LPG gas system
for a food trailer.
The gas system is the part of a food trailer where the compliance is least negotiable and the consequences of getting it wrong are worst. It is also the thing most reliably checked before you are allowed to trade anywhere that matters.
The numbers
- Footprint
- Vented external bottle locker — must not open into the serving area
- New (indicative)
- €600 – €3,000
- Checked
- 2026-08-01
Power figures are ranges across models commonly sold into the Irish trailer trade — read the rating plate on the actual unit before you build a load budget on them. Prices are indicative guidance bands, not quotes, and no supplier is named or implied.
RGI certification, annually
Any LPG installation in a commercial food trailer must be installed and certified by a Registered Gas Installer, and that certificate is annual rather than one-off. A new or altered installation also needs a Notification of Gas Works. Festivals check the certificate at gate-in, environmental health officers ask for it, and insurers will look for it after any incident. Diary the renewal — an expired cert is functionally the same as no cert.
Bottle storage and ventilation
LPG is heavier than air, so a leak pools at floor level rather than dispersing upward. Bottles must be stored in a vented locker that drains to the outside and does not open into the serving or cooking space, secured upright so they cannot move in transit. Low-level ventilation in the trailer body is a requirement for the same reason. This is exactly what an inspector looks at first.
Interlocks, detection and shut-off
A gas interlock ties your gas supply to the extraction system so gas cannot flow unless extraction is running — increasingly expected in commercial installations. Fit a gas leak detector, know where the emergency shut-off is, and make sure every person who works in the trailer knows too. Turn the bottles off at the bottle, not just the appliance, whenever you close down or travel.
Questions
How often does a trailer gas certificate need renewing?
Annually. An RGI certificate is not a one-off — festivals check it at gate-in, environmental health ask for it, and insurers look for it after an incident. An expired certificate is treated the same as having none.
Where can LPG bottles be stored on a food trailer?
In a vented external locker that drains to the outside and does not open into the cooking or serving area, with bottles secured upright. LPG is heavier than air so leaks pool at floor level, which is why low-level ventilation and external drainage are required.
What is a gas interlock and do I need one?
It ties the gas supply to the extraction system so gas cannot flow unless extraction is running. It is increasingly expected in commercial trailer installations — your RGI will advise on whether your specific setup requires one.