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N O V E M B E R , 2 0 1 6
O
N
E
DO
THING
BETTER
160
8,900
homefires /year
10
deaths /year
80
%
of US households own a gril
l
injuries /year
According to the “Home Grill Fires Re-
port ” published by the National Fire Pro-
tection Association (NFPA) and the 2014
State of the Barbecue Industry Report
published by the Hearth, Patio &
Barbecue Association.
$118
MIL
property damage
per year
These dangers are the driving force behind the regulations governing the storage and use of grills in
multi-family residential communities, where the assumed risk of an accident can directly affect
neighbors and common property.
The Dangers of Grills In a Community Association
By: Nicholas Ginther, DW Smith Associates
•
Relatively inexpensive
•
Occupies little space, attrac-
tive for owners who have
limited space
•
41% of grill-owning house-
holds choose charcoal
•
Should not be used in tight
spaces close to buildings or
furniture
•
Difficult to ignite
•
Often needs to be started
with lighter fluid. Lighter
fluid should only be applied
and allowed to soak into the
coals before the grill is lit
•
Coals burn long after meal
ends, requires extinguishing
•
Responsible for 1 out of 6
grill related fires
•
IFC prohibits storage and
use within 5 feet of combus-
tible construction or on any
combustible deck or balcony
without fire protection
•
Coals must be properly
disposed of; doused with
water prior to placement in
a non-flammable container,
and kept a minimum of 10
feet from buildings
•
T
ailored to the busy schedule
and on-demand society
•
Offers push button ignition,
controllable temperature and
immediate extinguishing
•
61% of grill-owning house-
holds choose propane or
natural gas.
•
Responsible for 5 out of 6
grill related fires annually
•
Propane fuel is stored in
metal tanks under high
pressure
•
Should be inspected regu-
larly for valve leaks and tank
corrosion
•
A small split in the connector
hose, rust hole in the grease
pan or blockage in the
burner tube can cause fuel
to leak and ignite outside of
the grill chamber
•
IFC prohibits the storage or
use of propane grills or fuel
tanks on any deck, balcony,
in any portion of a building
or under any overhang, with-
in 5 feet from any combus-
tible exterior wall or within
5 feet of an opening in any
wall such as a door, window
or vent
CHARCOAL PROPANE NATURAL GAS ELECTRIC
•
Are equipped and function
similarly to propane fueled
grills
•
Can be equipped with many
of the same modern conve-
niences as other grill types,
but trade mobility of the unit
for the flexibility to be used
in tight spaces
•
The International Residen-
tial Code NJ Edition (IRC),
requires a 30” vertical
clearance from the surface of
the gas grill to any overhang-
ing combustible material or
structure, but does not other-
wise restrict their use on an
outdoor deck, balcony or
roof, or under an overhang
•
Must be properly installed by
a licensed master plumber
with an anchored gas supply
pipe and equipped with an
accessible shutoff valve
•
Tethered to supply by a max.
6 foot long connector hose
that provides fuel to the
regulator
•
All natural gas grills to be
utilized outdoors should be
listed as such by the man-
ufacturer or be otherwise
protected from the elements
•
10% of grill-owning house-
holds have an electric grill or
smoker, a number that may
be much higher in Associa-
tion conditions due in part to
the lighter use and location
restrictions imposed by the
IRC and NFPA for these
appliances
•
Must be connected to a
suitably grounded outlet,
and if the supply is located
outdoors, an outlet equipped
with a GFI is recommended
•
As they potentially draw a lot
of current, it is not recom-
mended that they be used
on the same circuit as other
high draw appliances or fed
by extension cords that are
unrated for the rated current
•
The NFPA recommends a
safety separation of 10 feet
from any combustible ma-
terials, but the IRC does not
restrict their use like open-
flame grills
•
Remember, to keep all exten-
sion cords out of pathways,
and if an electrical fed fire
occurs; turn off the supply
and extinguish using sand or
a Class C Fire Extinguisher,
never use water