Gas bbq inside Awning??

[Prop]

Hi when you google if you can have a gas bbq in a awning/tent the answer is NO.

Why is that the case when we happily use our gas burners in the van?

Thanks

Paul

 

[David and Sally]

Good question. Experts are lining up to advise.

 

[Pausim]

Carbon monoxide is the usual reason for not using a bbq in an awning but I am not sure about gas ones.

 

[pappajohn]

If the BBQ is set up properly to minimise emmision I can't see a problem.

 

[David and Sally]

Our Moho manual says open a window when using the cooker. There cannot be much more ventilation than in an awning.

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[Barriesimpson]

As David and Sally have said, the experts will be on any minute now to tell you that using the gas BBQ inside the awning will surely kill you.

 

[meanders]

I don't know, but suspect a typical gas BBQ will be burning much more gas than a 2 ring hob, or even a little oven. The other risk inside an awning is fire. Areas around hobs are designed to be fire retardant. Awnings are likely to go up quickly unless very wet.

 

[Brains]

The main reason for not cooking inside a tent is fire.
If you have ever seen just how fast a tent burns, you would ensure that no one ever cooked inside a tent anywhere near you.

As an FYI a tent the size of a motorhome/caravan awning tent would disappear in under a minute.
A hike tent can go in 20 seconds.
It's spectacular, and very dangerous as there is no time to get out.

The known issue of charcoal BBQ's is never use them inside any confined space.
There are several tragic stories of people doing just that
including one where the parents had the BBQ under the porch cover of their frame tent, so technically 'outside'.
A child asleep inside the tent never work up.

I see no problem with using a Gas Cadac or similar under a wind out awning without sides.

 

[David and Sally]

There we go. Sense at last.

 

[Pausim]

This looks like the case Brains referred to.

Bucknell tent death: Hannah Thomas-Jones died from carbon monoxide poisoning

A teenage girl died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a campsite after a used barbecue was left inside the porch of her tent, an inquest finds.

www.bbc.co.uk

Another sad case attributed to a cooking stove.

Tragedy as boy, 12, dies with grandfather in shock camping trip poisoning

Kaicy Rakai Zelden Brown and his grandfather David Brown died as they slept side by side in suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

www.standard.co.uk

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[Brains]

This looks like the case Brains referred to.

Bucknell tent death: Hannah Thomas-Jones died from carbon monoxide poisoning

A teenage girl died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a campsite after a used barbecue was left inside the porch of her tent, an inquest finds.

www.bbc.co.uk

Another sad case attributed to a cooking stove.

Tragedy as boy, 12, dies with grandfather in shock camping trip poisoning

Kaicy Rakai Zelden Brown and his grandfather David Brown died as they slept side by side in suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

www.standard.co.uk

Unfortunately a brief google through just UK newspaper stories would bring up a dozen more very similar stories over the last decade.

When the recent story of the Grandfather/Grandson was initially reported, I said to my wife that I'll bet it's Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Bottom line, as every Scout knows:
NEVER COOK IN A TENT.

 

[MisterB]

George Foreman grill assisted by a large lithium and inverter works well inside an awning in my opinion ...

 

[Lenny HB]

Only an idiot with a death wish would use any type of BBQ in an awning.

 

[Cush]

deleted

 

[DavidG58]

I think the definition of an awning are far to varied to give a definitive opinion

Wind out with no sides compared to a drive away which can be fully enclosed

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[Chris]

Only an idiot with a death wish would use any type of BBQ in an awning.

I used to do it all the time with a gas bbq.

I wouldn’t do it with charcoal of course, but surely ventilation is the key?

 

[Lenny HB]

I used to do it all the time with a gas bbq.

I wouldn’t do it with charcoal of course, but surely ventilation is the key?

Not worth the risk.
What's the point of using a BBQ if you need to do it in an awning.

 

[Chris]

Not worth the risk.
What's the point of using a BBQ if you need to do it in an awning.

Because it’s raining?

 

[Guigsy]

I'd use a gas stove in a tent if it was pee'ing it down, but it'd be in the porch with the door still mostly open and with an idea of how I'd get out if something went wrong. And only if it's got a nice clean flame.

I guess the issue with even gas barbeques is they aren't burning as clean as a stove, so there'll be significantly more carbon monoxide. I'd use a gas BBQ in an awning if the whole side was open and I wasn't charring anything...

 

[Jabstatt]

Two points from me, please.

Firstly, I had a friend who burnt her tent down whilst cooking under the awning. The speed and volume of the fire was such that her and the BIL were airlifted to hospital with burns. The vision panels also emitted gas as they burned, or rather flashed, which affected her lungs for some many months.

Secondly, just look at your cooker flame. Nice blue colour. Complete combustion, no CO, only CO2 being produced.
Look at the BBQ burner. If there is any yellow, this is spare carbon glowing which means incomplete combustion, hence the risk of CO being emitted.
Look at the concentration needed for death.

Why even go there???

Tony.

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[Guigsy]

Why even go there???

