Grill & Cooking Equipment

EHS > Event Planning > Event Management

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 a barbecues at least one 5 pound BC fire extinguisher must be present. Contact EH&S to borrow an extinguisher. 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.
Within the Ithaca City limits, commercial cooking and LPG (propane) permits must be secured before any event using propane begins. Contact the Ithaca Fire Department 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 EH&S Event Management Electrical Safety document for further information on using electrical equipment.

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

For further information e-mail ehs_uup@cornell.edu or call (607) 255-8200.