Summerset Grills 12-Inch X 6-Inch Stainless Steel Masonry Mount Island Vent Panel

An outdoor kitchen structure is no different from any other environment or structure that handles gas equipment. It simply needs to be ventilated because, without proper airflow, trapped gases can cause an explosion that can oftentimes result in terrible injuries or even death. Over the past few years, BBQGrills.com and other retailers of BBQ Islands and Outdoor Kitchens have noticed an alarming trend in safety-related accidents stemming from improperly constructed bbq islands. In each case, these accidents could have been prevented with simple venting. By nature, propane gas is heavier than oxygen, making it more susceptible to collecting in places without airflow. Natural Gas, although lighter than oxygen, can also build up. These types of gases can and will collect in confined areas, making it imperative that an outdoor kitchen be vented correctly to allow these gasses to escape. Unfortunately, there are currently no specific codes that reference venting when building an outdoor kitchen. The nightmare scenario is created when you combine a BBQ that has been neglected, a collection of excess debris, grease, and carbonized food particles with an outdoor kitchen structure that has not been vented. If the debris catches fire and gas has collected under the BBQ, then you can imagine the disastrous scenarios that could possibly play out. Many contractors are simply unaware of the need to vent outdoor bbq kitchens. Many brands across our industry felt that there was a need to do something to prevent these types of accidents and try to lower the number of accidents related to non-vented outdoor kitchens. That is when the venting panel was introduced as part of our extended product lineup.