New Safety Requirements for Food Trucks - April 2023

New Fire Code Requirements for Food Trucks, Trailers and other Temporary Mobile Cooking Operations

April, 2023

Food trucks add fun and diverse flavor to a roadside stop or community event, but there are safety considerations unique to food trucks that can leave a bitter aftertaste if ignored. A number of high profile food truck fires and explosions have resulted in serious injuries and tragic loss of life. Fortunately, the NH State Fire Code has a number of safety regulations to help keep food truck and trailer operators and their patrons safe and the Milford Fire Department is actively working to educate business owners and event planners of the requirements for safety. 

The 2018 NH State Fire Code, as amended by the State of NH, now requires temporary mobile cooking operations that feature a propane appliance and electrical system to have a propane gas detector listed to UL 1484 standards installed and tested monthly. The codes also require that all workers be trained in emergency procedures. For more information on these and other safety requirements for food trucks and similar operations, review the attached memo from our Fire Prevention Bureau and the Food Truck Fact Sheet from NFPA.