Barbecuing on Balconies

Residents of apartment buildings are reminded to check in their lease agreements or condominium rules to determine if barbeques of any kind are permitted on their balconies. You can also inquire with your superintendents or property managers if you do not have a copy of the rules and regulations specific to your building.

The Ontario Fire Code does not specifically prohibit the above-noted type of cooking on a balcony. However, in the event of fire damage resulting from a barbecue, the owner or resident may face some liability for resultant damage under the provisions of Article 2.1.2.2. of the Ontario Fire Code, which states, "Activities that create a hazard and that are not allowed for in the original design shall not be carried out in a building unless approved provisions are made to control the hazard”.

The word "approved" means approved by the Chief Fire Official. Please be advised that the Burlington Fire Department does not give approval for balcony barbecuing due to the following concerns:

· Potential for leakage of propane gas and extensive fire spread from any leakage.

· Lack of proper electrical receptacles on balconies and the need to use temporary solutions such as extension cords, which cause associated hazards.

· Potential for the spread of hot embers from charcoal barbeques with wind conditions.

· Extreme difficulty for firefighters to access balconies to extinguish the fire and the ability for fire to rapidly spread in to the building through glass windows and doors.

In most cases apartment balconies are not designed to accommodate the use of barbeques, as they are not large enough to provide sufficient clearance to combustible materials. Smoke from the barbeques can migrate in to adjacent apartment units causing discomfort, concerns and problems for other residents. Smoke may also enter through windows, doors or air intakes and cause preventable false alarms for smoke alarms and fire alarms installed in the building.

Please be considerate of your fellow residents and also do your part to prevent needless response from the fire department to a false alarm caused by smoke or even worse, a preventable fire caused by a barbeque.

For more fire safety information you can call 905-637-9536 or review the other sections of this web site.