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Deep Fryer Conversion Kit: Natural Gas to Propane in BC
A deep fryer conversion kit lets a gas fryer run on a different fuel, natural gas or propane, but in British Columbia the conversion must be done by a licensed gas fitter. Technical Safety BC regulates gas work in the province, and regulated gas work requires a licensed gas fitter working under a permit. This is not a job for a kitchen manager, a cook or an owner with a wrench. This guide explains what a conversion kit is, what the fitter does, what to check before you buy and when it makes more sense to buy a fryer already set up for your fuel.
Anything we could not confirm for BC is marked “confirm with a licensed gas fitter” so you know which questions to bring to your contractor.
What Is a Deep Fryer Conversion Kit?
Most commercial gas fryers are built and certified for one fuel. A conversion kit is a set of parts supplied by the manufacturer for that model, which allows the appliance to be changed to the other fuel. The kit usually includes burner orifices sized for the new fuel, a pilot orifice and often a pressure regulator or spring, plus an instruction sheet and a label that records the conversion. The parts are specific to the fryer model, so a kit for one brand or model will not fit another. Whether a kit exists for your exact fryer depends on the manufacturer: confirm with a licensed gas fitter and the fryer’s manufacturer.
Can You Convert a Natural Gas Fryer to Propane?
Often yes, if the manufacturer offers a conversion kit for that model, and the same applies in reverse for propane to natural gas. The two fuels burn at different pressures and need different orifice sizes and burner adjustment, which is why the right kit and a trained installer both matter. Converting without the correct parts can cause poor combustion, soot, leaks or a fire hazard.
Not every fryer can be converted. Some are built for one fuel only, and some are listed with certification for a single fuel. Check the data plate, the manual and the manufacturer before you plan to convert.
BC Rules: Who Can Convert a Gas Fryer?
In BC, regulated gas work is limited to licensed professionals. The key points are these:
- A licensed gas fitter must do the work. Technical Safety BC licenses gas fitters. Class A fitters can work on any input, and Class B fitters are limited to 120 kW (about 409,600 BTU/h).
- The work happens under a permit. Gas fitters work under a licensed gas contractor’s installation permit. Homeowner permits are limited to fully detached dwellings, and businesses cannot use them. In some municipalities, including Vancouver and Burnaby, the city issues the gas permit instead of Technical Safety BC.
- Commercial appliances need commissioning approval. A request to a gas safety officer for commissioning approval is normally made at least 48 hours before a commercial gas appliance is put into use. Your contractor handles this.
- Conversion specifics: BC’s Gas Safety Regulation defines a “conversion burner,” and the permit allows the work to start while testing and use wait for inspection. The exact approval steps for converting a fryer between natural gas and propane with a manufacturer’s kit: confirm with a licensed gas fitter.
- The appliance must be certified. A gas appliance generally needs a certification mark from an accredited agency, or field approval under CSA B149.3 from an accredited inspection body, before installation.
Please do not follow online step-by-step guides that tell you to swap orifices yourself. The steps vary by model, and the BC requirements above apply to the work itself.
What a Licensed Gas Fitter Does During a Conversion
Without turning this into a how-to, here is what you should expect from a professional job:
- Confirms the fryer model and the correct kit, and checks that the unit is certified for conversion.
- Shuts off and isolates the gas supply, then lets the fryer cool.
- Installs the kit parts as the manufacturer’s instructions describe, and applies the conversion label.
- Checks the supply pressure and the fryer’s manifold pressure for the new fuel. The correct pressures depend on the model and the fuel: confirm with a licensed gas fitter.
- Leak tests every connection and checks flame, pilot and safety controls.
- Handles the permit and inspection, and makes sure the appliance is not used until it is approved.
Before You Buy a Conversion Kit
- Read the data plate for the model number, fuel type, input rating and certification mark.
- Ask the manufacturer whether an approved conversion kit exists for your fryer, and whether conversion changes any of the manufacturer’s terms.
