Mobile Outdoor Food Service Unit Gas Approval Requirements

Scope

This directive details Technical Safety BC gas approval requirements for mobile outdoor food service units (MOFSU) with walls on all four sides and a permanent roof; constructed, imported, or operated in British Columbia.

Excluded from this directive: other outdoor appliances, hot dog carts, and trailers. These must be certified to the appropriate Canadian Recognized Standard by an accredited certification body.

 

Definitions

Approved – acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.

Certified – investigated and identified by a designated testing organization as conforming to recognized standards, requirements, or accepted test reports (with respect to any appliance, accessory, component, equipment, or manufacturer’s installation instructions).

Mobile outdoor food service unit (MOFSU) – a unit used outdoors for preparation and dispensing of food or beverages and that contains appliances or equipment operated by propane in the vapour state. The unit can be equipped with wheels and its own motive power.

Certification mark – a stamp, mark, seal, label, tag, or other identification of a certification agency certifying that the regulated product to which it is affixed or attached or in which it is embedded meets the standard that the product must meet for that certification.

Note: For recognized certification and approval marks acceptable in BC, see Directive D-G5 05201 2.

 

Details

All MOFSU’s must bear one of the following:

1. Certification mark from a certification body accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC);
2. Approval label from an inspection body accredited by the SCC;
3. Technical Safety BC’s Record of Installation Permit (ROIP) decal affixed by a gas safety officer following a physical on-site assessment; or
4. Technical Safety BC gas approval decal issued under s.10 of the Safety Standards Act.

Note: Accredited inspection body decals or marks are acceptable in British Columbia, irrespective of the manufacturing location.

 

Permitting Requirements

Where a MOFSU does not bear a certification mark, approval label, or Technical Safety BC ROIP, an owner may engage a Technical Safety BC licensed gas contractor can obtain a commercial installation permit to confirm compliance in accordance with applicable code(s) or standard(s).

An individual permit application is required for each MOFSU, the permit fee is based on the total BTU input of all appliances contained in the unit, entered as a single appliance. The application must also include a list of all gas appliances and their serial numbers.

Upon completion, the gas contractor must contact Technical Safety BC and arrange for a physical on-site assessment by a gas safety officer. Upon confirmation of compliance an ROIP decal will be affixed by the regional gas safety officer.

Modification of a gas system, after the original approval or certification, requires a new permit to be obtained, the unit to be re-inspected, and a new decal applied.

 

Applicable Codes and Standards

An appliance, accessory, component, or equipment utilized in the gas system of a MOFSU must be certified/approved and installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s certified instructions and applicable code(s) or standard(s).

A Technical Safety BC gas safety officer or an accredited inspection body may decal a unit constructed to and in compliance with CSA B149.3 Code for the field approval of fuel burning appliances and equipment – Annex J.

MOFSU Piping systems installed in compliance with Annex J are exempt from requirements under CSA B149.1 Natural gas and propane installation code - clause 6.27.5.

MOSFU gas systems are not to be constructed to the CSA Z240.4.2 Recreational Vehicle Standard. A recreational vehicle which has been converted and had its vehicle gas system modified is no longer approved and must be approved or certified as detailed above.

If a MOSFU is connected to a separate, external container exceeding 100 lbs. capacity, or a fixed fuel source (e.g., natural gas meter), a commercial “piping only” permit must be obtained by a licensed gas contractor prior to connecting. If the additional container is replacing an on-board fuel supply, then the following will be required as applicable:

i. The installation shall comply with CSA B149.1 and CSA B149.2 Propane storage and handling code requirements.

ii. Container(s) integral to the unit are to be capped or plugged to prevent accidental release of propane, or entry of debris into container outlet(s).

iii. The first-stage or integral two-stage regulator is to be connected above the external container’s highest possible liquid level to prevent reliquification of propane vapour in accordance with B149.1 clause 5.1. The supply pigtail or whip is to be oriented to allow drainage of reliquefied propane back to container.

iv. If the external gas supply is removed, the system is to be returned to its original configuration and tested for integrity by a qualified gasfitter.

It is the responsibility of the owner or operator to ensure that their MOFSU meets any other regulatory requirements such as: electrical, plumbing, fire service, local health authority and local government bylaw, or licensing requirements.

 

Vicky Kang
Manager, Energy
Provincial Safety Manager, Gas

 

References: 
Safety Standards Act
Gas Safety Regulation
CSA B149.1 - Natural gas and propane installation code
CSA B149.2 - Propane storage and handling code
CSA B149.3 - Code for the field approval of fuel burning appliances and equipment