Media Release - Safety in Your Sizzle
Safety in Your Sizzle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Toronto, ON, April 20, 2007) – Spring is in the air — even if
Mother Nature took her own sweet time. And that means it’s time to warm things up. Whether
planning a little culinary flair in the backyard or ready to fire it up at the cottage, your fork and
flipper stand ready-at-hand. But before the cookout capers begin, ask yourself one grill-loving
question — do I have the sizzle? Do I have what it takes to make my get-together a sweet and
savoury success?
Well, sensible and safe barbecuing will make that happen.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) want to put a little safety in your sizzle
with a season opener that includes a three-step safety check:
- Clean: Use a pipe cleaner or wire to make sure the burner ports and the tube leading to the burner (called the “venturi tube”) are free of rust, dust, dirt, spider webs or other debris.
- Check: Examine the hose leading from the fuel supply to the burners. Replace if cracked or damaged.
- Test: Find leaks by applying a 50/50 solution of water and dish soap to all fuel and hose connections. If bubbles appear, tighten the connections and/or replace the damaged arts and always re-test.
In addition to such safety checks, our gleeful grillers are reminded that barbecues are approved
for outdoor use only. They emit carbon monoxide, an odourless, colourless poisonous gas that
can lead to serious health affects even death.
Propane cylinders must also be safely stored and transported. Do not use or store your cylinders
inside any structure. When transporting the cylinder always keep it upright and do not put the
cylinder in a closed vehicle or in the trunk. It is preferable to transport the cylinder on the floor
of the passenger compartment.
Using propane BBQs on the Balcony: Yes or No?
Many Ontarians live in apartments and condominiums and should be aware of additional safety
issues and restrictions regarding the use of barbecues on balconies. Barbecue use may be
prohibited by the Condominium Act of your building or prohibited by the building owner or
property manager, so ensure you have determined what restrictions are in place for your
building. If barbecues are permitted, there are still some regulations governing the storage and
use of propane in Ontario on balconies:
- the balcony is open (no closures or walls have been erected);
- cylinders are transported in a service elevator or when there are no service elevators, the person must use the passenger elevator alone to transport the cylinder;
- cylinders are kept outdoors;
- the barbecue is kept clear of all combustible materials in accordance with clearances listed on its rating plate or in the certified instructions; and
- the cylinder relief valve is at least one metre horizontally from any building opening below it, and three metres from a building air intake.
Remember once again — barbecues are only approved for outdoor use. It’s always better to be
safe, so if uncertain about the condition or any part of your barbecue, including your propane
cylinder, replace it with a new component. Parts are readily available at most hardware stores
and building centres. If you are uncomfortable performing safety checks and repairs on your
propane or natural gas barbecue yourself, please contact a certified fuels-related technician. All
technicians must be certified by TSSA. If unsure whether your contractor is registered, contact
TSSA at 1-800-682-8772 www.tssa.org
For more information on barbecue safety and several other safety topics, visit TSSA’s safety
website at www.safetyinfo.ca .
Full media release attached below.
