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Residential Life Policy: Appliances

Community kitchens in the residence halls are for the use of building residents and include appliances.

Prohibited Items

Cooking is not allowed in student rooms. Thus, in compliance with fire safety regulations, the following may not be used in student rooms:

  • electric and gas stoves
  • toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, burners
  • crock pots, timed cookers, rice cookers
  • electric coils, immersion heaters
  • fryers and grills of all kinds (e.g., George Foreman)
  • any other appliance or instrument with an open flame, exposed heating element or hot surface that poses a fire hazard

Items such as rice cookers and table top grills (e.g., George Foreman) may be used in the community kitchen as long as they are never left unattended while cooking or while hot.

Refrigerators

Refrigerators are allowed in student rooms as long as they bear the UL approved seal and do not exceed 4 cubic feet, 1.5 amps, and 100 watts.

Microwave Ovens

Microwave ovens are allowed in student rooms, whether as individual units or as part of a refrigerator/microwave combination. Microwaves may not exceed 1000 watts.

Micro-Fridges

Combination refrigerator/microwave units are allowed in student rooms as long as they bear the UL approved seal and the refrigerator portion does not exceed 4 cubic feet, 1.5 amps, and 100 watts.

Micro-Fridges can be rented for the academic year through Brown Student Agencies.

Coffee Makers

Residential-style coffee makers are allowed in student rooms. Not allowed are restaurant-style or commercial coffee makers, or those that keep water perpetually hot and ready for instant use. An "automatic shut off" function is a desirable safety option, so that the coffee maker turns itself off if you forget to do so.