Grill and Cooking Equipment Safety

Barbecue Grills & Other Outdoor Cooking

• Grills and other open-flame cooking equipment may only be used outside and may NOT be set up under any overhang, in a tent, or on any balcony or rooftop.
• Grills and open flame cooking equipment must be set up on level ground at least 6 feet from walkways and 25 feet from buildings.
• Equipment must be set up so smoke from cooking does not enter any buildings.
• Charcoal must be completely extinguished and cold before disposal and must not be dumped onto the ground.
• For grills and barbecues, a minimum of (1) 5 pound ABC extinguisher must be present. To borrow extinguishers, contact Wayne Westmiller at waw6@cornell.edu or (607) 592-8535. Never remove extinguishers from buildings.
• Portable propane and natural gas tanks must be properly secured to prevent them from tipping over and tanks may not be brought into University buildings.
• Applicable City of Ithaca commercial cooking and LPG (propane) permits must be secured before the event begins.  Contact the Ithaca Fire Department (607) 272-1234 for more information.
• An Open Burn Permit is NOT required for barbecue grill use.

Indoor Cooking & Food Reheating

• Indoor cooking may only be done in kitchens and kitchenettes.
• Use of deep fryers and other cooking equipment that generates grease-laden vapors is restricted to kitchens equipped with the appropriate ventilation hood & suppression systems.
• Warming equipment used to reheat or keep prepared foods warm may be used in areas other than kitchens, provided that:
  • Warming equipment may not be placed in corridors, stairways or exit pathways.
  • All equipment must be UL listed. Refer to the EHS Event Management Electrical Safety document for further information on using electrical equipment.
    • the Sterno is in commercially manufactured, prepackaged cans
    • is used with a chafing dish equipped with a Sterno can holder
    • is kept away from combustible items such as napkins, papers & decorations
    • care is taken to not spill the Sterno

All cooking and heating appliance shall be used and maintained in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.