Friday, February 17, 2017

Food Truck Lighting Design

An adequate and properly designed food truck lighting system is essential in a food truck kitchen for staff to efficiently do their tasks including cooking, cleaning and food preparation. The inside of the truck should be as free from glare and unwanted reflections as is practicable.

The design of a food truck lighting system must take into account:

  • available natural light
  • required luminance levels (lux) for the tasks being performed
  • reflectance of surfaces
A properly designed food truck lighting system within a mobile kitchen will help to reduce energy costs and improve the working environment for staff. In addition, electrical supply systems must comply with legal requirements. It is recommended that whether you are building or designing a food truck on your own or hiring a kitchen builder that the work be overseen by qualified electricians and designers to ensure compliance.

Natural and Artificial Lighting

food truck lighting designThe relationship between natural and artificial lighting is important to consider when lighting the inside of a food truck. While artificial lighting will normally be the main source of light, it is desirable to include natural light sources. Ideally the service window and skylights should not be less than 10 percent of the total floor area of the truck’s kitchen.
Windows and skylights allow light into a space, improving the staff working environment, however they can also be problematic as a source of glare. Careful consideration should be given to the positioning of these openings and the interaction between natural and artificial light levels.
The recommended illuminance level for a food truck kitchen is similar to a commercial kitchen’s areas for food preparation, cooking and washing and thus the luminance should be 240 lux.

Reflectance

lighting design light meter
A light meter can be used to determine existing light levels
Interfering reflections and glare can cause reduced visibility and become a source of distraction and annoyance for your food truck kitchen staff. Light will reflect off walls, ceilings, floors and work surfaces. Therefore, the color, material and type of finish of these surfaces should be carefully considered. The reflectance from these surfaces contributes to the overall luminance level of the inside of the food truck. Taking these considerations into account will result in good visibility conditions.
Ceilings occupy a substantial amount of the field of view. For larger trucks where there is indirect light penetrating the space, it is advisable to render the ceiling white or near white. The ceiling should have a reflectance level as close to 70 percent as possible.
Wall reflectance is important even though its contribution to the distribution of light is small. A high gloss finish creates glare, causing staff discomfort and fatigue.
For surfaces below eye level such as bench tops and floors, non-glossy finishes are recommended.
The colors and finishes should be selected in the food truck kitchen taking into account the contrasts between surfaces. For example, there should be a difference between the bench and wall. Finishes should not provide glare yet provide enough reflective light for the food truck staff to safely and effectively carry out their tasks.

Light Fixture Considerations

Light fixtures need to be installed in such a way that will not contribute to food contamination. They should also be designed and installed in a way that facilitates ease of cleaning. Fixtures should be recessed (if possible) or surface mounted on ceilings. Due to the lack of height within a food truck, it is typically not an option to suspended light fixtures.
Properly designed diffusers should be installed to assist with even distribution of light and contain glass fragments in the event of a lamp shattering.

Environmental Considerations

To reduce energy consumption through lighting in a food truck kitchen, consideration should be given to the following in the selection of lighting elements:
• for new lighting select T5 or CFL fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts (Wikipedia: lighting design fixture formats)
• use T5 or CFL fluorescent lamps in signage and menu boards
• in existing fluorescent fittings, re-lamp with triphosphor lamps and undertake re-lamping and cleaning programs on a regular basis
Follow the link to find even more information on food truck kitchen design.
Do you own a vehicle in which you wish you could redo the food truck lighting design? If so, let us know the issues you’ve run into in your food truck lighting in the comment section below or on social media. Facebook | Twitter
By |Under the Hood
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Properly Outfitting Your Food Truck Kitchen

//Properly Outfitting Your Food Truck Kitchen
  • food truck kitchen

    Properly Outfitting Your Food Truck Kitchen

    Your food truck business will only be as good as the food that you serve. This means that you will have to properly outfit your truck’s kitchen so that you can provide high quality meals. Stocking a food truck kitchen is typically one of the highest expenses new truck owners run into, so be prepared.
    To be prepared and to be able to minimize this initial out pouring of funds you must know what you will need to purchase and what your options are. This will help you from exceeding your budget.

