This NFPA fact sheet provides a safety checklist for mobile and temporary cooking operations, especially food trucks. It is designed to help operators, event organizers, and local officials understand basic fire safety, propane, fuel, and operational safety expectations.
The fact sheet covers:
General food truck safety
Food trucks should have required local licenses or permits, maintain at least 10 feet of clearance from buildings, vehicles, structures, and combustible materials, and keep fire department access routes and hydrants clear.
Fire protection requirements
Cooking appliances that produce grease-laden vapors or use combustible media should have approved fire extinguishing systems. Portable fire extinguishers should also be properly selected and installed.
Worker training
Food truck staff should know how to use fire extinguishers, shut off fuel sources, notify the fire department, and perform basic gas leak checks.
Fuel and power safety
The sheet outlines safe practices for fuel tanks, generators, refueling, exhaust placement, and electrical systems. Refueling should happen only during non-operating hours, and generators should be separated from the public.
Propane safety
Propane containers should be upright, secured, and easy to shut off. Gas systems should be inspected before each use, leak-tested when connections are changed, and documentation should be available for review.
Operational safety
Cooking equipment should not be left unattended while hot. Ventilation sources should be open during operation, gas valves should be closed when not in use, and grease should be regularly cleaned from cooking and ventilation systems.
Solid fuel use
For trucks using wood, charcoal, or other solid fuels, the sheet gives guidance on safe fuel storage, ash removal, and disposal in closed metal containers placed away from cooking appliances.
Overall, this is a helpful quick-reference resource for communities that allow food trucks at downtown events, since it gives both event organizers and vendors a simple safety checklist to support safer operations.
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