What to ask on Fresh and Gray Water Tanks
Size and Shape (Gallons / Measurements / Fresh to Gray ratio / Slanted Bottom)
Fittings (Size / Placement / Materials)

Pipes (are you required to run a size)

Filling Procedure (Lockable Fill Dish / Materials)
Tank Placement (Inside / Outside of unit)
Clean Out Requirements (do you need to be able to see in the tank or get your arm into the tank to clean out)

Water Tank Percent Calculation Examples
15% Large Gray Tank Than Fresh: Multiply (fresh tank size) x 1.15 = Tank needed

25% Large Gray Tank Than Fresh: Multiply (fresh tank size) x 1.25 = Tank needed

50% Large Gray Tank Than Fresh: Multiply (fresh tank size) x 1.50 = Tank needed

I have only so much room how many gallons can I get in that space?
We do not recommend sizes or verbally give measurements, this is to avoid errors. Please look at the Water Tank List located at the top of each webpage or under Navigation Menu on mobile devices to see all tanks Class A Customs currently manufactures. You would need to compare the measurements of the tank with your available space and determine the best tank for your needs and application.

FRESH WATER TANK INFORMATION

What fittings will I need for my plumbing?
Do you have a "plug and play" or "concession kit"?
There is no one size fits all application for the water tank set-up, it varies by application, unfortunately we are not aware of what items you will be needing.

GRAY WATER TANK INFORMATION

Class A Customs Tanks that are white in color can be used for either Fresh or Gray Water use.

Class A Customs Black Tanks are used to hold Human Waste and/or used water from handwashing sinks, dish sinks, and showers - they are NOT for fresh water use.

FREE RESOURCES

Frank Baltierrez - How to Build a Food Truck Youtube Series

ServSafe Manager Practice Tests --- These are for practice only current tests will vary.

NYC Health Department - Free Online Course

State Food Safety - Disaster Relief Food Safety Training

CDC Center for Disease Control Food Safety Videos

Iowa State University of Science and Technology - Food Service Employee Training Videos

NYC Business Buildings Information System

I want the tanks in the video.
The UM-2000 and UM-2500 were used in this video along with our Basic Plumbing Kit for the fresh tank, verify the measurements of the tanks will work for your applications.

Example of how difficult getting a mobile food unit permit can be, check first and get approval.

 

EXAMPLES OF MOBILE FOOD UNIT TERMS

These are examples of terms and requirements that you may encounter.

ALWAYS check your local health department where the inspection will be made for requirements.

Mobile Food Unit: Any vehicle that is self-propelled or that can be pulled or pushed down a sidewalk, street, highway or waterway, on which food is prepared, processed, or converted or which is used in selling and dispensing food to customers. Mobile food units must be capable of being mobile at all times during operation. The wheels of the unit may not be removed from the unit at the operating location. Most mobile food units require a commissary for rapidly cooling foods, food washing, overnight storage, and dish washing facilities. Check local codes for requirements.

Unattended Mobile Food Unit Prohibited: No MFU shall be parked on the street overnight or left unattended and unsecured at any time food is kept in the MFU. Any MFU which is found to be unattended in this manner shall be considered a public safety hazard and may be ticketed and impounded. Additionally, after a Vendor is done operating on private property for the day, the MFU must be relocated to a site other than the private property on which it was operating, unless that private property is also the commissary for the MFU.

Plan Review: Conducted by the Regulatory Authority by reviewing the menu, equipment list, and layout of the unit for several reasons; 1) To make sure the unit will be in compliance with the regulations, 2) to prevent any misunderstandings by the applicant/owner, and 3) allows the RA to become familiar with the operation, the owner, and potential for future problems before the unit is permitted. Check local codes for requirements.

 

Identification: Each mobile food unit must be clearly marked with the licensee's name or a distinctive identifying symbol. Check local codes for requirements.

Water Supply: Mobile food units must use water from an approved water supply and be designed to provide a sufficient capacity to meet operational needs. The system must be of sufficient capacity to furnish enough hot and cold water for food preparation, dish washing, and hand washing. Materials used in the construction of mobile food unit water tanks and plumbing must be made of safe (food or drinking water grade) materials. All connecting hoses must be food grade and clearly identified as to their use (so as not to be mistakenly used for another purpose). A backflow prevention device must be installed at one hose connection bib to prevent backflow into the clean water system. Check local codes for requirements.

Grease Trap or Grease Interceptor mobile food vendors are calling letting us know some places are now requiring a grease trap to be installed on units. Ask before installing any plumbing. Guide To Grease Interceptor

Sewage Disposal: All liquid wastes must drain into an approved wastewater tank. All liquid waste from the waste tank or from cleaning activities such as cleaning the mobile food unit must be captured and properly disposed of in the sanitary sewer. Wastewater can not be dumped onto the ground, onto the streets, or into a storm a drain. Check local codes for requirements.