There are some circumstances I'd use a stove in a tent. When I was bike-packing all day, I'd unpacked my coffin sized tent. It was pee'ing it down and I really needed a hot meal. I use a little jet stove where the pot locks on to the burner, so even if it falls over, there's no exposed flame. Carbon monoxide is still a consideration, but they also burn hot and fast. The biggest risk is me knocking it over on the uneven ground and getting boiling dehydrated rice curry on me.

 

[PaulW2]

Decades ago I had one of those little gas lanterns that use the disposable cartridges and a little stove that used the same cartridges. The kind that you carry in a rucksack.

One had to be careful, but they were sometimes used in tents when the weather was bad.

Given how the tents were designed they had much better ventilation than a motorhome, and I do after all use the gas cooker in my van.

But the fire risk is obviously real.

However, in an awning which is a relatively solid structure with a 'roof' higher than 2.5 metres, and where a gas barbecue may be used on a stable base where it is metres from anything else?

Not risk free but also not unthinkable.

Charcoal is of course a different matter.

 

[Moose29]

Not worth the risk.
What's the point of using a BBQ if you need to do it in an awning

My go to for outside cooking is a single induction ring and frying pan or pot. I'm on site, I've paid for electric so I'm using the electric.
This year at the British GP I'm off grid in a field. Its raining, I've got the Air Pro 390 on the side of the van. It's flapping in the breeze.
I'm cooking bacon or pasta on my cadac cook 2 in the awning to keep the smell/water vapour outside the van.
Am I an idiot or is this just as safe as cooking in the van with a window open? (Genuine question).

 

[Lenny HB]

Am I an idiot or is this just as safe as cooking in the van with a window open?

Yes I think you are, only need a bit of fat to drip & get a flare up and a nylon awning will go up in a ball of fire.
Old fashon canvas awning would be fairly safe by comparrison

 

[MisterB]

I don't see an issue with cooking on a gas appliance inside an awning with adequate ventilation.

So long as it's not left unobserved at any time and is on a firm base, away from anything that might catch fire. Common sense is the key ... which is why I installed an external 240v socket wired through the inverter (with pass through for EHU) so we only use electrical cooking appliances now inside the awning.

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[Moose29]

Yes I think you are, only need a bit of fat to drip & get a flare up and a nylon awning will go up in a ball of fire.
Old fashon canvas awning would be fairly safe by comparrison

Thanks for the reply. I take your point, in my situation it's more about fire than carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

[Moose29]

I don't see an issue with cooking on a gas appliance inside an awning with adequate ventilation.

So long as it's not left unobserved at any time and is on a firm base, away from anything that might catch fire. Common sense is the key ... which is why I installed an external 240v socket wired through the inverter (with pass through for EHU) so we only use electrical cooking appliances now inside the awning.

Thanks for the reply. I share the common sense approach.

 

[Palough]

I'd use a gas stove in a tent if it was pee'ing it down, but it'd be in the porch with the door still mostly open and with an idea of how I'd get out if something went wrong. And only if it's got a nice clean flame.

I guess the issue with even gas barbeques is they aren't burning as clean as a stove, so there'll be significantly more carbon monoxide. I'd use a gas BBQ in an awning if the whole side was open and I wasn't charring anything...

Burning LPG produces both Formaldehyde and Nitrogen Dioxide, among other non-desirable gases, water vapour being the only safe one I know of

Both, Formaldehyde and Nitrogen Dioxide are toxic to humans and odourless, oops

Cooking on a hob inside a closed van for short periods of time probably poses small, to no risk considering the cubic volume of the van and some ventilation, even if it's unintentional, under the bathroom door and out through the roof vent, acting like a chimney.

However, Formaldehyde poisoning is cumulative , but we all do it and somehow manage to survive

Or does it shorten our lifespan?, I doubt anyone has done any meaningful studies.

But, if you believe the alarmists, grandma cooking on the kitchen wood stove was poisoning herself, but the food was great

Cooking a casserole for 5 or 6 hours inside might not be such a great idea for long term longevity in a fully closed van

 

[Guigsy]

Burning LPG produces both Formaldehyde and Nitrogen Dioxide, among other non-desirable gases, water vapour being the only safe one I know of

Both, Formaldehyde and Nitrogen Dioxide are toxic to humans and odourless, oops

Cooking on a hob inside a closed van for short periods of time probably poses small, to no risk considering the cubic volume of the van and some ventilation, even if it's unintentional, under the bathroom door and out through the roof vent, acting like a chimney.

However, Formaldehyde poisoning is cumulative , but we all do it and somehow manage to survive

Or does it shorten our lifespan?, I doubt anyone has done any meaningful studies.

But, if you believe the alarmists, grandma cooking on the kitchen wood stove was poisoning herself, but the food was great

Cooking a casserole for 5 or 6 hours inside might not be such a great idea for long term longevity in a fully closed van

NOx buildup is an issue... which is why there was a (fake) uproar about the government taking away gas cookers about a year ago. Gas cookers in the home have a measurable impact on many respiratory conditions. And it's worse in confined spaces like vans.

 

[KNWH]

George Foreman grill assisted by a large lithium and inverter works well inside an awning in my opinion ...

An aunt refers to hers as a George Formby grill.
Haven’t the heart to correct her.

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