Barbeques on balconies
While there are no bylaws in Ottawa regarding barbeques on balconies, Provincial legislation prohibits the use or storage of propane inside a building.
Propane is regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) and the Propane Storage and Handling Code -B149.2 is the standard that they enforce. The Fire Protection and Prevention Act looks at activities for which the building was not designed and that could lead to a fire and/or explosion.
The requirements are as follows:
- If permitted by the Condominium Act of your building; or permitted by the building owner or property manager of a rental property;
- the balcony is open (no enclosures or walls have been erected);
- propane cylinders are transported in a service elevator. When there are no service elevators, you may use the passenger elevator, but you must be alone;
- cylinders are kept outdoors;
- the barbeque is kept clear of combustible material as listed on the barbecue's rating plate or in the certified instructions;
- the propane cylinder relief valve is at least one metre horizontally from any building opening below it, and three metres from a building air intake;
- no combustibles are within one metre of the sides of the barbeque and three metres from the top; and,
- propane cannot be stored inside any structure. Under no circumstances are propane barbeque cylinders that use POL 20 pound cylinders to be used or stored inside a building, attached garage or on a balcony of a high rise apartment building as the balcony in these buildings is considered a part of the structure.
Electric and Briquette Barbeques can be used on an apartment balcony. General safety requirements are to keep the barbeque one meter (three feet) away from any combustibles (wood railings, siding, etc.) and three metres (10 feet) from any combustible overhang, such as a porch roof.
Every summer, Ottawa Fire Services respond to numerous deck and siding fires due to the use of barbeques in an area close to combustibles.
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