When building a braai under a roof or in an enclosed area it is advisable to install a canopy or build a chimney for smoke extraction.

It is an integral part of a smoke- free braai- area. There are a variety of fans available on the market but we strongly recommend a fan with a minimum fan blade of 350 mm. For a Multibraai Nr 1½ a 300 mm fan can be effective, except if you are prone to smoke irritation. An extractor fan must be assembled in the outer part of the flue pipes for maximum effectiveness and accessibility. Certain fans can be fitted with a speed control. All of the above fans are single phase and must be connected by an electrician and the wiring extended to a plug / switch close to your braai area. A charcoal braai is normally designed with a chimney to extract smoke. A heat resistant fan is also available for more effective smoke extraction.

As the normal canopies are equipped with filters to absorb fat, it is advisable to fit a filter frame into a build chimney with removable filters. (For use of a gas braai) These filters must be cleaned on a regular basis ( as soon as you notice fat particles forming on the underside of the filter) and the easiest way to clean these filters is to remove them and have them steam cleaned at your nearest service station.

Canopies can have either a back or top exit - the back exit being cheaper and neater to fit with a flush backing that can be rawl bolted onto a wall. When choosing the option of a back exit we normally suggest to finish the pipe off with a plastic louvre mounted in a stainless steel housing that fits over the 370 dia pipe and bolted onto the wall. Canopies suspended from the ceiling must be ordered that way, that the canopy can be manufactured with 4 sloping sides.

The flue pipes diameter is a standard of 370 mm and must be properly sealed when using the top exit. Flashings for flat roofs and thatch roofs can be manufactured to the clients instructions and degrees required.

Cowls

The top pipe of a canopy must have some sort of deflector/cowl to protect the fan from rain. A rotating cowl is the most commonly used cowl. Deflector cowls ( Chinese hat type ), ½ round cowls or ventilator cowls are also available and can be manufactured in galvanized steel painted black or stainless steel.

A canopy is normally fitted at a height of 1800mm from the ground give or take 100mm to each side. The braai should be fitted at 900mm from the ground but can also vary depending on the height of the person doing the work.

Lighting is important when braaing at night and you should consider the option of fitting swivellights in your canopy.

Building a chimney

When fitting a gasbraai and extending the side walls to form a chimney keep the following in mind.
A filterframe ( manufactured to size ) can be fitted at a height of 1800mm from the floor. If we have the inside and outside dimensions of the chimney ( a minimum inside diameter of 400 x 400mm is recommended ) we can manufacture a baseplate with a short pipe for the extractor fan. This baseplate drops in from above and is finished off with a rotating cowl. The filterframe can also be fitted with downlighters.

An impervious or sealed floor is by far the best option, but be careful, there is always some spattering of fat which may make the floor slippery and dangerous. If you plan a conventional fire-braai, use a harder floor-type tile which should be fixed with fireclay to ensure that the heat does not loosen the tiles.

Tiled side tables approximately 600mm wide with cupboards and doors to house excess equipment are very useful. These tables or slabs can also be granite. A small preparation bowl with running water fitted next to your braai is also very useful if your kitchen is far from your entertainment area. Also consider space if you want to place hot trays and warming plates close to this area. Tiled areas behind your braai is by far the best option due to the fact that you will always have fat spattering and is easiest to clean glazed tiles. You might consider fitting a heavy duty waste bin since there is always excess waste when entertaining. An example is a product called EZ Waste and offers excellent product features. (www.ezwaste.co.za)

The best place is behind the braai - outside the braai area. A good tip is to make use of the largest possible size gas bottle to save unnecessary refilling. A Cadac-to-bull nose adaptor is also handy in an emergency as you will be able to link up to smaller bottles. Gas pipe connections are normally placed on the right back of manufactured unit, but can be placed in another position should you have a space problem on the right. Please order accordingly.

Gas bottle sizes to allow for space next to or behind the braai are the following:

Your Multibraai can also be adapted to operate from Natural gas - and it is wise to order the product accordingly, as jet sizes differ.
A permanent gas line can also be considered but must be installed by a qualified gas installer from the Liquid Petroleum Gas Safety Association. A list can be obtained from 011 –886 9702 or you contact Multibraai for recommendations.