Guide for creating an exceptional outdoor kitchen and barbecue setup
An enclosed outdoor kitchen can be a fantastic addition to any Australian home, offering a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living spaces. However, building one requires careful consideration and adherence to specific guidelines to ensure safety, durability, and legal compliance.
Ventilation and Materials
Proper ventilation is crucial for an enclosed outdoor kitchen. This often means installing vents or exhaust rangehoods compliant with Australian Standards to prevent the buildup of dangerous fumes. For structures and surfaces, durable, weather-resistant materials such as fiber cement board, brick, non-porous stone, concrete, stainless steel, hardwood, or marine-grade timber are recommended.
Flooring and Electrical Installations
Slip-resistant flooring materials rated P4 or higher according to Australian Standards are essential for safety around cooking and wet areas. Options include textured porcelain tiles, sealed concrete, or certain natural stones like granite. Electrical installations, such as outlets for appliances, must use outdoor-rated outlet boxes and be installed safely to withstand weather exposure.
Local Council Approvals
Compliance with local council or shire approvals and regulations is also essential. For example, adding patios or alfresco structures often requires approval, and each local government may have specific requirements.
Additional Considerations
Additional considerations include the use of non-fixed benches and tables for flexibility, installation of shade structures for weather protection, and inclusion of water taps (hot and cold). If your outdoor kitchen is fully or partially enclosed, installing a rangehood or exhaust fan meeting Australian Standards is essential to ensure smoke and fumes are properly extracted.
Design and Layout
The location, design, and layout of an outdoor kitchen can greatly influence its functionality. For instance, an L-shaped layout can include a barbecue or grill plate, fridge, storage, and bench stools, while a galley-style kitchen can have all cooking appliances on one side and a separate island bench for cabinetry, sink, or other amenities.
Safety and Maintenance
It is essential to consult local council regulations before building an outdoor kitchen. Adequate lighting is crucial for outdoor cooking, especially for food preparation and telling when food is cooked. All electrical, gas, and water fittings for an outdoor kitchen must be installed by a licensed electrician or plumber. Built-in cabinetry can store outdoor accessories and help keep rodents and pests away.
DIY Considerations
For those going down the DIY route, appliance installation should be left to the professionals. Outdoor kitchens require consideration of factors such as temperature, rain, moisture, and sun damage. The design principles applicable to an indoor kitchen should be considered for an outdoor kitchen. Adding a sink and tap to an outdoor kitchen can help keep most of the mess outside.
Gas Connections
If you want to connect a barbeque to your home’s gas supply, a professional plumber is required. The cooktop will have to have an interlock mechanism that ensures the extraction fan automatically turns on when the BBQ is being used.
In summary, compliance involves ventilation and/or exhaust rangehood (per Australian Standards), outdoor-rated materials resistant to weather, slip-resistant flooring (P4 or higher rating), local government approvals for patio or enclosed structures, safe electrical installations with outdoor outlet boxes, and adequate lighting. These requirements help ensure safety, durability, and legal compliance for enclosed outdoor kitchens in Australia. For precise rules, checking with your local council and referring to the National Construction Code as it applies to outdoor and semi-enclosed structures is recommended.
An enclosed outdoor kitchen, designed for Australian lifestyles, incorporates home-and-garden elements such as durable, weather-resistant materials for structures and surfaces, as well as slip-resistant flooring materials rated P4 or higher for safety. Building an outdoor kitchen also necessitates compliance with local council approvals and regulations, including those relating to patio or enclosed structures.
