding dust from other metalwork leave iron particles. They rust and make the stainless look as if it is rusting. Poorly cleaned weld heat tint does the same.
How to clean and care for stainless steel kitchen equipment: do's and don'ts
Daily care costs almost nothing and does more for the life of the equipment than the choice of grade.
- Do wipe along the grain with a soft cloth, warm water and mild detergent.
- Do rinse and dry the surface, especially after bleach, salty or acidic spills such as lemon, vinegar and tomato.
- Do use non-scratching pads, and clean under, behind and around the feet where water collects.
- Do keep the dish and wash areas ventilated so surfaces dry.
- Don't use steel wool or carbon steel brushes. Use plastic or stainless pads.
- Don't leave bleach or chlorine products on the surface or let them dry on it.
- Don't use hydrochloric acid based cleaners on stainless steel.
- Don't leave wet cloths, cans or pans standing on it, and don't drag pots across the top.
Which FIAMMA equipment is SUS304?
SUS304 is the standard across the range, with a few exceptions that we say plainly. This is what each product page lists:
| Line | Equipment | Stainless detail listed |
|---|---|---|
| Custom fabrication | Infill work table | SUS304, 1.2 mm, 40 × 40 mm tube legs, adjustable bullet feet, 100 mm backsplash, sound-deadening under-panel. |
| Custom fabrication | Pick-up counter | SUS304 with a 1.5 mm top, smooth satin finish, steel channel reinforcement. |
| Custom fabrication | Wall-mounted shelf and sliding-door wall cabinet | SUS304. Shelf at 1.2 mm with folded safe edges. Cabinet with double-skinned sliding doors. |
| Extraction | Kitchen extraction hood | SUS304, 1.2 mm, removable baffle filters, welded drip channel. |
| Cooking | Combi oven, double-well fryer and gas cooking range | SUS304 listed. The combi oven is SUS304 inside and out, and the range has a SUS304 frame. |
| Cooling | Upright freezer, meat chiller and pastry display chiller | SUS304 listed. The freezer is SUS304 inside and out. |
| Washing | Pedal-operator sink, hood-type dishwasher and grease trap interceptor | SUS304 listed. The sink is 1.2 mm with a 150 mm backsplash. |
| Preparation | Food processor, precision meat slicer | Mixed materials. The food processor has a SUS304 bowl with anodised aluminium. The slicer body is anodised aluminium alloy, not stainless. |
When does custom stainless steel fabrication help?
Standard catalogue sizes waste space in an odd-shaped kitchen. Custom fabrication helps most where equipment has to fill a gap, follow a wall or match a line: infill tables between heavy appliances, pick-up counters, wall shelving cut to the wall length, sink units, and kitchen hoods that run the full length of the cooking line, from 1.2 m to 6 m and more. FIAMMA's custom-fabricated lines are made to your drawing, in SUS304, so a whole kitchen matches. See our pages on custom kitchen fabrication and commercial kitchen cabinets.
A typical custom order runs like this:
- Send the layout and equipment schedule. A PDF or CAD drawing is ideal, and a hand sketch with dimensions works for small jobs.
- Confirm grade, thickness and finish for each item, using the checklist above.
- Approve the drawing. Check dimensions, cut-outs, backsplash and the position of services.
- Fabrication. The items are made to the approved drawing.
- Delivery and installation. Level the units, seal them to the wall and check clearances.
- Handover. The kitchen team gets the care routine in this page's do's and don'ts.
Where it is used
Hotel and banquet kitchens
Long runs of tables and counters that have to survive daily wash-down and constant traffic.
Bakeries and patisseries
Flat, easy-clean tops for dough and pastry work, with shelving above.
Cloud and dark kitchens
Compact stations where every centimetre counts, so equipment is made to the exact gap.
Butcheries and food production
Wet, salty and heavily washed areas, where the grade and the welds matter most and 316 is worth discussing.
Coastal and beach-side kitchens
Salt air attacks the oxide layer, so grade, finish and a rinsing routine all count.
Benefits
SUS304 as the standard
The product lines are listed in SUS304, so the kitchen matches from the cooking line to the sink.
Thickness stated where it is listed
Product pages state sheet thickness, for example 1.2 mm on the infill table and extraction hood and a 1.5 mm pick-up counter top.
Details you can check
Folded edges, welded corners, adjustable feet and backsplashes are listed on the product pages, so you can inspect them on delivery.
Made to your drawing
Custom-fabricated tables, counters, shelves and hoods follow your layout, not a catalogue size.
Straight advice on grades
We tell you when 304 is enough and when to discuss 316, instead of upselling either.
Related products
Equipment from the FIAMMA range that goes with this page.