Power Source: Mobile food unit must have an appropriate power source (e.g., generator or plugged into an electrical source) to ensure food sanitation requirements are met at all hours of operation (e.g., provide proper cold holding, hot holding, and meet hand washing and dish washing hot water requirements). Check local codes for requirements.

Hot Water: Hot water generation and distribution systems must be sufficient to meet the peak hot water demands for hand washing facilities, dish washing, and other operations of the mobile food unit. Check local codes for requirements.

Hand Washing Facilities: The location of hand washing facilities must be convenient and readily accessible to all operations. Mobile food units must have plumbed hand washing facilities with water under pressure. The use of hand washing facilities is restricted to hand washing only. A splash guard around the handsink to prevent splashing cross contamination. Check local codes for requirements.

Dish Washing: All utensils and equipment must be washed in a 3-compartment sink (capable of washing the largest utensil or equipment) or commercial dishwasher. Check with local code for smaller units that do not have dish washing sinks. Check local codes for requirements.

 

 

 

 

Indirect Waste: Any piece of equipment utilized to hold food or ice that is equipped with a drain must have indirect waste plumbing. Check local codes for requirements.

Potentially Hazardous Food: A food that is natural or synthetic and is in a form capable of supporting the rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms, or the growth and toxin production of clostridium botulinum. “Potentially hazardous food” includes an animal food that is raw or heat-treated, a food of plant origin that is heat-treated or consists of raw seed sprouts, cut melons, and garlic and oil mixtures. Check local codes for requirements.

Food Handler Cards: All food service workers who handle food, drinks, or utensils must have a valid Food Handler Card. Check local codes for requirements.

Food Sources: All foods, beverages and ice must be obtained from an approved source. Any food preparation or food storage done off-site must be accomplished at a licensed food establishment. No home prepared or home canned foods or foods that have been stored in a home are allowed. Check local codes for requirements.

Cold Holding: Adequate refrigeration must be provided to ensure potentially hazardous foods are held at correct temperature. Each refrigeration unit must be equipped with either a built-in thermometer or be provided with a numerically scaled spirit stem thermometer. Thermometers must be located to measure the air temperature in the warmest part of the refrigerator and located in an area where the thermometer is easy to read. Check local codes for temperatures.

Hot Holding: Adequate equipment to hold hot potentially hazardous food must be provided. Check local codes for temperatures.

Rapid Cooling: The best way to keep food safe is to make it fresh each day, just before you serve it. If you have food that is leftover or made in advance, you must cool this food rapidly at a facility with equipment designed for rapidly cooling foods. Check local codes for temperatures.

Rapid Reheating: Potentially hazardous food that has been cooked, cooled, and reheated for hot holding must be reheated with appropriate methods and heating - Check local codes for temperatures.

Probe Thermometer: Check local codes for requirements.

Date Marking: Ready-to-eat potentially hazardous foods that will not be used within a day must be date marked with either the preparation date, use-by date, or date the commercial package was open. Check local codes for requirements.

 

 

 

Storage: Adequate storage equipment is required to assure that all food, food containers, and single service utensils are stored at least six inches above the floor, or on a four inch high platform (or wheeled platforms). Storage shelves must be smooth, impervious, and easily cleanable. Food may not be stored in areas such as under sinks with exposed or unprotected sewer lines or water lines. Toxic items must be stored and labeled to allow for proper use and prevent contamination of food and food contact surfaces. Check local codes for requirements.

Auxiliary Storage: Auxiliary storage is limited to items necessary for one day of operation. Auxiliary storage must be in impervious, nonabsorbent, covered containers and stored in a way that prevents contamination and meets food safety requirements. Check local codes for requirements.

Produce: Produce must be washed at a licensed facility in a sink with indirect waste. Check local codes for requirements.

Equipment: All equipment should be easy to clean and maintained in good repair. All metal equipment should be free of rust and corrosion. Rusty/corroded metal equipment should be replaced or refinished in an approved manner. Wooden surfaces must be finished to provide a washable surface. All stationary equipment should be installed to allow easy cleaning beneath and/or behind equipment. Check local codes for requirements. Documents of Approved Appliance Testing.

Hoses: Liquid waste hoses must be differing color from those used for potable water.

Durable, corrosion-resistant, nonabsorbent.
Resistant to pitting, chipping, scratching, and other distortion and decomposition.
Finished with a smooth interior surface.
Protected from contamination at all times.
Clearly and durably identified as to its use for potable water.

Self-Service: Self-service foods within customer reach that are not prepackaged must be protected from customer contamination by a sneeze shield or other approved means. Condiments such as ketchup containers and salsas must be dispensed to protect foods from contamination. Condiments must be dispensed from the mobile food unit. Auxiliary storage may not be used for self-service, assembly, or preparation activities. Check local codes for requirements.

