
2 | P a g e R e v i s i o n 1 . 1
S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 1
1. IS YOUR ALFRESCO CONSIDERED TO BE ENCLOSED OR OUTDOORS?
GUIDELINES FOR INDOOR GAS OVEN INSTALLATIONS
WARNING: Wood Fired Pizza Ovens must not be installed underneath an exhaust canopy.
They must be separately flued according to Indoor Wood Heater regulations.
Is your alfresco area is deemed to be more than 50 % enclosed and are you considering installing a gas fired
pizza oven? You may need to install an exhaust hood to comply with the local gas laws in your state.
Each state of Australia has its own governing agency that oversees gas safety. For example, Victoria’s
governing agency is Energy Safety Victoria (ESV). They set legal standards related to the use of gas appliances
indoors, outdoors and in semi-enclosed spaces such as alfresco areas. These legal standards must be adhered
to in your relevant state of Australia before connecting and using a gas pizza oven or barbeque. Using gas
appliances in an enclosed space can be deadly if the gas appliances are not designed and approved for indoor
use. It is vital that you understand if your Alfresco area is classified as enclosed (indoor) or outdoors.
One significant change which now is in place for Homeowners, Builders, Landscapers and Plumbers is that a
gas pizza oven or barbecue installation needs to be approved for indoor use and installed with an interlock to
the gas supply so that the installed extraction system must be in operation before gas will flow to the
appliance. If you purchased your pizza oven from Fornieri – Wood Fired Ovens in Australia, we have the
correct certification on our gas pizza ovens, and you must comply with these instructions and AS/NZS 5601.
As a guide, Energy Safety VICTORIA’s requirements for enclosed/indoor alfresco areas are as follows:
Pizza Ovens and BBQ’s must have flame failure devices fitted to every burner and be
approved/certified for indoor use (Please be aware that not all appliances with a flame failure device
are approved/certified for indoor use),
Pizza Ovens and BBQ’s must have a commercial grade exhaust hood that moves a minimum of 2000
cubic metres of air per hour, and this requires the appliance to have an interlock installed, so that the
extraction fan is operating before gas will flow to the appliance.
Pizza Ovens and BBQ’s must be installed on a non-combustible surface.
Your alfresco is NOT considered enclosed and classified as OUTDOOR when in an above ground open-air
situation with natural ventilation, without stagnant areas, where gas leakage and products of combustion
are rapidly dispersed by wind and natural convection, and:
The area has walls on all sides but at least one permanent opening at ground level and no overhead
cover,
The area has a partial enclosure that includes an overhead cover and no more than two walls,
The area is partially enclosed including an overhead cover and three or more walls with at least 25%
of the total wall area completely open AND at least 30% of the remaining wall area is open and
unrestricted, or
Balconies must have at least 20% of the total wall area open and unrestricted.
If your alfresco area has been classified as ENCLOSED, you must have a suitable exhaust hood fitted above
your Pizza Oven/BBQ that shifts a minimum of 2000 cubic metres of air per hour with a gas interlock
arrangement. Before using your pizza oven, contact your electrician and/or plumber/gasfitter for further
instructions and installation requirements.
Refer to the Figure 1. ‘NATURAL VENTILATION REQUIREMENTS’ to determine if your alfresco area is classified
as outdoor or enclosed (indoor).
Refer to Figure 2. for a typical interlock arrangement.