• Safety Precautions for all Barbecues
• When is a Barbecue permit needed?
• Link to Barbecue permit form (PDF)
• Locations
• Process

Safety Precautions for all Barbecues

Barbecue organizers are responsible for implementing these guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety and to comply with local fire prevention regulations.

• Use charcoal only. No wood or other materials can be burned due to the fire and environmental regulations.
  
• Use coal starter cones if possible since these are better for the environment than lighter fluid.
  
• If you use charcoal lighter fluid, do not add more after the charcoal has been ignited. The fire could flash back and burn you. Self-starting charcoal is another option.
  
• Keep a garden hose nearby that is connected to a water supply and that has an adjustable nozzle. (Obtain hoses from Grounds Services x3-6350). A 5-gallon bucket of water is an alternative if a hose connection is not nearby.
  
• Designate someone to be the “fire watch” at all times and to use the garden hose if necessary. Fire extinguishers can be used only if the fire watch has been trained and there are an adequate number of the appropriate type.
  
• Drench the coals with water when you finish cooking and leave the coals in the grill until the next day or at least several hours.
  
• Dispose of the coals in the metal trash can. (Obtain from Grounds Services x3-6350).
  

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When is a Barbecue permit needed:

A MIT Barbecue permit is needed

• To use any location or equipment other than the permanent barbecue grills at Kresge and dormitories. These have annual permits.
  
• If you are hiring a caterer
  

The Fire Department and MIT Police often check if the safety precautions are being taken and if a valid permit is on site during the barbecue. If either is not, they may stop the cooking.

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Locations of permanent barbecue grills:

• Near Kresge Auditorium (contact Campus Activities Complex to schedule)
  
• At most of the dormitories (contact the dormitory barbecue coordinator to schedule)

If you are interested in using different cooking equipment near the permanent barbecue grills, or another location, please follow the process described below.

Unsafe Locations:
Inside a building, on a roof, fire escape, windowsill or other portions of a building. Any area that is near an air intake, which could draw smoke into a building and set off the fire alarm.

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Process:

1. Register your event.
   For students: http://web.mit.edu/slp/events/registration.shtml
   For staff:
   http://web.mit.edu/infocenter/eventreg.html
   If this event does not need to be registered, contact MIT Police to determine if they need to sign this form and/or assign a police detail.
2. Obtain permission to use the location. Campus Activities Complex reserves many outdoor event locations. CAC and Grounds make a joint decision on requests to use Kresge Oval and lawns in the vicinity. Housing locations must be approved by both Grounds Services and the House Manager, who also makes your reservation. Use this form for any location except the permanent grills behind Kresge.
3. Contact the EHS Safety Program if you have questions after you review the safety precautions listed on http://web.mit.edu/environment/ehs/topic/barbecue.html
4. Download, save, and complete this form as a word document. This preferred method because hand-writing is barely legible when the document has been faxed a few times.
5. Email or deliver a hard copy to the offices listed below for their approval. Signatures may be hand-written, electronic, or typed in. The Grounds Services Supervisor signs this form after the EHS Office has signed.
6. If you are hiring a caterer who will use propane, the event sponsor and the caterer must send their propane cooking safety plan to the Cambridge Fire Department to obtain a permit and hire a fire fighter detail. This process may take a week or more. Obtain this template from the EHS Office.
7. The approved form must be displayed during the event. 8. If you require outside cleanup assistance for your event, trash and/or recycle barrels or hose hook up, Please submit an SAP online requisition (We are an internal provider listed as "The Department of Facilities Services"). For hourly costs, contact the Grounds Office directly at 3-6350 for a quote.

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