Condo Living

May 14, 2024 Published by South Alberta Chapter - By BFL Canada

Barbecues on Balconies: And What Condo Owners Should Know

From the Spring 2024 issue of the CCI South Alberta CCI Review

Summer is just around the corner! It is now time to go outside and celebrate with friends and family around a barbecue. However, as a condo owner, are you familiar with all the safety rules associated with the use of a barbecue?

What to Keep in Mind

In most cases, having a barbecue on your terrace or balcony is permitted. On the other hand, they can be banned because of the risks related to propane, charcoal, smell and smoke. It is important to carefully read your building by-laws or co-ownership agreement to make sure they are permitted.

Take the time to check with your municipality that there are no restrictions. Precautions should be taken, especially if you’re dealing with limited space. For safety reasons, barbecues must be at a distance of 2ft away from any doors, windows, as well as the building.

Statistics that Speak for Themselves

Risks associated with the use of a barbecue must be taken seriously. Statistics Canada estimates that cooking appliances as well as smoking or open-flame objects were the two main sources of ignition in residential fires; combined, these two categories represent about 60% of the fires. Open-flame appliances alone account for 24% of occurrences: hence the importance of using them with great caution to keep yourself and others safe.

Two components are involved when it comes to the cause of a fire: the source of ignition and what we call the “action or omission.” The source of ignition is usually linked to the equipment, appliance or object that started the fire, like a breach or damage, while the action or omission designates the human component, or the circumstances which caused or contributed to the fire, like forgetting to turn off the appliance, for example.

Tips for a Safe Summer

To prevent an accident, you should clean your barbecue at the beginning of spring and at the end of fall, before storing it for winter. It is also extremely important to make sure that your burner is in good condition.

Whether you use a propane or charcoal barbecue, you must be careful not to place any flammable product near the barbecue. The barbecue should be placed in a wide space where air easily circulates and never leave it unattended, especially in the presence of children or pets. You should always, always keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

7 GOOD HABITS TO HAVE A GREAT AND SAFE BBQ SEASON

1. Never keep your propane gas tanks inside nor store them near a source of heat (charcoal barbecues may not present a risk of explosion, but they may cause a fire or carbon monoxide intoxication).
2. Keep the cover open to avoid gas accumulation when you light the barbecue.
3. Always turn off the gas as soon as you’re done cooking, and stay away from the tank if you smell gas.
4. Never cook with a rusted or damaged tank. In Canada, tanks must be changed or inspected every 10 years.
5. If you suspect a gas leak, fill a spray bottle with a little bit of dish soap, and spray the connections when the gas is on; if you see bubbles, it means there’s a leak.
6. Be careful when transporting the tank from the store to your home. When riding in the car, place it on the floor of the car with valves upward and windows open, instead of in the trunk.
7. Always be careful when using lighter fluid or accelerants. Wait a minute before lighting the barbecue, and make sure to store the bottles away from the barbecue.

BFL Canada