Gilford Fire Ordinance - Grills at Multi-unit Residences

[samosetguy]

The town of Gilford recently passed a new fire ordinance.

http://www.gilfordnh.org/Public_Docu...ion%202009.pdf

Included in this are new restrictions on where grills can be used. I was aware that towns in NH (and elsewhere) were moving forward with eliminating gas or hibachi type grills within 10 feet of the exterior walls of any multi-unit residence. Multi-unit obviously includes condo buildings with multiple units. I have friends in another town that purchased an electric grill last year to be in compliance with this rule as it was adopted in their town.

However, the Gilford ordinance appears to take the rule a step further than any other town in NH (that I can find) by also not allowing electric grills within 10 feet of an exterior wall of a multi-unit dwelling. This seems a little odd since a George Foreman grill is an electric grill and people use those on a kitchen counter.

While I'm disappointed by this, I won't pretend to know anything about reasonable fire prevention measures so my goal is to comply with whatever the requirement.

Is anyone familiar with this? The Gilford Fire Chief did not return my email from a week ago. When I called I was told to speak to Dana Pendergast (spl?). He has tried to reach me which I appreciate but we haven't connected yet. I'm trying to determine if I'm able to use any grill on my deck which goes out about 8-10ft from the exterior wall. My condo management company has told me any electric grill is fine but I think they might be wrong.

Any info would be appreciated.

[Heaven]

The language from your link specifically lists electric grills

"Section 11 OUTDOOR COOKING and RECREATIONAL DEVICES
11.01 The use of any, charcoal, gas, wood or other open flame cooking grill, barbecue grill,
hibachi, chimenea, electric grill, or other similar device shall be prohibited within the Town of Gilford as follows:
a) on or within ten (10) feet of an exterior wall, means of egress and any combustible balcony,
deck, porch, patio or similar projection of any multiple-family residential structure."

[RailroadJoe]

They're at again. Watch out for the NH grill inspector. May have a salary of $50K and a car to ride around in looking for culprits.

[Heaven]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

They're at again. Watch out for the NH grill inspector. May have a salary of $50K and a car to ride around in looking for culprits.

Maybe so, but grills on decks of multi family units have not been allowed under state fire code for a very long time.

[LIforrelaxin]

I think someone in Gilford knows someone from Franklin, Ma. We just got hit with the same dam thing here.... going to bring the grill north now..... the good news is I needed a new one at the lake anyway......

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by Heaven

Maybe so, but grills on decks of multi family units have not been allowed under state fire code for a very long time.

You are correct, and there have been lots of fires caused by grills located on decks, in apartments, condos, and houses alike. It is just not a good idea to have a grill on a wooden deck.

A friend of mine keeps his chiminea on his deck. He has caught the railing on fire more than once. Personally I think he is crazy, but it's his house...

[Argie's Wife]

After having lived in an apartment building that caught on fire because someone couldn't be bothered to follow the rules and grilled on their patio, I'd rather this rule be in place. People can be boneheads sometimes when it comes to common sense.

After the fire the apt complex owner installed grills in the common area for folks to use... No one wants to infringe on others' rights but do you really want Joe Dirt having fire in an enclosed area and next to vinyl siding?

[BroadHopper]

I notice that the law says ten feet from an exterior wall. So that means you can have a foreman grill in the kitchen. Which consist of interior walls.

My neighbor and other mcmansion owners have their gas grills permanently installed inside their three season porch and is vented outside. This is pretty slick. Hopefully the walls inside of a three season porch is considered interior walls.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

My neighbor and other mcmansion owners have their gas grills permanently installed inside their three season porch and is vented outside.

I have a built-in grill inside my ski house that is vented through its own flue in the chimney. Love it.

[NoRegrets]

Our politicians and safety codes are built to the lowest common denominater. There are many people that will now be turned into criminals and stopped from doing what they have safely done for generations because of the few that would have been culled out by the rules of Darwin.

[jmen24]

Back in my property management days we had people routinely chain their gas grills up so that someone could not take it. They would often just use the grill at that spot rather than unlock the grill and move it out. The problem is that they would chain the grill to the Natural gas meter outside of their apartment.

Sometimes people truely are not smart enough to know better.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by jmen24

Back in my property management days we had people routinely chain their gas grills up so that someone could not take it. They would often just use the grill at that spot rather than unlock the grill and move it out. The problem is that they would chain the grill to the Natural gas meter outside of their apartment.

Sometimes people truely are not smart enough to know better.

Now I have never seen on in use, while chained to the meter, but I have seen a grill or two, chained to the meter and often wondered if the responsible owner unchained it and moved it out away from the house for use .... I guess now I know.......

[Heaven]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper
My neighbor and other mcmansion owners have their gas grills permanently installed inside their three season porch and is vented outside.

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I have a built-in grill inside my ski house that is vented through its own flue in the chimney. Love it.

You are welcome to burn down your own single family dwelling with your grill, don't fear.

It is just multi dwelling units, where everyone else may have to suffer for a bonehead decision.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Heaven

You are welcome to burn down your own single family dwelling with your grill, don't fear.

It is just multi dwelling units, where everyone else may have to suffer for a bonehead decision.

Understood but where does it stop ? What's the percentage of multi dwellings the burnt down due to grill stupidity vs those due to careless smoking ? Or bad use of electrical extension cords ? Or grease fires off the indoor cooking range ? Or just about any other stupid thing that some stupid person somewhere will eventually do in their stupid lifetime ? Was a ban the best solution to this size problem ? Might a fire resistant barrier requirement have been a better one ?

[chipj29]

10+ years ago, a 24 unit apartment building at Countryside Village in Manchester burned nearly to the ground. The fire was caused by a gas grill on someones deck. Fortunately the fire occurred during the day and no one was killed.

On further thought, it was probably closer to 15 years ago, as I am unable to find any news articles about this online.

[chipj29]

A couple years ago, a multi-unit apartment building in Peabody, MA burned almost completely to the ground. The fire was caused by a cigarette that had been discarded in a mulch garden bed. So yeah, that can happen too.

http://www.residentialfiresprinklers...-by-cigarette/

[tis]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

They're at again. Watch out for the NH grill inspector. May have a salary of $50K and a car to ride around in looking for culprits.

[Eagle]

They wouldn't need that restriction if people used common sense but many of them don't.

Big brother is watching. It will be CCTV cameras in the bedrooms next.

[Coolbreeze]

Does the town/state have it in the building codes for the use of fire sprinkler systems in multi-family dwellings?
I have been to at least half a dozen apartment fires caused by grills.
Eagle if everybody had/used "common sense" we wouldn't have the need to write about stuff like this. You would be amazed at the dumb people out there. This past fall we had some nutcase light his chiminea inside his garage to burn his personal papers. You should have seen that fire! These true stories could go on and on... so much for common sense...

[Eagle]

Yes, I know. I was a call firefighter for years and I think I've seen it all. Unfortunately, common sense is in very short supply with many people and some are downright stupid.