[RAILhead]

We just finished our patio floor, and now I'm wanting to get a decent BBQ pit -- but I don't know whether or not it'd be "safe" to use one. Here's the deal: the room is about 11x13 and it's enclosed. When I say enclosed, I mean it can be shut up like an attached room. HOWEVER, we do have these big, sliding screen windows. BUT, I don't know if that will vent out smoke properly. Here are a couple of pics...

This is a shot of one section of the sliding windows. If you're standing at our back door looking out, these windows are on both left and right sides. The back door wall is just typical brick and window, and the entrance to the patio also has sliding windows.



For scale, here's a shot of the back door, floor to ceiling. It's 10 feet, if I recall. I was thinking of putting the pit right where you see the palm (and that's where the external gas hookup is, but I won't be using gas).



So what do you think? Am I just asking for an inferno?

[design219]

I don't think fire is a big risk, but you will have smoke soot build up on that light ceiling unless you keep that fan going. Looks like a nice spot, well done.

[RAILhead]

Yeah, the potential smoke stain was another worry.

[Mastrap]

You will have a huge amount of both smoke and fat on that ceiling in no time at all. If you insist on having the BBQ there I'd invest in a good industrial extractor fan.

[IceEnclosure]

[turtle777]

I have two words for you: Don't do it !

-t

[mac128k-1984]

Typically fire and wood don't mix.

I wouldn't do it - not worth the risk. If sometime did happen, I also wonder if the insurance company would fight you on having a BBQ inside the house (yes even though you have those big windows technically its inside the dwelling.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

I have two words for you: Don't do it !

-t

My head hurts.

[olePigeon]

What if you put a hood and fan in the ceiling?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

My head hurts.

That's a good sign, there seem to be some living cells left

-t

[Dakarʒ]

Why must you hate?!1

[awaspaas]

NO WAY! - if there's a permanent roof over it, it's indoors. I imagine the closest thing to an indoor firepit would look more like a large semi-open fireplace. It would have a flue or fume hood directly above it - there has to be a direct path for the smoke and carbon monoxide to go. But you can only do that if it's something specially designed TO BE INDOORS! Otherwise you're just begging for smoke damage, carbon monoxide poisoning, mess from grease and soot, no matter how many windows the room has.

[Timo]

Not. Safe.

--an architect

PS Want confirmation? Invite the Fire Department over (not a snide remark, in my neighborhood they will come out for opinions on life and safety issues). They'll tell you the same thing.

[RAILhead]

Thanks for the info. I may just store it on the patio, and drag it to the back walk when I use it. We'll be doing a "real" outdoor patio soon, so the back sidewalk (from our back porch to breezeway tot he garage) will have to do in the mean time -- even though it feels hillbilly.

[design219]

Are there not some firemen here to back up the architect?

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by design219 

Are there not some firemen here to back up the architect?

It's now officially Fireservice, and not Fireman, as new service guidline 103.6a deems "Fireman" to be sexist.

[KeyLimePi]

yea yea, we all saw Hot Fuzz.

[OreoCookie]

That's how our neighbor's brother committed `suicide' on his birthday next door: he got a new gas grill and wanted to try it out inside. He didn't survive his party.

Just don't, it's a bad idea.

[Naplander]

Dude - from the look of it you have a nice garden....

Use that instead

[andi*pandi]

it's a really nice room, fill it with couches and tables and keep the grill outside with a cover.

[RAILhead]

The whole deal with "outside with a cover" is that there is no outside yet. You walk out of this patio and you're on the sidewalk under our breezeway that leads to the garage. We have another walk that goes to the driveway (we have a detached garage). So, basically, there's no "patio-like" area at all -- just sidewalk-size walkways, and no room for a pit.

People keep telling me to just use it on the driveway or whatever, but that's what feels so hillbilly.

Oh well. Maybe I need to ratchet-up the outdoor patio project...