- Check your gas supply. The line size, the meter capacity and the regulator must suit the fryer. For propane, check the cylinder or tank arrangement and the installation code that applies. Confirm with a licensed gas fitter.
- Check your hood and fire suppression, which are tied to the cooking equipment under them. See our exhaust and hood category if your fryer line is changing.
- Get a written quote that includes the kit, the labour, the permit and the inspection.
When It Is Better to Buy the Right Fryer
A conversion kit is useful when the fryer is already in your kitchen and the fuel supply has changed. If you are buying a new or used fryer, it is often simpler to choose one built for the fuel you already have. Many manufacturers list the same fryer in separate natural gas and propane versions, such as the Hot Zone HZ F5-NG gas fryer and the Hot Zone HZ F5-LP gas fryer. Some models, like the Giles GBF-80G gas fryer with built-in filtration, are listed for natural gas or propane. Always confirm the fuel on the order.
If gas is not an option at all, an electric fryer avoids the question completely. Browse electric fryers to compare.
Air Fryer to Deep Fryer Conversion
People sometimes search for a way to convert an air fryer into a deep fryer, or a deep fryer into an air fryer. These are different appliances. A deep fryer heats a vat of oil, and an air fryer circulates hot air, so one cannot be converted into the other with a kit. If you want deep-fried results in a commercial kitchen, buy a commercial fryer. If you want a lower-oil option, look at ovens or other equipment designed for that menu.
Outdoor Propane Fryers
You will also find searches for the best fuel for outdoor propane fryers. Outdoor portable fryers are designed for propane cylinders and are separate from the commercial gas fryers described here. A commercial kitchen fryer is a permanent gas appliance with its own venting and fire protection, and it falls under the BC gas rules above. Our guide to lighting and using a propane deep fryer covers propane operation in more detail.
Choosing the Right Commercial Fryer
Whether you convert or replace, size the fryer to your menu and volume. Think about oil capacity, recovery time, filtration and how many baskets you need at peak. Our commercial deep fryer buying guide walks through the options. Browse our commercial fryers, including gas fryers and countertop fryers, and look at oil filtration machines and breading tables and dump stations to complete the line.
Conversion Checklist
| Question | Who to ask |
|---|---|
| Does a kit exist for my fryer model? | Manufacturer and a licensed gas fitter |
| Is the fryer certified for the fuel I want? | Data plate, manufacturer and gas fitter |
| Who installs the kit? | A licensed gas fitter under a permit |
| Which pressures apply? | Confirm with a licensed gas fitter |
| Is an inspection needed before use? | Yes: the contractor arranges it with the permit authority |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can convert a gas fryer in BC?
Only a licensed gas fitter, working under a permit. Technical Safety BC regulates gas work in the province, and in some cities, including Vancouver and Burnaby, the municipality issues the permit.
Can a natural gas fryer be converted to propane?
Often, if the manufacturer offers a conversion kit for that model. The parts and settings depend on the fryer, so confirm with a licensed gas fitter and the manufacturer.
What is in a deep fryer conversion kit?
Usually burner and pilot orifices sized for the new fuel, a regulator or conversion spring, a conversion label and instructions. The contents differ by manufacturer and model.
Do I need a permit and inspection to convert a gas fryer?
Yes, gas work is done under a permit, and testing and use wait for inspection. Your gas contractor arranges both. Confirm the exact steps with a licensed gas fitter.
Can I convert an air fryer to a deep fryer?
No. They are different appliances, and a kit cannot turn one into the other. For deep frying in a commercial kitchen, buy a commercial fryer.
Is it cheaper to convert or buy a new fryer?
It depends on the model, the labour, the permit and whether a kit exists. Request a quote for both options and compare the total, including the gas fitter’s work.
Need a fryer for natural gas, propane or electric? Browse our commercial fryers, gas fryers and electric fryers, or visit the Babak showroom at 7190 Randolph Ave in Burnaby. Call (604) 566-9747 or request a quote. Pricing, availability, delivery and installation are confirmed at the time of purchase.