Driving a motorhome with the gas on! (1 Viewer)

[funflair]

@funflair has hit the nail on the head. Section 96(3)(c) allows the use of a gas fired fridge and heater while a vehicle is in motion. So I am afraid the original complaint is wrong.

I wasn't sure about the fridge with a naked flame at the back but thought water heater being inside the vehicle would pass.

Martin

 

[andy63]

Good points

Here are the links to research:

Hmm there is a bit of reading there.. just had a quick look...
They defiantly say that a cylinder that is vented poses less risk of rupture, but as I said above still can.
Trouble is in a fire situation there are so many variables not least been able to get close enough to apply useful cooling.
Again from memory the worst case sinario would be a heat source impinging on any part of the container that was above the liquid level of the contents of a cylinder... if that was the case you didn't have a lot of time as the container would be weakened very quickly without cooling been available..
Andy...

 

[hilldweller]

So it's going to vent either way open or closed.

Yes it will.

But it takes quite a long time, to get hot enough to vent so no blind panic to do a 4 min mile.

Here is the Russian take testing station.......

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Yes it will.

But it takes quite a long time, to get hot enough to vent so no blind panic to do a 4 min mile.

And of course venting does not automatically mean fire.

If there's nothing to ignite it then the gas will just disperse harmlessly into the atmosphere.

 

[Don Quixote]

Might have to take mine back then............................................. as without it when driving I would get cold.

Nice.................................................................................................

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[MitchandJenny]

I DO however, turn of our fridge whilst topping up the re-fillable gas bottles, because I suspect that if the fridge fired up whilst I'm dis-connecting the filler hose, I may just get a rather large bang !!!!! Because the fridge is sited above the re-fill point.
Mitch.

 

[hilldweller]

And of course venting does not automatically mean fire..

That would be the case of people who overfill a cylinder or one with a faulty 80% valve. Day warms up, it vents rather than bursting.

 

[magicsurfbus]

No more dangerous than when you get out with your lit fag and mobile phone in hand

The mobile phone thing is an urban myth anyway.

As a point of trivia, in America a few years ago more women than men were involved in petrol station fire incidents, and the reason was how Americans behave at petrol stations. Because of fear of armed crime they stick the nozzle in the filler pipe, lock it open, then get back in the car for security, waiting for it to click off automatically. Problem was their clothes rubbing against the car upholstery generated a static charge which occasionally sparked a fire, as the charge grounded through the car body when they put the filler cap back in. Because more women got back into the car than men, thus getting more charged up with static, more women had fire incidents.

Not a lot of people know that.

 

[Madcaravanner]

And of course venting does not automatically mean fire.

If there's nothing to ignite it then the gas will just disperse harmlessly into the atmosphere.

As long as it vents into the open air
In a closed area (Gas Box) there is a chance (not saying definitely) a chance that it will explode without an ignition source (see https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/compressed/compress.html )


But which ever way you look at it we are all carrying around a dangerous Flammable substance and we need to be careful

I could have said we are all carrying two potential bombs in our gas lockers so be careful out there folks

 

[Deleted member 29692]

As long as it vents into the open air
In a closed area (Gas Box) there is a chance (not saying definitely) a chance that it will explode without an ignition source (see https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/compressed/compress.html )


But which ever way you look at it we are all carrying around a dangerous Flammable substance and we need to be careful

I could have said we are all carrying two potential bombs in our gas lockers so be careful out there folks

If the gas locker on your motorhome is enclosed rather than adequately vented then that's a very serious issue. I suggest returning it to the dealer immediately

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[PeteH]

What I have not seen stressed, is that Propane (in fact virtually any `ane) is composed of gasses that are HEAVIER than Air. And will collect at the Lowest point, and is why there are (or should be) vents in the floor of the Caravan or Motorhome, and Gas locker and which makes Drains an issue!. To be honest, I have driven more often with the gas ON than off. The combustion of any gas, requires it be within the right zone, too much oxygen or too little and combustion will not take place. As for "venting", If you remember they left the Iraq Oil fields burning for long enough until they could be capped.

 

[Silver-Fox]

@magicsurfbus re phone I know hence my smiley

You can even use your phone to pay for fuel at Shell

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Apparently we shouldn't shower, make dinner, swap over drivers, make tea, use the loo, or put the kids to bed either

Think that only applies whilst your driving

 

[Jim]

As I'm sure most people know, in a fire closed gas bottles are effectively bombs. As the bottles get hotter and hotter the pressure inside the bottle increases and increases until eventually BOOM.

Most know that doesn't happen, well its not supposed to with modern bottles. Hollywood loves them, but rareley do they go "boom" I think myth busters shot the hell out of some to try and get them to explode but they refused.

This video shows bottles can explode but it looks like these bottles were not of a safe kind.

 

[andy63]

but it looks like these bottles were not of a safe kind.

LOL.... I think the video demonstrates that when directly involved in a fire there is no such thing as a safe kind..
andy

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[gus-lopez]

.

This video shows bottles can explode but it looks like these bottles were not of a safe kind.

The silver car near it managed to avoid all the bottles. I bet it needed a respray.

I wasn't sure about the fridge with a naked flame at the back but thought water heater being inside the vehicle would pass.

Martin

But the water heater is sealed from the inside & gets it air for combustion from outside where it also vents.So I would think that the flame would be classed as outside ?

 

[funflair]

The silver car near it managed to avoid all the bottles. I bet it needed a respray.

