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.
They can have my BBQ when they take it from my cold dead hands!
BTW, anyone know why this article was printed in English, not Chinese?
Totally unenforcable.
This law is in effect in my town. No grills allowed on decks or patios of apartments or condos. (yes condos)
My girlfriend has a ground level condo with a condo that connects to a sidewalk. I just roll the grill off the patio onto the sidewalk and I'm in business.
The people on the upper levels hate me.
Every year Chicago has several apt fires around Xmas and New Years, because idiots were barbequing in the carpeted hallway with wood unerneath. That is in addition to fires caused by their kin bbqing on wood balconies. This law will not stop those idiots.
duh, getting tired: should read "ground level condo with a patio that connects to a sidewalk".
Yes. But not because of fire concerns, but for environmental reasons. It is wrong and damaging to mother earth to destroy so many trees to be used as a decoration!
I wonder if illegals will still be able to use their Weber inside in their apartment in the place of a stove? - if not I think it's at least racist if not a matter of church and state and besides it's Bushfault anyway
Guess who came in last place by a huge margin.
Come on, this is in Washington State, the looniest of the loony left coast states.
At this rate, it will be illegal to flambe Cherries Jubilee at the dining room table.
These things were banned in every apartment I ever lived in.
Brisket takes a very long s l o w time at low heat. I'm talking 4-6 hours at 200 degrees.
You can cheat by boiling the brisket for 3 hours first. Then slap some marinade or what ever you want to use and then slow grill it with tons of hickory or mesquite chips.
Like I said, its cheating but it sure does taste good.
make that 200-225 degrees.
What a crock of BS.Christmas tree farms are planted so they can be harvested.What's that you say, you thought they just went willy nilly through the forest cutting down Christmas trees?
Mmmmmmmmm...leather!
I live in MN. I 'Grill' all winter! It can take a while to get things going when its 20 below but I'd grill scrambled eggs if I could figure out how to stop them from dripping through to the coals!
Favorite of ours is Grilled Pork Loin and Grilled fresh Pineapple Spears.
I know that and you know that. But you know that the environmental wackos think differently.
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