Ventilation: Adequate ventilation is required to prevent grease or condensation from collecting on walls and ceilings. Please check with local city and/or county building and fire departments regarding requirements. Do I need a Fire Inspection? Fire Extinguisher? Ancillary Fire Suppression System Check local codes for requirements.

Wall, Floor, and Overhead Protection: Floors, walls, and ceilings must be finished, smooth, and easily cleanable. All outer openings must be protected to prevent the entrance of insects, rodents, and contamination from weather elements.

Overhead protection must be provided for mobile food units that are operated outdoors and where food is not covered at all times. Examples of overhead protection include roofing, ceilings, awnings, or umbrellas. Overhead protection is not required for barbecue units that have a lid or covering that will protect foods from contamination. The overhead protection must be maintained in good repair. Check local codes for requirements.

Lighting: Adequate lighting must be provided. Light bulbs must be shielded or shatter resistant. Check local codes for requirements.

Doors and Windows: Exterior doors must be rodent proof (clearance may not exceed 1/4 inch and should be as tight-fitting as possible). All openings to the outer air must be screened to prevent fly entry. Check local codes for requirements.

Employee Personal Items: Employee personal items such as jackets, purses, medicines, etc., must be stored separately from food preparation areas and in a manner to prevent contamination. Check local codes for requirements.

Garbage Disposal: Must be disposed of at an approved, sanitary garbage disposal site or at base of operations. Garbage facilities at the base of operations must be located in an area with a hard, nonabsorbent surface such as cement or asphalt. Outside containers must be covered and adequately sized. Check local codes for requirements.

Hazard: A biological (microorganism), chemical (cleansers, pesticides), or physical (fingernail, plastic) property that may cause an unacceptable consumer health risk. Check local codes for requirements.

Smoke-free Workplace Law: Check local codes for requirements.

Examples Of Food Truck Rules - Verify What You Need Before Purchasing

Water Heater Requirements
A water heater or an instantaneous heater capable of heating water to a minimum of 120°F, inter-connected with a potable water supply, must be provided and must operate independently of the vehicle engine.
The water heater must have a minimum capacity of three gallons.
Mobile food facilities approved for limited food preparation may provide a water heater with a minimum capacity of one-half gallon

Potable and Waste Water Tanks
Materials used in the construction of potable water and wastewater tanks, line couplings, valves and all other plumbing must be:
Safe, durable, corrosion resistant, nonabsorbent, and finished to have smooth, easily cleanable surfaces.
Installed, maintained, and constructed of materials that will not contaminate the water sup-ply, food, utensils, or equipment.
Potable and wastewater tanks must be:
Sloped to an outlet that ensures complete drainage of the tank and designed and constructed so as to be easily and completely drained.
Installed with an air vent overflow capable of preventing potential flooding of the interior of the facility.
When located in a protected area, the vent must terminate in a downward direction and must be covered with 16 mesh per square inch screen or equivalent.
When located in a non-protected area that is from windblown dirt and debris, a protective filter is required.
Designed with an access port for inspection and cleaning*, located at the top of the tank and equipped with a port cover assembly provided with a gasket and a device for securing the cover in place, flanged to overlap the opening and sloped to drain.
*Mobile food facilities with non-accessible water tanks may submit written operational procedures for the cleaning and sanitizing of the potable water tank to satisfy this requirement.
Flushed and sanitized before being placed in service after construction, repair, modification and periods of non-use.
The potable water tank must be enclosed from the filling inlet to the discharge outlet.
All waste lines must be connected to wastewater tanks with watertight seals
Any connection to a wastewater tank must prevent the possibility of contamination to any food, food contact surface, or utensil.
Potable water tanks must be installed in a manner that allows water to be filled with an easily accessible inlet
Inlets and outlets must be positioned so that they are protected from contaminants
Inlets and outlets must be constructed so that back flow and other contamination of the water supply is prevented.
Fittings must be protected between uses by a cap, quick disconnect, or other approved protective cover or device.

Hoses used for conveying potable water to or from a water tank must be:
Smooth
Durable, corrosion-resistant, nonabsorbent
Resistant to pitting, chipping, scratching, and other distortion and decomposition
Finished with a smooth interior surface
Protected from contamination at all times.
Clearly and durably identified as to its use for potable water
Liquid waste hoses must be differing color from those used for potable water

What is a mobile food facility?
A mobile food facility (MFF) is a truck, trailer, cart, push cart or other vehicle that meets California Retail Food Code (CRFC) requirements and operates in conjunction with an approved commissary or other permitted food facility.


Can I use an open-air barbeque alongside my mobile food facility?
No, unless the MFF is operating at a permitted community event only. Open-air barbecue operations are only allowed on the same premises as a permanent food facility approved for food preparation, at a temporary food facility, or a stationary MFF operating at a permitted community event???.