Apartment-dwellers often miss out on one of the great things about summer: backyard barbecues. Unless you're lucky enough to have a large deck, your grilling options will be severely limited when compared to those who have attached yards with room to set up whatever type of fire pit or grill that the city's codes permit. Frequently, a community grill is the best and most reliable option for those who don't have room for a barbecue of their own. In the not too distant future, however, there might be an alternative that won't send the fire marshal into fits. The Bruce Barbecue is a concept design based on a flower box. It sits over a railing (very securely) and uses charcoal for fuel. The advantage to its position on the balcony rail is that any smoke generated will flow up and away from the building - not into your apartment. The grill, although narrow, can fit a few burgers or steaks and because of its small size, it cleans up easily.
They're not for sale yet, but if you're feeling handy, you might want to get a metal flower box and give the construction a go yourself. Just be sure to check with your apartment manager (and buy a fire extinguisher) before installing it to be on the safe side!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-06-2007 @ 8:17AM
Cigarlady said...
When we lived in an apartment above the first floor, our problem wasn't room, it was that its against fire marshal regulations to have a bbq on a balcony, gas or charcoal. Some people who ignored the ban even got tickets.
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3-06-2007 @ 9:26AM
Jon said...
If the smoke goes straight up, it will bother people on higher balconies. But I'd be more worried about accidentally flipping a burger onto the sidewalk below.
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3-06-2007 @ 9:54AM
red said...
I think it's brilliant.
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3-06-2007 @ 10:49AM
calamari said...
Yup, every apartment we've lived in has banned any sort of grilling on the balcony, due to fire laws. I'm not sure why this design would be significantly more safe than a small hibachi.
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3-06-2007 @ 10:59AM
Jessica said...
I'm with Jon. Those steaks are aimed right for the heads of unsuspecting pedestrians below. Cartoon hilarity ensues.
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3-06-2007 @ 2:06PM
Alex said...
In my city it doesn't even have anything to do with the apartment complex, it is illegal to grill within a certain distance (10 or 15 feet) of a structure. Big ticket when the fire marshall catches you (and a fine from the landlord for violating your lease). You would need a pretty big porch for the railing to be far enough away that you wouldn't violate code with that grill. Aside from that, I like the idea better than a little hibachi because it's at a more convenient height.
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3-06-2007 @ 4:07PM
Vexorg said...
I live in an apartment complex which actually permits grills (the lease actually states a grill as being one of the few things permitted on the porch) so I imagine there isn't any sort of regulatory problem with it where I am. I am on the ground floor though. This thing, on the other hand, looks like a fire hazard waiting to happen.
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3-06-2007 @ 7:12PM
ShortWoman said...
Permitted to be *stored* on the patio and permitted to be *used* on the patio are different things. Yes, almost every city I've ever lived in prohibitted open fire including grilling within 10' of the building. The exception was Euless, TX (fwiw). In fact, when I was a girl, there was a huge apartment fire in the next town over caused by idiot-with-grill. Needless to say, all the fire safety laws were made more stringent after that.
For that matter, a good percentage of apartments have wood rails. I can't imagine that strapping a big metal fire-box on a wood rail would be a good idea even if regulations permitted.
So yeah, interesting idea as this may be, I think they've seriously overestimated their market size.
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3-26-2007 @ 5:15AM
carne al fuoco said...
wow... nice idea!!
greetings from carne al fuoco - il piacere del barbecue
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5-25-2007 @ 8:13AM
BBQ Freak said...
That's a Great Idea. However What bothers me is the smoke. But this definitely is useful.I am considering writing an article on it at my site
http://outdoor-kitchens.org
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