Stainless Steel Infill Work Table
Custom manufactured stainless steel infill work table. Ideal for filling gaps between heavy cooking appliances or creating dedicated prep stations. Constructed from premium heavy-gauge SUS304 stainless steel with sound-deadening under-panel reinforcement, adjustable bullet feet, and a rear backsplash to keep walls clean.
Custom Fabricated EquipmentView details →
Stainless Steel Pick-up Counter
Custom-made pass-through pickup counter for food presentation and plating. Engineered with a smooth satin-finish top, heavy-duty structural frame, and integrated overhead pass shelf options. Easily integrates hot cupboards, neutral storage, or drawer units below.
Custom Fabricated EquipmentView details →
Stainless Steel Wall Mounted Shelf
High-strength wall mounted shelving units for commercial kitchens, pantries, and dishwashing areas. Designed to maximize overhead storage. Heavy-duty brackets ensure a stable hold under heavy kitchen loads. Smooth rounded corners prevent safety hazards.
Custom Fabricated EquipmentView details →
Wall Cabinet with Sliding Doors
Enclosed wall-mounted storage cabinet featuring smooth-sliding double doors. Ideal for keeping spices, chinaware, and small prep tools protected from dust and airborne oils. Built with an internal adjustable shelf and secure wall mounting rails.
Custom Fabricated EquipmentView details →
Stainless Steel Kitchen Extraction Hood with Water Mist Suppression
Heavy-duty SUS304 stainless steel extraction canopy engineered for high-heat commercial cooking lines. Integrated baffle grease filters, welded drip channels, and an optional built-in water mist fire suppression manifold contain grease-laden vapor and suppress flare-ups at the source, keeping kitchens compliant with UAE Civil Defence fire-safety codes.
Custom Fabricated EquipmentView details →
Hands-Free Pedal Operator Sink
Hygienic hands-free wash basin with integrated foot pedal operation. Specifically designed to meet HACCP food safety standards in prep areas, kitchens, and toilets. Comes complete with a stainless steel gooseneck faucet, soap dispenser mount, and rear splashback.
Washing Equipment and Sink UnitView details →
Frequently asked questions
What does SUS304 mean?
SUS304 is the Japanese-standard name for the stainless steel grade known elsewhere as 304 or AISI 304. It is a general-purpose grade with roughly 18 % chromium and 8 % nickel, and the standard choice for commercial kitchen equipment.
Is 304 or 316 stainless steel better for a kitchen?
304 is the standard for most kitchens and resists food acids and normal cleaning well. 316 adds molybdenum and handles salt and chlorine better, so it is worth discussing near the sea, with heavy salt or seafood, or beside pools. It costs more.
Is 430 stainless steel acceptable in a commercial kitchen?
For dry appliance panels it can be fine. It has no nickel and corrodes sooner than 304 in wet, salty or chlorinated conditions, so we would not choose it for sinks, wet worktops or washing areas.
How can I tell whether stainless steel is really 304?
A magnet cannot tell you. A strong pull suggests 430, but 304 and 316 behave much the same with a magnet. Ask any supplier for a material certificate for the sheet used.
What thickness should a stainless steel work table be?
About 1.2 to 1.5 mm is typical for tops, with reinforcement underneath. FIAMMA's infill table is listed at 1.2 mm SUS304, and its pick-up counter has a 1.5 mm top. Reinforcement matters as much as gauge.
Why does my stainless steel have rust spots?
Usually contamination or chlorides. Steel wool, carbon steel brushes, grinding dust, bleach or salt left on the surface are the common causes. Clean early with a suitable stainless cleaner. Deep pitting means the metal has been damaged.
Can I use bleach to clean stainless steel?
Avoid leaving it on the surface. Chlorine causes pitting and brown spots. If you must use it, rinse it off thoroughly and dry the surface, and clean daily with warm water and mild detergent instead.
Which finish is best for a commercial kitchen?
No. 4 satin, also called brushed, is the usual choice. It hides light scratches and cleans easily if you wipe along the grain. Mirror finishes show every mark and are better kept for front of house.
Is all FIAMMA equipment SUS304?
SUS304 is the standard across the range, but not every part of every product is stainless. For example, the precision meat slicer has an anodised aluminium alloy body, and the food processor combines a SUS304 bowl with anodised aluminium. Each product page lists the material.
Can you fabricate stainless steel to my size, and what do you need from me?
Yes. Our custom-fabricated lines are made to your drawing. Send the layout, the equipment schedule and your dimensions through the contact page or on WhatsApp. We supply across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.
Related guides and solutions
Need stainless steel equipment made to your kitchen?
Send your layout and equipment list. We will confirm grade, thickness and finish for each item and come back with a drawing and a quotation.
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