Could this be dangerous

[Alymar]

Hi, I have a 2018 Rollerteam 785 T line. We have a Truma combi 6e for heating and hot water. In 2017 Rollerteam changed the habitation door onto the passenger side. I have a cowl on the habitation door side just above the rear wheel. This cowl is for air intake and exhausts from the combi boiler, they achieve this by putting a pipe within a pipe. Could this be dangerous if I use my canopy awning or If I was ever to buy a full motorhome awning with sides. Thank you for any replies.

 

[Two on Tour]

The other thing to coincided is that having looked at images of the Rollerteam 785, are the fridge vents are also on the awning side on your van ?

 

[pappajohn]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the fridge vent, after all it's not much more than a pilot light but the boiler/heater vent is a no-no in an enclosed awning.

 

[Phill D]

we have the fridge vents on the awning side ( door on UK drivers side ) the only thing i have experienced is potential for need of a fan on the fridge in the hot summer months.

 

[Phill D]

on the basis that building / gas regs for property have fairly stringent measurements from flue to windows/ doors etc.

i would think enclosing fully in an awning could be a problem.

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[Lenny HB]

Quite a lot of vans have the Truma flue on the hab door/awning side, quite a few models in the Carthago range for example.

 

[Clarky]

Quite a lot of vans have the Truma flue on the hab door/awning side, quite a few models in the Carthago range for example.

Here's our Carthago.
Not only the Alde heating exhaust and fridge grill but the door for accessing and emptying the cassette.
All beside the cab door and under the awning.
How we have survived asphyxiation I'll never know.

Richard.

 

[tonyidle]

This cowl is for air intake and exhausts from the combi boiler, they achieve this by putting a pipe within a pipe

That's known as a balanced flue. Unless your awning is airtight (never seen one!) & you sleep in it you won't have a problem. If in doubt hang a CO alarm when the awning is in use

 

[Campervan_man]

A standard Fiamma / Thule awning won't be a problem. An enclosed zip awning would be dangerous if there was a flue pumping noxious gases in to it. Any modification on a motorhome should be assessed. If a flue is directly below an opening motorhome window there is usually a trip switch fitted on the inner window so that if the window is opened the boiler will turn off.
People sadly died just because they left a smouldering barbecue in the tent overnight.

Gyrn Goch tent death 'classic' poisoning from barbecue fumes

A woman who died while sleeping in a tent with a smouldering charcoal barbecue suffered "classic" carbon monoxide poisoning, an inquest in Gwynedd hears.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Phill D]

the answer if you have an enclosed awning as has been said by tonyidle a carbon monoxide alarm in the awning.

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[pappajohn]

That's known as a balanced flue. Unless your awning is airtight (never seen one!) & you sleep in it you won't have a problem. If in doubt hang a CO alarm when the awning is in use

So on that premise if you put a CO alarm in your kitchen at home it's OK to leave the gas cooker rings burning all day and night with the door closed.

 

[wasp]

I would have to check but, Caravans and Motorhomes come under a different criteria to mobile homes and residential. So on that premise I think if you are putting up an awning that contains a flue then I would recommend spending 20 quid on a co detector. At least that way you can monitor it, or buy a hand held one with a digital read out and try it

 

[tonyidle]

So on that premise if you put a CO alarm in your kitchen at home it's OK to leave the gas cooker rings burning all day and night with the door closed.

I did suggest it would be ventilated. Anyway that would probably set fire to the room.

 

[Allanm]

I thought enclosed awnings were for caravans.....

 

[ShaKen]

I thought enclosed awnings were for caravans.....

Maybe if you live in the South of France - but not in Scotland ?⛈??????

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[GWAYGWAY]

If it is open. to air then no possible build-up of gases but sealed off then it can build inside.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

Having a gas heater flue outlet into an enclosed awning where people are sleeping might be a risk.

Our Hymercar PVC has the Truma gas heater flue on the opposite side to the habitation door and the opening window which is above the flu has a Truma window switch which turns off the boiler if the window is open. This is to prevent heater exhaust fumes from entering the habitation area.

Mark

 

[wotme]

Why do you think they design burnt gasses to discharge safely into the outside atmosphere. If you think its okay to direct these same toxic gasses into an enclosed living or sleeping area then IMO I think you need educating big time.

 

[scotzsue]

Thanks for making me think Alymar will take a close look at any potentail purchase. We use a blow up drive away awning so have a nice 'tunnel' between the van and the tent part it's bloomin draughty in there so would hope any fumes would soon be dissipated. I sleep in the awning with sundry grandchildren and safety is always a priority, will look closely at where anything is vented to when looking at replacement vans.

 

[Brains]

I would have thought any van with the boiler exhaust on the same side as the door was an inherent design fault.

Whilst not ideal if you just have a normal awning, it would be potentially fatal for anyone using an enclosed tent type awning.

There was a fatality on a campsite a few years ago where a child was asleep inside the frame tent and the parents were sitting unaffected under the awning in front with a BBQ.
You don't need to be that close for it to be dangerous.
Hence my van has two internal carbon monoxide alarms and one for hanging in the awning
(Charcoal give off a lot more Carbon Monoxide than a LNG boiler)

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[PeteH]

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air. It is toxic to animals that use hemoglobin as an oxygen carrier (both Invertebrate and vertebrate) when encountered in concentrations above about 35 ppm,

The tendency would be to accumulate (first) in the lower part of any containment. So using the Awning for Sleeping would be a risk. Unless forced ventilation was introduced?.

 

[peterc10]

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air. It is toxic to animals that use hemoglobin as an oxygen carrier (both Invertebrate and vertebrate) when encountered in concentrations above about 35 ppm,

The tendency would be to accumulate (first) in the lower part of any containment. So using the Awning for Sleeping would be a risk. Unless forced ventilation was introduced?.

If it is less dense than air it would accumulate in the higher part. That is why CO alarms should be fitted high up on a wall.

 

[PeteH]

If it is less dense than air it would accumulate in the higher part. That is why CO alarms should be fitted high up on a wall.

Duhh! Some days I think I am dense.!

 

[Brains]

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air. It is toxic to animals that use hemoglobin as an oxygen carrier (both Invertebrate and vertebrate) when encountered in concentrations above about 35 ppm,

The tendency would be to accumulate (first) in the lower upper part of any containment. So using the Awning for Sleeping would be a risk. Unless forced ventilation was introduced?.

Corrected!

Hence it is safe to have a stove in a tipi style tent as they have a very high ceiling with a hole in the top!
But not in a small frame tent (or awning)

 

[PeteH]

Corrected!

Hence it is safe to have a stove in a tipi style tent as they have a very high ceiling with a hole in the top!
But not in a small frame tent (or awning)

And I supose if you think about it, why the Native Americans never (as far as we know) died of CO poisoning. The issue there was Genocide.

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