Proper ventilation is key when constructing an island or installing a grill (or any other appliance) into an existing island. Without proper venting, grills can overheat and explode, components can melt, and electrical fires can start. Heat needs to have a point of release while any appliance is in use, and vents/louvers on the side of the barbecue must remain unobstructed in order for the proper release of combustion.
Modern grills are more efficient and heat up much faster than older grills due to their ability to take in and put out more gas, but run the risk of gas being allowed to escape from various connection points. Therefore, ventilation is required for all islands so that any possible gas leak has a place to escape into the air safely.
The option of utilizing louvered doors (doors with vents in them) on an island is acceptable, however we highly recommend in addition to these vented doors that standalone vents be installed.
See the graphic below for proper ventilation points on a standard island. Your installation may be slightly different, and to be safe it is always recommended to have more ventilation points than you think you really need.
Click the photo to open up a printable pdf file