Street food vendors provided with LPG safety net

Thursday 21st September 2017

Street food is a growing phenomenon and has helped fuel rapid growth in the outdoor catering sector, from festivals and markets, to weddings and sports fixtures, and with things beginning to heat up for the sector, it is vital that street food vendors have access to clear safety guidelines.

With this in mind, UKLPG, the trade association for the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry, has partnered with the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) to launch the new UKLPG Code of Practice (Use of LPG for Commercial Catering Events, Street Food and Mobile Catering) to ensure the safe use of LPG.

The new Code will be showcased at the Street Food Live exhibition on 26th-27th September at Excel, London on the UKLPG member Clesse's stand, No.330. To support the launch, I will be running a seminar at the exhibition designed to give street food vendors a taster of the comprehensive guidance contained within the Code which covers all aspects of using LPG for cooking in mobile units, tents, marquees and stalls including areas such as transportation, storage, set up, ventilation and disposal of cylinders.

LPG is the perfect choice of fuel for outside caterers, giving the benefits of gas wherever it is needed. Its portability means it can be used anywhere from a festival field to a beer garden, and its versatility means it is not just used for cooking, but also for heating, power generation and refrigeration.

As the cleaner and greener option, producing significantly lower emissions and much less noise than a diesel generator, the benefits of LPG are clear, but it is important that users of LPG are aware of the safety-critical elements covered in the new guidelines.

Key factors covered in the Code

Guidance on the legislation and regulations surrounding the safe use of LPG
Checklist for users to self-check their installation
Detail on the design and construction of mobile units and temporary structures such as gazebos, marquees and tents
Detail on the safe use of LPG appliances and generators
Practical support and advice for catering operators, local authorities, environmental health officers, and health and safety advisors

I look forward to seeing some of you at the exhibition. The new Code will be available to order online via the website from 26thSeptember.

By Richard Hakeem, Director of Technical & Safety Policy, UKLPG