The Australian Standard (AS/NZS 4386.2: Domestic kitchen assemblies - installation) sets out various specifications for oven and stove installations.

These include minimum clearances between cooktop burners and 'combustible surfaces', and ventilation requirements for built-in ovens.

Some appliances may require greater clearances or ventilation spaces if they have an unusually high heat output or physical size.

These will be specified in the manufacturer's installation instructions.

In practice, you shouldn't have to worry too much about the specifications when you're carrying out the on-site installation, because they will have already been built into the design of the kitchen.

So the dimensions of the prefabricated cabinets should take these clearances into account.

One requirement that applies to every built-in appliance is that the power connection must not be located directly behind it, and preferably should be in an adjacent cabinet.

Most electric ovens and stoves are wired directly into the house mains power system, so the final connection will have to be done by a licensed electrician.

If the appliance runs on gas, the connection must be done by a licensed gas fitter.

Freestanding cookers

Freestanding cookers typically have a stove on top and oven underneath. For gas burners, there is a requirement that if any burner is less than 200 mm from a combustible horizontal surface, such as a bench top, the cooktop hob must be at least 10 mm above that surface.

Built-in ovens

Built-in ovens can be installed under a bench top or in a full height wall unit. The manufacturer's instructions will specify the amount of ventilation required for each model, including minimum space allowances at the sides and rear of the unit. It may also include cut-outs in the base of the cabinet and venting space above. See the Just for fun exercise in this section for more details on these clearances.

Hobs

There are various design issues that need to be considered for cooktop hobs. Firstly, the minimum space allowed between the cooktop elements or gas burners and combustible materials directly overhead is 600 mm.

Secondly, there must be at least 50 mm clearance from the back edge of the cooktop to a non-combustible wall surface or splashback.

Thirdly, there must be at least 300 mm horizontal clearance from the outside edge of an electric element or gas burner to a combustible surface on the side of a cooktop. Combustible surfaces include adjoining cabinets faced with melamine or plastic laminate.

The cooktop hob is set into a hole cut into the bench top.

If the bench top substrate is made of particleboard, MDF or timber, the exposed edge should be re-sealed to protect it from moisture.

There'll also be a rubber seal supplied with the cooktop that will provide a waterproof seal between the cooktop and bench top.

Note that silicone should not be used, because you need to be able to remove the cooktop easily if it ever needs to be serviced.

Rangehoods and extractors

Rangehoods are covers and extraction systems mounted over a cooktop. They're designed to either recirculate air back into the room or provide an exhaust duct to the outside.

Below are the main designs available.

Slimline rangehoods are fitted under the wall cabinet immediately above the cooktop.

Some have a visor at the front to deflect the fumes back into the unit.

Slideout rangehoods are built into the wall cabinet to enable the doors to close over the front.

When the glass shelf is pulled out it automatically starts the extraction fans.

Swingout or 'hide-a-hood' rangehoods also fit inside a cabinet.

When the cabinet door is pulled up the rangehood starts to operate.

Undercupboard rangehoods can be enclosed on all vertical sides and either mounted to the wall or suspended from the ceiling.

Canopy rangehoods are made of stainless steel and mounted to the wall.

They must be ducted to the outside of the building.

Island rangehoods are like canopy rangehoods but are suspended from the ceiling over the cooktop.

They also need to be ducted to the outside.