Which extinguisher for food trucks?

Equipping your food truck with a fire extinguisher is essential to ensure the safety of customers and staff alike, as food trucks are exposed to various fire risks due to the use of cooking equipment. 

Protecting your food truck against fire

When you own a food truck, the presence of cooking facilities means you need fire safety equipment.

The main types of fire extinguisher for food trucks

Various sources of heat and cooking (fryers, grills and hotplates) can cause fires. Different types of extinguishers can be used to dampen or extinguish different types of flames.

• Water-spray extinguishers: effective on Class A fires (solid materials such as wood, paper and fabrics). We recommend portable fire extinguishers with a minimum capacity of 6 liters, meeting NF and CE standards.
• Powder extinguishers: versatile, suitable for Class A, B (flammable liquids such as oil or gasoline) and C (gas) fires. Particularly suited to food truck kitchens where oils and fats are used.
• CO2 extinguishers: designed for Class B fires and electrical fires, they are indispensable when electrical equipment is involved. Their ability to extinguish fires without leaving residues is a major advantage in areas where hygiene is essential.
• ABF extinguishers: these are the extinguishers that are effective when a deep-fat fryer catches fire. They are designed for Class A, B and F fires (cooking fires involving oils and fats). A minimum of one 2-liter ABF extinguisher is recommended for a food truck.

Additional safety equipment

In addition to a fire extinguisher, a number of other accessories can be added to ensure optimum fire safety in a food truck, such as fire blankets to quickly extinguish a fire on a person or piece of equipment, or a safety register to record all the checks to be carried out periodically and the frequency of extinguisher maintenance.

Regulatory compliance

When it comes to fire safety, food trucks are subject to the provisions of the French Labour Code, as are all establishments receiving workers:

• Article R4227-29 stipulates that premises must be equipped with a sufficient number of fire extinguishers, appropriate to the risks involved.
• Once the quote has been accepted, the fire extinguishers should be installed within 2 to 5 working days.

Equipping a food truck with fire extinguishers adapted to its specific risks is essential to maximize safety and comply with current French legislation. The choice of extinguishers should therefore be made with care, and preference should be given to NF- and CE-certified equipment.

Equipping your food truck with a fire extinguisher

In your truck, opt for a multi-purpose ABC extinguisher, which can extinguish Class A (solid materials), B (flammable liquids and gases) and C (electrical equipment) fires. This is the most appropriate type, given the diversity of risks in a food truck (kitchen, electricity, gas, etc.). Choose a compact, lightweight model (2-3kg) that’s easy to handle in the confined space of a food truck. A 2kg ABC powder extinguisher is a good choice. Install the extinguisher within easy reach of the exit, visible and easily accessible. Avoid placing it near heat sources. You’ll need at least one extinguisher, if not two, depending on the size of your truck. You can also add a fire blanket.