New code bans deck barbecues in apartments, condos (bans x-mas trees too)

[Ediacara]

New code bans deck barbecues in apartments, condos

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

People who live in apartments or condos might want to grill their burgers sooner rather than later, because outdoor barbecues will be banned on the decks of many buildings across the state beginning July 1.

Beginning July 1, new building codes prohibit the use of open-flame gas or charcoal barbecues around balconies unless there is a sprinkler overhead. The rules apply to multifamily residential buildings, which are defined as three or more attached units.

The changes come from a new 600-page International Building Code, which merges the country's three regional building codes.

More at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[htuttle]

1. My own city also adopted the International Fire Code last year

So no grilling on the balconies in Madison.

However, since we ARE in Wisconsin, designated 'grilling zones are often provided by landlords somewhere in the backyard. Can't do without brats, dontcha know!

[DiverDave]

3. MMMMMM

Brats!! /Homer Simpson voice

My friend, who is from Sun Prarie, showed me how to fix em.
Boil with a sweet onion then grill.
And DONT USE A FORK!
I have them as much as the wife allows me.
YUM!

[htuttle]

7. You're missing the one secret ingredient

You MUST, absolutely MUST boil them in beer, not water.

Okay, you can use water if you must, but cooking them in beer makes all the difference!

BTW, Beer is a great cooking medium for any of the various European sausage products: Kielbasa, ring bologna, kishka, whatever. It's all better in beer.

[VolcanoJen]

8. What kind of beer is best, htuttle?

Sounds delicious... so you boil 'em in beer, and then grill 'em?

[htuttle]

9. The cheapest kind!

:)

Seriously, I don't think I've ever noticed any difference. My dad used to use PBR, but that's just what he happened to have around.

Yes, I boil them in beer to marinate and cook them partially, then I usually SEAR them on the grill to get a crispy skin. They'll often split open at that point, spilling grease onto the coals and causing spectacular bursts of flame. Note: the odor given off at this point will have the effect of drawing all the scavengers in the neighborhood over. So make plenty for the neighbors, too. :)

At least that's how I do it.

[eyesroll]

4. I lived in an apartment with a balcony 5 years ago in Racine

and we weren't allowed to have grills, either. I'm not sure whether it was a fire code or just their own policy.

But we could grill on the lawn whenever we felt like it. (I think the complex may have had a couple of community grills, too, but I don't remember.)

[Heddi]

2. I don't know what to think of this

1. I live in Seattle, in an apartment building with a deck w/o a sprinkler on the deck (but there are sprinklers throughout my apartment)

2. I use a small gas bbq grill on my deck on nearly a daily basis

3. several other people in my building, with decks, but without sprinklers, use bbq's as well---I do not know if they are gas, electric, or charcoal

I understand the need for fire safety, but at the same time, I don't know why this should be an issue now when it's never been an issue before.

I know I know....not EVERYONE uses their grill only when they can keep a close eye on it (I do not leave my grill unattended, and sit outside next to it when it is in use). Because it's gas, and because it's small, the flames never get any higher than the cooking rack. I know I know....not EVERYONE has a gas grill that's no bigger than a cable-tv box. I know there are morons out there who feel that (despite being told otherwise) they MUST saturate every single coal with 8 gallons of fluid before igniting, or who feel that meat isn't really 'cooked' unless the fire that is cooking the meat is at least 10 feet out of the BBQ.

I wonder why no provision was made that a bbq could be used in those situations that are now banned if a hand-held fire extinguisher was kept nearby (as we have). We also have a fire-extinguisher in the kitchen as well, even though our kitchen also has 2 or 3 ceiling-mounted sprinkler heads.

Enforcement will be a major issue. How do you inforce such a thing effectively? Sniff out all BBQ's in heavily-apartment and condo areas like Capitol Hill and Queen Anne? Encourage neighbors to spy on other neighbors?

The thing I DON'T get is the Christmas Tree thing. Why just a ban on fresh-cut trees? Surely there are MANY People out there who have old, not-so-fire-retardant plastic xmas trees they haul out each Christmas the same that they've done with the same tree for 30 years......

???

[Soopercali]

5. Enforcement will be sporadic...

Because most landlords will only go to the trouble after it's cost them money - higher insurance premiums for violations, etc.

[crossroads]

10. WTF?

Good grief!
:eyes:

[2Design]

12. we have had 4 apartment complex fires in the last month

in this area of virginia because of grilling on the deck and them catching fire....by some mistake/accident/careless/not looking/etc.

[WildClarySage]

6. Just watch...

some idiot is going to think that grilling indoors is the way to get around the ban. So he'll bring the old charcoal master inside and light 'er up.

[dArKeR]

11. 2 pets per household in Santa Clara County, CA. Whose country is this?

I couldn't believe this, just found out.

I watched 20 minutes of teh Libertarians on CSPAN last weekend. I'm a Libertarian now voting for Kerry!