Tips for building a shared gas fire pit
June 17, 2022 11:02 AM Subscribe
Help our housing coop think about safety and shared costs as we consider building a propane-gas fire pit! We'd like for the structure to be robust enough for some potentially rough treatment when the fire pit is not in use (kids climbing around the area), as well as secured so that only adults can actually start the gas and light a fire. We'd also like to think about how to fairly allocate propane costs.
Our housing coop is considering building a propane-gas fire pit in our shared outdoor area, with a 20-lb tank. We would be hiring a landscape/hardscape designer to help with the project, and anticipate that there will be paving and stone work involved.
There are two issues that we are trying to think through, for which MeFites may be of help!
1. Safety. The fire pit will be in an area where children frequently play unsupervised. We want to ensure that kids won't be able to turn on the gas or light a fire without adults present. We also want to make sure that kids climbing on and around the structure won't lead to a gas leak. Of course, when the fire pit is actually in use, adults will be closely supervising.
If we can't make this safe for unsupervised kids when the fire pit is not in use, we won't do the project.
Currently I'm imagining a ventilated enclosure that will hold both the gas tank and the fire pit, similar to store-bought fire pits with hidden tanks. And then a lock to keep the access panel closed, and a locking cover over the pit itself? If the enclosure is made of strong enough materials, would this seem safe with kids on/around it? Other thoughts/clever ideas?
2. Cost. We'd like to share the cost of the propane among the coop members who actually use the fire pit. Dead-simple would be to have a log where folks could record how many hours they used the gas for. But perhaps there are better ideas?
We are also thinking about a wood-burning fire pit, but coop members are concerned about the smell of wood smoke, even with smokeless fire pits.
Many thanks for any and all ideas!
Our housing coop is considering building a propane-gas fire pit in our shared outdoor area, with a 20-lb tank. We would be hiring a landscape/hardscape designer to help with the project, and anticipate that there will be paving and stone work involved.
There are two issues that we are trying to think through, for which MeFites may be of help!
1. Safety. The fire pit will be in an area where children frequently play unsupervised. We want to ensure that kids won't be able to turn on the gas or light a fire without adults present. We also want to make sure that kids climbing on and around the structure won't lead to a gas leak. Of course, when the fire pit is actually in use, adults will be closely supervising.
If we can't make this safe for unsupervised kids when the fire pit is not in use, we won't do the project.
Currently I'm imagining a ventilated enclosure that will hold both the gas tank and the fire pit, similar to store-bought fire pits with hidden tanks. And then a lock to keep the access panel closed, and a locking cover over the pit itself? If the enclosure is made of strong enough materials, would this seem safe with kids on/around it? Other thoughts/clever ideas?
2. Cost. We'd like to share the cost of the propane among the coop members who actually use the fire pit. Dead-simple would be to have a log where folks could record how many hours they used the gas for. But perhaps there are better ideas?
We are also thinking about a wood-burning fire pit, but coop members are concerned about the smell of wood smoke, even with smokeless fire pits.
Many thanks for any and all ideas!
Response by poster: A follow up: are there downsides to repeatedly disconnecting and reconnecting a propane tank? Because if this could be done easily, then a solution like any_portmanteau’s might work well for us.
posted by wyzewoman at 11:29 AM on June 17, 2022
posted by wyzewoman at 11:29 AM on June 17, 2022
Best answer: Agree about just keeping some canisters about instead of running a gas line. The canisters can be checked in and checked out like community equipment such as law mowers or whatever is shared.
The token system can also be a credit system. As members, everybody gets X credits a year. Those with most credits "left" get priority if there's a conflict. Those with NO credits can pay cash (goes into community fund) if they really need to use something.
The propane tank valves are easily replaceable if they ever start leaking. The fittings just have seals in them that need to be periodically inspected and/or replaced if need be.
posted by kschang at 11:30 AM on June 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
The token system can also be a credit system. As members, everybody gets X credits a year. Those with most credits "left" get priority if there's a conflict. Those with NO credits can pay cash (goes into community fund) if they really need to use something.
The propane tank valves are easily replaceable if they ever start leaking. The fittings just have seals in them that need to be periodically inspected and/or replaced if need be.
posted by kschang at 11:30 AM on June 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
A follow up: are there downsides to repeatedly disconnecting and reconnecting a propane tank?
No, other than that they are kind of heavy (especially when full) and the spaces they are generally placed (ie: under grills, inside small firepits) are pretty tight. If the connector wears out they are cheap, and the tanks are normally exchanged every so often, subcontracting maintenance and repair to someone else.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:53 AM on June 17, 2022
No, other than that they are kind of heavy (especially when full) and the spaces they are generally placed (ie: under grills, inside small firepits) are pretty tight. If the connector wears out they are cheap, and the tanks are normally exchanged every so often, subcontracting maintenance and repair to someone else.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:53 AM on June 17, 2022
Best answer: I think you might be able to lock the handle of a propane tank, possibly with a ziptie. Kids will open the valve, even if they don't light it. You can buy locks; I searched propane valve lock and picked 1 at random.
For usage; 1 evening of usage = some amount of propane, which costs some dollar amount. Each use should cost the user that amount, rounded up, because, tragedy of the commons, people overuse 'free' stuff. You need 2 canisters; they always go out in the middle of the fun. or, residents buy their own. I have a tiny 2 wheel cart that works for stuff like that. But it's nicer to just be able to use it, so I'd try a common tank 1st.
A built-in fire pit could have a wooden or even metal hatch and a hasp to lock it closed, and an enclosure for the tanks.
posted by theora55 at 12:12 PM on June 17, 2022
For usage; 1 evening of usage = some amount of propane, which costs some dollar amount. Each use should cost the user that amount, rounded up, because, tragedy of the commons, people overuse 'free' stuff. You need 2 canisters; they always go out in the middle of the fun. or, residents buy their own. I have a tiny 2 wheel cart that works for stuff like that. But it's nicer to just be able to use it, so I'd try a common tank 1st.
A built-in fire pit could have a wooden or even metal hatch and a hasp to lock it closed, and an enclosure for the tanks.
posted by theora55 at 12:12 PM on June 17, 2022
One thing to think about is that you usually need to wait until the fire pit has cooled off before you put the cover back on. (Check this out for your pit and cover) If so, that can be failure point if people wander off to take care of other things and forget to put the cover back on since the cover is key part of your security.
posted by metahawk at 3:20 PM on June 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by metahawk at 3:20 PM on June 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all for helping me think through this! You had some great ideas.
I will propose that we store the propane tank(s) separately, with locks on the valves, and a little dolly for ease of moving them. The coop will fund a set number of refills per year, and folks can use these shared tanks when they are having fires that are open to all. For more private gatherings, we'll ask that people use their own tanks, or perhaps contribute a set amount of money per evening into a refill fund.
posted by wyzewoman at 7:58 AM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
I will propose that we store the propane tank(s) separately, with locks on the valves, and a little dolly for ease of moving them. The coop will fund a set number of refills per year, and folks can use these shared tanks when they are having fires that are open to all. For more private gatherings, we'll ask that people use their own tanks, or perhaps contribute a set amount of money per evening into a refill fund.
posted by wyzewoman at 7:58 AM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Maybe give every member some amount of tokens per month and then charge for additional ones. I think the ideal situation is that the fire pit is always in use and that it isn't being monopolized by a small group of members so to me you'd want to tune your system to achieve those two goals.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:20 AM on June 17, 2022