Posted on 06/03/2004 1:14:24 PM PDT by microgood
UNDATED - 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.
Washington state's Legislature approved adoption of the new rules last year after the State Building Code Council recommended it. The council provides independent analysis and advice to the Legislature and the governor on state building code issues.
Glenn Peterson, who lives in a 20-year-old Kirkland condo with a water view, was surprised to hear of the pending barbecue bans. His unit has no sprinkler over the deck.
"I hadn't heard that one," Peterson said. "Well, I don't like that and I know my neighbors won't either."
The nationally mandated rules are considered the bare minimum. The only choice cities have is to be more strict.
"Everybody in the state is in the same boat," said Steve Nuttall, Bellevue fire marshal and member of the state Building Code Council. "The ability to enforce it, at the very least, will be very difficult."
Supporters of the new code say the dangers of open-flame barbecues on balconies and decks shouldn't be overlooked. Electric barbecues could still be used, under the regulations.
"Barbecues were never intended to be used in an open exterior deck with a deck above it and open flame. They certainly endanger the residents of a building," said Ken Carlson, Kirkland building official and fire marshal.
State officials may still revisit the ban, as well as another regulation buried in the code: a ban on cut Christmas trees in apartments, meeting halls, stores, jails, schools, hospitals, day cares, and churches.
Like the barbecue ban, the Christmas tree rule applies if there is no overhead sprinkler.
"I think it's going to be a tough pill to swallow in this neck of the woods," Carlson said. "It's a way of life and in this area there's not a documented history of problems."
Terry Poe of Yakima, a member of the Building Code Council and owner of a heating and cooling business, said council members will discuss amending the regulation at their June 11 meeting in Spokane.
"We can modify it," he said. "You've got to be able to have Christmas trees in churches."
However, city councils that want to make such changes would have to follow a lengthy rule-making process, according to Krista Braaksma, a codes specialist in Yakima.
I would really like to know how many fires were started from barbecues on decks....
None, Barbecue is not a grill.
I say go get a garden hose and attach it to your deck overhead and put a yard sprinkler on the end. LOL.
BBQ is both a noun and a verb. Deal with it.
Most landlords put this in their leases 20 or more years ago in most parts of the country. There must be a dearth of good transactional lawyers in Wash. state.
Glad I don't live in one of those things. We call apartments and condos worker barracks, controlled by socialist homeowner association types.
It does happen from time to time. Very rare though.
Actually, you would be surprised at the bimbos who do this in high rise apartments.
While we're at it, let's also impose a ban on mothers and apple pies.
It is common in this area for a real estate investor / builder to put up triplexes and quadplexes. Same thing as a duplex but with 3 or 4 units. They are attached side by side, not above and below. By reading this, it seems residents of said properties would be banned from using a grill on their deck/porch. But the guy next door in a duplex would be free to do so.
This is a BS law and should be fought.
Same with the Christmas tree bull.
Are big green eggs allowed?
The other 81 were mostly about why you can't use your barbeque on your apartment balcony.
Now how long have we had the internet? Since 1995, more or less, and ONE FIRE!
I get 1,720 hits when I look for "cigarette starts apartment fire".
Whoever worked up the building code requirements is paranoic. Someone in the building racket should find that individual and get him or her to the doctor as soon as possible. New meds are needed!
No. Unless they make an electric version I am not aware of.
Without my grill, I would starve!
Just try to stop me......I am a grilling machine.
Beer Brats with onions tonight!
Only for Yankees such as yerself.
Common sense has left the building! Good night, Seattle.
Get the US out of the UN!
I know the people who first made the turkey fryers would refuse to sell them to anyone who lived in an apartment.
SD
Several apartment leases that I have seen add a clause in the lease that the tenant does not own a firearm. No BBQ, No guns....is this America?
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