I don’t understand why everyone is up in arms over a simple question. Brooklyn Fire Alarm Guy needs to take it down a notch. No one likes a know-it-all, especially one who’s a real jerk about it. And if you are looking for the answer online there are a lot mixed messages out there. Just look at THIS thread.
I have been considering getting one of these fire pit/chimenys for a couple of years. I have a pretty good sized backyand, about 40′ X 25′, and figured it would be pretty safe, I’m pretty causious with these things, and I’d try to keep it away from for the buildings in order to keep the smoke as far from neighbors as possible. I did some research on the subject and this is the best answer I’ve found. It’s an answer no one will really like, least of all me.
OP – Having lived next door to a tenant who thought it was a great idea to smoke out everyone on the block, please know that only an inconsiderate and or clueless IDIOT would think its OK to burn wood in a backyard. Don’t put yourself in that camp. Just an FYI, my ex-neighbor did have a metal enclosed pit, I did call the fire department, they did put it out every time, and they did tell me it was illegal.
I’ve had a fire pit for six years (along with 2 charcoal grills). None of my immediate neighbors has complained about the former to my knowledge, but smoke from the fire pit has caused phone calls to FDNY. They “visited” twice, and both times left without putting out the fire or issuing a citation.
8:58 PM: The Bill of Rights includes the right not to have your house burned down by an imbecilic neighbor. The ten foot restriction from combustible material means in a 20′ wide lot, if you put your barbecue dead center, you’re still too close to a wooden fence (combustible material) on each side of your back yard. When my next door neighbor built a raging fire in his barbecue spewing sparks at both fences, you can bet I called FDNY. One lit fence on either of his lot lines would have led the flames right back to his house and one of his neighbors (either mine or the one on the other side of his property). No thanks.
Jesus, whatever happened to the bill of rights. Everyone’s up in arms about the government wiretapping al quaeda, meanwhile we can’t even heat up a smore in our backyard.
Rehab i correct. When it is enclosed and used for recreation (rather than to burn trash or fire a hot water heater)it falls under the rules of barbecues in NYC which is covered by title 3 of the rules of the City of New York:
§24-02
Barbecues on Residential Property.
Barbecues on residential property shall not be operated within ten (10) feet of any combustible material and there shall be available for use a garden type hose attached to a water supply or at least a sixteen (16) quart pail of water.
And to the knucklehead guest at 4:03, I do fire code for a living. The locations you mention are commercial establishments and have nothing to do with residential. Just because you don’t have a clue doesn’t mean the rest of us haven’t figured it out.
BBQ rules are on the FDNY website; nothing is allowed on balconies, and a BBQ must be minimum ten feet from any building. A firepit is a different animal, though–no idea whether that’s allowed.
I don’t understand why everyone is up in arms over a simple question. Brooklyn Fire Alarm Guy needs to take it down a notch. No one likes a know-it-all, especially one who’s a real jerk about it. And if you are looking for the answer online there are a lot mixed messages out there. Just look at THIS thread.
I have been considering getting one of these fire pit/chimenys for a couple of years. I have a pretty good sized backyand, about 40′ X 25′, and figured it would be pretty safe, I’m pretty causious with these things, and I’d try to keep it away from for the buildings in order to keep the smoke as far from neighbors as possible. I did some research on the subject and this is the best answer I’ve found. It’s an answer no one will really like, least of all me.
Go to…
http://nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/safety/fire_safety_downloads.shtml
Download the PDF for “Summer Fire Safety”. This is what it says under “Prohibited Use of Grills”
“THE USE OF PORTABLE OUTDOOR PATIO FIREPLACES,
PATIO HEARTHS, FIRE PITS AND CHIMENYS ARE STRICTLY
PROHIBITED AND ILLEGAL IN NEW YORK CITY.
I guess I won’t be getting one for Father’s Day after all. 🙁
OP – Having lived next door to a tenant who thought it was a great idea to smoke out everyone on the block, please know that only an inconsiderate and or clueless IDIOT would think its OK to burn wood in a backyard. Don’t put yourself in that camp. Just an FYI, my ex-neighbor did have a metal enclosed pit, I did call the fire department, they did put it out every time, and they did tell me it was illegal.
I’ve had a fire pit for six years (along with 2 charcoal grills). None of my immediate neighbors has complained about the former to my knowledge, but smoke from the fire pit has caused phone calls to FDNY. They “visited” twice, and both times left without putting out the fire or issuing a citation.
Found this on nyc.gov site concerning BBQs:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/rcny_legal/rcny_sect_24_04.shtml
Nothing specific about fire pits, but based on my experience, I’d say no worries.
8:58 PM: The Bill of Rights includes the right not to have your house burned down by an imbecilic neighbor. The ten foot restriction from combustible material means in a 20′ wide lot, if you put your barbecue dead center, you’re still too close to a wooden fence (combustible material) on each side of your back yard. When my next door neighbor built a raging fire in his barbecue spewing sparks at both fences, you can bet I called FDNY. One lit fence on either of his lot lines would have led the flames right back to his house and one of his neighbors (either mine or the one on the other side of his property). No thanks.
Jesus, whatever happened to the bill of rights. Everyone’s up in arms about the government wiretapping al quaeda, meanwhile we can’t even heat up a smore in our backyard.
Rehab i correct. When it is enclosed and used for recreation (rather than to burn trash or fire a hot water heater)it falls under the rules of barbecues in NYC which is covered by title 3 of the rules of the City of New York:
§24-02
Barbecues on Residential Property.
Barbecues on residential property shall not be operated within ten (10) feet of any combustible material and there shall be available for use a garden type hose attached to a water supply or at least a sixteen (16) quart pail of water.
And to the knucklehead guest at 4:03, I do fire code for a living. The locations you mention are commercial establishments and have nothing to do with residential. Just because you don’t have a clue doesn’t mean the rest of us haven’t figured it out.
“Burning wood is toxic”
thanks al gore. that is the dumbest thing i have read in a while. i think some of you brownstoners should get out of the city more often.
BBQ rules are on the FDNY website; nothing is allowed on balconies, and a BBQ must be minimum ten feet from any building. A firepit is a different animal, though–no idea whether that’s allowed.