    Properly Outfitting Your Food Truck Kitchen

    Plan Your Menu

    This may seem like an obvious step in the process, but if you plan your menu first, you will have a much easier time figuring out the equipment that your truck will need. Take the time to decide on what foods you will be offering on your menu.  A food truck offering grilled food will need a flat top; a pizza truck, a pizza oven and so on.
    The menu items you offer are not only reliant on your truck’s concept, but also on the size of your mobile kitchen. Keep in mind that you will need a kitchen large enough to prepare what you plan on offering. If your truck is too small, this will limit your storage and the size of your staff. Plan the size of your food truck kitchen accordingly. This will help you determine what you can purchase that will fit in it comfortably.

    Equipment

    Now that you know what your menu items are, it will be easier for you to figure out what equipment you will need in order to make those items.  Chances are that no matter what you will be making, you will need commercial refrigeration and some type of commercial oven, range, flat top or fryer(s).
    You will also need work tables in order to set up food stations that will make prep easier for your cooks. If you are cooking on board your truck you will also need to purchase items such as hand and three compartment sinks in order to meet health department regulations.

    Cookware

    Cookware is certainly an important component of a food truck kitchen. Again, depending on your menu items, you will need to choose what type of cookware you will need. These choices may be based on availability, meaning that you can purchase discounted cookware in your area, or preferences such as; you like cast iron or stainless steel cookware. There are many choices in cookware and you will need an understanding of what works best for the items you plan to serve your customers.

    Kitchen Utensils

    Kitchen utensils tend to be more universal than equipment or cookware. Most concepts will need knives, cutting boards, tongs and spatulas. Kitchen utensils can usually be purchased by the dozen or half dozen from restaurant supply stores at discounted prices, so that you can have enough utensils to prepare and cook all the items on your menu throughout the day, without having to constantly wash them.

    Staff Uniforms

    Perhaps less costly than your other purchasing requirements, but also important, are staff uniforms. You should choose good quality, matching uniforms that will last under tough food truck kitchen conditions.
    Many food truck owners have used branded T-shirts to outfit their entire staff while others have shirts for service staff and chef coats branded as the uniforms for their kitchen staff. If designed properly, your uniforms can provide a source of pride for your food truck employees.

    Making Your Food Truck Kitchen Purchases

    Now that you know what you need, you can move on to making your purchases. Your budget will determine the bulk of your purchasing options. If you landed generous investors who want to create an amazing food truck with brand new commercial kitchen equipment, then you will need to search for your best options for discounts, delivery and warranties on new equipment.
    There are also commercial retail discount stores that you can purchase from. Many times, these stores will include items that are ‘out of style’ and are no longer carried in the retail stores. Often this merchandise comes with warranties, giving you added security.
    If you have a small budget, you can choose to purchase second hand food truck kitchen equipment and supplies. Perhaps you can locate a restaurant or food truck that is going out of business. You may be able to purchase their used equipment and cookware for a much lower price than you would pay retail. You may not get the option of a warranty, but the cost difference may be well worth it.
    As you can see, properly outfitting your food truck kitchen is a huge endeavor and investment and one that will help you be successful in your mobile food venture.
    Did we miss something? We’d love to hear your thoughts on outfitting a food truck kitchen. You can share your ideas below or on social media. Facebook | Twitter
    By |Under the Hood
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    Tuesday, February 7, 2017

    Ohio man charged with arson after police use electronic data from his PACEMAKER to claim he was too calm when his house burned down and set the blaze deliberately 

