Media Release - SPRING INTO SAFETY GET YOUR BBQ IN CHECK
SPRING INTO SAFETY: GET YOUR BBQ IN CHECK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Toronto, ON, March 19, 2008) – The start of spring is upon us and with that, the perfect time to get ready for main barbecue season. Whether planning a little culinary flair in the backyard or getting ready to fire it up at the cottage, the safety experts with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) want to put a little safety in your sizzle before your first cook-off.
To get your barbecue ready for grilling season, make this three-step safety check part of your spring cleaning routine:
- CLEAN: use a pipe cleaner or wire to make sure the burner ports 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 parts and always re-test.
In addition to these opening season safety checks, keep you and your family safe by always using your BBQ outdoors. If used in an enclosed space, carbon monoxide – an odourless, colourless, poisonous gas – will gather and reach dangerous exposure levels, which can lead to serious health effects, even death.
Using propane BBQs on the Balcony?
You may be one of the many Ontarians who live in an apartment or condominium – but are you aware of the safety issues and restrictions involved when using 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 in your building, there are still some regulations you need to be aware of:
- The balcony must be open (no closures or walls have been erected).
- Cylinders must be transported in a service elevator. When there are no service elevators, the person must use the passenger elevator alone to transport the cylinder.
- Cylinders must be kept outdoors.
- The barbecue must be clear of all combustible materials.
- The cylinder relief valve must be 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 is 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 technician is certified, ask to see their certificate number. If you are still unsure, contact TSSA at 1-877-682-8772 for verification.
Order your free safety kit by visiting TSSA’s public safety website at www.safetyinfo.ca or call us at 1-877-682-TSSA.
Full media release attached below.