But the water heater is sealed from the inside & gets it air for combustion from outside where it also vents.So I would think that the flame would be classed as outside ?

Indeed, and you could be right but it doesn't matter to me anyway as I never run things on the move, but I do leave the gas bottles turned on and as far as I know that is still OK.

Martin

 

[Gromett]

"if there is anything left of the house it's a fire, not an explosion"

I laughed out loud at that one. Totally true but beautifully expressed.

OK fine. If it's a bottle with a pressure relief valve it will vent.

So it's going to vent either way open or closed.

I was always told better out than in, so I am all for early venting

 

[Gizmouk]

I've received a note this morning from a worried Mr G Camber.

​

From the link referenced by Mr Worried:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/96/made
"a gas-fired appliance which is fitted to engineering plant while the plant is being used for the purposes of the engineering operations for which it was designed;"

Maybe he needs to get an adult to explain the big words ...

 

[Gizmouk]

Mr Camber says that the practice is "totally illegal"

Simple way to deal with people like that ...
Ask them which law(s) are being broken. Then crack open a beer and enjoy the whispering silence

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[B-well]

I have to have mine on when travelling.

The pump that sprays my grey water over the road is gas fired

Sorry how do you get it to spray, mine just trickles in a straight line

 

[klaatu]

Sorry how do you get it to spray, mine just trickles in a straight line

Give it a shake!

 

[gwyntaxi]

Why doesn't he go back to looking at his neighbors and calling the council to complain about them and forget what others do witht their gas.

He probably manages to do that as well phoning the police because someone's parked near his house even though he doesn't have a car himself.

 

[gwyntaxi]

Somewhat strange that Mr Gas Chamber started a thread, and not one comment or response to any posting,I guess that means he's too tight fisted to contribute subs to MHF but is quite generous in his observations and would like to police and supervise us all in our way of life.!

 

[funflair]

Somewhat strange that Mr Gas Chamber started a thread, and not one comment or response to any posting,I guess that means he's too tight fisted to contribute subs to MHF but is quite generous in his observations and would like to police and supervise us all in our way of life.!

I would be if he had indeed created the original post BUT it was Jim passing on the wise words of a certain G Camber.

Martin

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[pyro]

It was Jim who created the original post, and whilst I might disagree with the way that it was phrased, I have mixed views about the issue of leaving the gas on whilst travelling.

As previously stated, I don't, but that's because my fridge works fine on battery, and I can wait 10 minutes or so for hot water to wash up when I arrive at my destination and wait for the kettle to boil. Our collision shut off on our one year old M/H doesn't have a visible reset button, and the manufacturers mandate that gas must always be off whilst travelling. I find it a bit mean that they didn't fit a user resettable collision shut off valve, but having a three way fridge and diesel heating, it's not a problem for us.

On top of all that I am a boater, I have seen far too many burned out boats on the river in the past and heard too many horror stories, so I am probably being hyper cautious. Boats have bilges, M/H don't

One of our best friends is head of the regional fire and rescue service, worked his way up from the bottom, and he tells me that the manual is right (in our case), "turn off all gas whilst travelling". He also tells me that a correctly installed modern fridge should automatically shut off gas whilst the engine is running, but unless gas were required for a suitably approved heater, and a visible collision shut off were fitted, and provided you weren't on a ferry, rail or pickup truck, then one should turn the gas off as a matter of routine whilst travelling. When I asked him if that was official policy, my friend looked at me and simply said "that is what is officially recorded on the fire report, so one can assume that may be a determining factor as to how or if the insurers settle any claims".

I don't go a great deal on this nanny culture of 'elf and safety, but taking prudent steps to avoid any unnecessary risk seems only sensible

 

[Bengaz]

I've never been really happy with the fridge's performance powered from the alternator, does it run better (cooler) on gas?
I always turn my gas off at the regulator when on the move as I also thought it was illegal.

 

[PeteH]

96.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this regulation applies to every motor vehicle and trailer.

(2) Paragraphs (3) and (4) do not apply to a vehicle constructed or adapted for the conveyance of goods under controlled temperatures.

(3) No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, in any vehicle to which this paragraph applies, while the vehicle is in motion on a road, any gas-fired appliance except—

(a)a gas-fired appliance which is fitted to engineering plant while the plant is being used for the purposes of the engineering operations for which it was designed;

(b)a gas-fired appliance which is permanently attached to a bus, provided that any appliance for heating or cooling the interior of the bus for the comfort of the driver and any passengers does not expose a naked flame on the outside of the appliance; or

(c)in any other vehicle, a refrigerating appliance or an appliance which does not expose a naked flame on the outside of the appliance and which is permanently attached to the vehicle and designed for the purpose of heating any part of the interior of the vehicle for the comfort of the driver and any passengers.

I suspect that "does not expose a naked flame on the outside of the appliance" would cover most modern Heating appliances.? (Modern) R-V Refrigerators, "Normally" run on 12V on the road anyway. And have a time delay before firing up sufficient to allow refuelling (unless you have 200Gall tanks!). Which implies that the legality is not in question, just whether the individual is comfortable with the Cylinder/Tank valves open.

As always "You pays your money"______?

 

[Stretto Boy]

It’s all perfectly safe and legal I believe if you have a SecuMotion or similar regulator.

Providing it works.

 

[Dilbert]

I saw a car and caravan roll over on the a34 years ago, every body stopped to help . One truck driver found the calor bottle hissing away in the ditch with regulator and hose still connected......

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