    • Ross Compton, 59, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court to aggravated arson and insurance fraud charges
    • Police say he intentionally burned down his Middletown home on September 19
    • Compton told cops when he saw fire, he packed some belongings in a suitcase, broke a window with his cane and tossed the items out before going to car 
    • A cardiologist determined that it was 'highly improbable,' due to his medical conditions, that he could do all the collecting, packing and removal of items
    By Associated Press and Regina F. Graham For Dailymail.com
    PUBLISHED: 17:50 EST, 7 February 2017 | UPDATED: 21:56 EST, 7 February 2017
    An Ohio man has been charged with arson after police used electronic data from his pacemaker to claim he was too calm to have fled his burning home in fear. 
    Ross Compton, 59, is charged with felony aggravated arson and felony insurance fraud after police say he purposely set his Middletown home on fire on September 19. 
    A cardiologist told the police that Compton's story of waking to find his home ablaze and then frantically rushing to escape was 'highly improbable' due to his heart condition. 
    Authorities have also said gasoline was found on Compton's clothing and that the blaze started in multiple places at his home.
    Lt. Jimmy Cunningham told WLWT-TV the medical data from Compton's pacemaker represented some of 'the key pieces of evidence' in the case that led to Compton's arrest.
    Ross Compton (above in court Tuesday), 59, is charged with felony aggravated arson and felony insurance fraud after police say he purposely set his Middletown home on fire on September 19
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    Ross Compton (above in court Tuesday), 59, is charged with felony aggravated arson and felony insurance fraud after police say he purposely set his Middletown home on fire on September 19
    Authorities have said gasoline was found on Compton's clothing and that the blaze started in multiple places at his home (scene above)
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    Authorities have said gasoline was found on Compton's clothing and that the blaze started in multiple places at his home (scene above)
    The 59-year-old man told authorities that when he saw the fire inside his Middletown home, he packed some belongings in a suitcase and bags, broke a window with his cane and threw the items through the window before carrying them to his car, according to police.
    He also said he had a cardiac pacemaker, authorities said.
    Court records show that police got a search warrant to retrieve electronic data stored on the heart device. 
    The data included Compton's heart rate, pacer demand and cardiac rhythms before, during and after the fire, police said.
    A pacemaker monitors the heart and helps control irregular heart rhythms. The information is recorded and can be retrieved for analysis.
    Police were able to charge Compton (above in arrest photo) with two felonies based partly on data collected from his pacemaker
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    Police were able to charge Compton (above in arrest photo) with two felonies based partly on data collected from his pacemaker
    A cardiologist determined that it was 'highly improbable,' due to his medical conditions, that Compton could do all the collecting, packing and removal of items from his house and then carry them in the short period of time he indicated, according to court records.
    Police have said statements they received from Compton were 'inconsistent' with the evidence they gathered. 
    They also have said that he gave statements conflicting with what he had told a dispatcher, the Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reported.
    Compton previously told WLWT that the investigation had 'gone way out of control' and that he had 'no motive whatsoever to burn down my house.' 
    Compton, who is not working and on full disability, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court to aggravated arson and insurance fraud charges.
    Fire officials have said the blaze at Compton's home (above) caused about $400,000 damage
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    Fire officials have said the blaze at Compton's home (above) caused about $400,000 damage
    The case has raised privacy concerns from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on defending civil liberties in the digital world.
    Stephanie Lacambra, a criminal defense staff attorney with the San Francisco-based foundation, said in an email Tuesday that Americans shouldn't have to make a choice between health and privacy.
    'We as a society value our rights to maintain privacy over personal and medical information, and compelling citizens to turn over protected health data to law enforcement erodes those rights,' Lacambra said.
    Fire officials have said the blaze at Compton's home caused about $400,000 damage.
    His next hearing is set for Februaly 21 in Butler County Common Pleas Court.



    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4198450/Police-Ohio-mans-cardiac-pacemaker-data-leads-charges.html#ixzz4Y3lNgb9v
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    Friday, February 3, 2017

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