TSSA & ESA FACTSHEET 

TSSA is an Administrative Authority empowered under the Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act, 1996 to administer and enforce the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 and its regulations. This Act and its related Regulations and Codes regulate the installation, use, and maintenance of fuel burning, heating, and cooking equipment from a safety perspective.

The Act is consumer protection legislation. For public safety reasons compliance with the requirements of the Act and its regulations are imperative.

The TSSA is concerned with Mobile Food Service Equipment (MFSE), commonly known as Coffee Trucks, Chip Wagons, or Hot Dog Carts, which contain propane fired equipment and appliances. These appliances may be: (a) unapproved, (b) not properly serviced or maintained, or (c) operated in an unsafe manner. These situations could result in a hazardous situation such as fire or explosion.

If your MFSE was manufactured after February 12, 2006 it must have approval from a nationally recognized certification organization or approval from a TSSA field approval process. VIA Custom Trailers is obliged to submit forms, an engineering review, and arrange an inspection. In addition to this approval, the MFSE will require an annual inspection as per Director’s Order FS-056-06 (tssa.org).

This program provides for approval of appliances, equipment, and components of MFSE, however the program is not intended to circumvent the normal procedure of certification of appliances, equipment, and components by designated testing organizations, for example Electrical Safety Authority. To explain, approval under TSSA program does not include electrical features of appliances, equipment, or components. In fact evidence of electrical approval is required before TSSA field approval can be granted, which VIA Trailers arranges.

The Electrical Safety Authority conducts an inspection of the trailer and its components for compliance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Trailers and appliances are wired according to CSA guidelines, however the electrical safety of all components working in conjunction with the trailer’s electrical panel must be approved by ESA.

How do I get my concession trailer approved by TSSA and ESA? 

VIA Custom Trailers, as part of the concession trailer purchase, takes charge of this process. Each trailer is inspected by ESA and TSSA while still at our location; done before you take final delivery. Upon successful completion of TSSA and ESA inspections, certificates of compliance are placed in your file.