[design219]

Originally Posted by RAILhead 

Oh well. Maybe I need to ratchet-up the outdoor patio project...

We'll help.

[peeb]

If you want fire in this room you need a real chimney, not an extractor fan. Put in a wood oven or something if you must.

[ort888]

The firemen will tell you it's a good idea, because the more fires there are, the more money they make. It's a conspiracy.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by ort888 

The firemen will tell you it's a good idea, because the more fires there are, the more money they make. It's a conspiracy.

Just like dentists giving out the best candy at Halloween.

[ort888]

Or VD clinics with hookers outside.

[Jawbone54]

The patio is too pretty to mess it up with smoke stains.

[SSharon]

I also don't like the idea of having a flame next to a gas line...

Do what everyone says and take it outside. You may feel hillbilly, but everyone will be jealous of whatever you are making so who cares.

[RAILhead]

Thanks for all the replies -- you've all convinced me to hillbilly it!

And thanks for the compliments on the patio.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

it's a really nice room, fill it with couches and tables and keep the grill outside with a cover.

I second that. I love the idea of a summer outdoor living room that is protected enough from the elements to be usable during cool/damp weather. There's something magical about sleeping/cooking/living outside.

[RAILhead]

I'm sitting out here now, enjoying a fine Hoyo de Monterrey...

[vmarks]

Check your local fire code.

If it's anything like the fire code here, it will forbid such a BBQ pit.

My thought? comply with the firecode if you really like where you live - they write it they way they do because they're wet-blankets who want to deny you all fun in life.

And, oh yeah, they deal with perfectly sensible people who set their houses on fire far too frequently.

[vmarks]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

That's how our neighbor's brother committed `suicide' on his birthday next door: he got a new gas grill and wanted to try it out inside. He didn't survive his party.

Just don't, it's a bad idea.

We had an ice storm six years ago, and the whole area was without power for a week and a half. The phones were down for four days and the cell network was out 24 hours after the storm hit (generators ran down.)

I went out door to door checking on people to see if they had medication they needed, and to see that they weren't using kerosene heaters or grills indoors for heat.

The CO kills.

[RAILhead]

Here's a shot of the porch containing a smaller fire, and providing relaxation after a hard day of landscaping:

[moonmonkey]

That is a very white iBook, what do you clean it with?

[KeriVit]

Keep it that way RR

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by KeriVit 

Keep it that way Rh

Correctinated.

And RAILhead, you do realize you have a dog turd in your hand don't you?

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by moonmonkey 

That is a very white iBook, what do you clean it with?

Mister Clean Magic Eraser always works for my iBook.

[Rumor]

"When installing a bbq pit, you shouldn't put the fire source next to an open gas line. Here, let me show you."

[iranfromthezoo]

Originally Posted by design219 

Are there not some firemen here to back up the architect?

As a firefighter I am saying don't think about it.

But if you don't trust me why not just call the fire dept out (non emergency line) and ask for a fire safety survey. It's not taking time from them because they will still respond to a call and plus it gives them a chance to "Pre-plan" your house such as telling you danger spots and asking you if the house catches on fire what are the most important things you want out first i.e. computer, wedding photos....you know we do more than watch tv all day!

[RAILhead]

Man, thanks for the replies, but if you late posters would read the thread, the issue is pretty much closed.

[Dakarʒ]

Well before you finish, I am going to have to recommend you don't do it.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

Well before you finish, I am going to have to recommend you don't do it.

I think he'll be fine, if only there was some way to get rid of the smoke residue. Anyone have suggestions?

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I think he'll be fine, if only there was some way to get rid of the smoke residue. Anyone have suggestions?

Gray paint?

[Dakarʒ]

Amnesty Bill?

[KeriVit]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Correctinated.

And RAILhead, you do realize you have a dog turd in your hand don't you?

Yeah, I was wondering why you just finished a patio and you were moving. Leave it to me to not read EVERYTHING!!!