Appeal 33582

PFC 319.2.5

Generator use and cooking operations shall be prohibited where mobile food units are located inside a building unless approved by the building official.

Proposed food cart to be located beneath a covered patio, provided that all cooking equipment is electric (no gas or propane) and adequate fire protection and venting is provided.

We propose a food cart to be located beneath a covered patio. The patio is constructed of a heavy timber structural frame with CMU exterior walls and is located adjacent to an existing masonry building. The patio will be fully sprinklered per NFPA-13 requirements, and is provided with two means of egress per OSSC 1006. The food cart will contain only electric cooking equipment (no gas or propane). The cart will contain a Type 1 exhaust hood, which will vent vertically through the roof of the patio. The mobile food unit will be a trailer-type unit, rather than an operable vehicle, which will help prevent any fire danger from starting an engine. The wheels will be locked or otherwise rendered immobile to reduce the risk of theft of the unit so that someone may not drive off with the unit while connected.

This alternative is requested to provide adequate security and shelter for the mobile food unit. The existing building, 301 SE Morrison St., has experienced multiple prior break-in attempts. We feel that it is safer to enclose the food cart to restrict access from someone who could misuse or improperly disconnect cooking equipment. We feel that the inclusion of fire sprinklers at the patio, the use of only electric cooking equipment, and a Type-I hood with exhaust through the patio roof will provide adequate fire protection. Since the cart is separated from the existing structure by a solid masonry wall, and the patio is provided with two means of egress, we believe that the food cart poses no additional risk to occupants of the existing building or the patio in the event of an emergency.