The dangers of gas in a van ?

[Otter Spotter]

Saw this

Motorhome explodes near Dursley

A COUPLE have told how their camper van break in a field near Dursley was rocked by a sudden explosion as a nearby motorhome blew up.

www.gazetteseries.co.uk

 

[EuroTrotters]

Oh dear

Glad nobody was hurt.

I sent someone who was trying to find me the what3words location the other day.

yes, I’ve got the app he said, yes, I’ve got your 3 words.

Then moaned like sim that it took him 30 mins to find me. Why?. Because he didn’t bother with the what3words app.

 

[Phil89a]

What could have caused that; any thoughts ?

 

[David and Sally]

What could have caused that; any thoughts ?

pilot light for heating or water gone out?

 

[pappajohn]

What could have caused that; any thoughts ?

Only one thing springs to mind..... Gas leak ignited by the fridge burner most likely cause.

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[ambulancekidd]

Interesting report Dave. I wonder if it was the smoke detector which woke the other bloke or perhaps the carbon monoxide alarm?

If there was an uncontained fire burning for a while, the explosion was probably the gas cylinder going off.

 

[Lenny HB]

Only one thing springs to mind..... Gas leak ignited by the fridge burner most likely cause.

Often the case, about 30 years ago on a site in our caravan, a caravan was burnt out, source of ignition traced to the fridge. It was an old caravan the occupants had borrowed.

One caravan we had I smelt gas the steel pipe from the gas valve to the control knob had rusted just a pin hole. Found a local Calor gas shop they made me a copper replacement.

Slightest smell of gas I'm out with my gas sniffer.
Overall very few instances of problems with gas considering the amount of Caravans & Motorhomes in use.

 

[Nanniemate]

I think I would have looked out the window to see what the noise was, but I camp alone good thing the were not parked close together a good lesson

If you hear an alarm going off check it

 

[Coolcats]

Oh dear

Glad nobody was hurt.

I sent someone who was trying to find me the what3words location the other day.

yes, I’ve got the app he said, yes, I’ve got your 3 words.

Then moaned like sim that it took him 30 mins to find me. Why?. Because he didn’t bother with the what3words app.

Mobiles have AML embedded in them so that in an emergency you can be found, it also means that you are not reliant on downloading or operating the app in a scenario such as this and in that scenario the person could be 100's of meters from the original call yet AML would still track them allowing an efficient rescue. Just saying......

 

[ceejayt]

I refer the honourable gentlemen to a previous thread about habitation checks and the importance of an annual gas pressure test as the one thing that really is a good idea to get done.
These vehicles bounce around in the roads you can’t rule out anything working loose

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[Lenny HB]

I refer the honourable gentlemen to a previous thread about habitation checks and the importance of an annual gas pressure test as the one thing that really is a good idea to get done.
These vehicles bounce around in the roads you can’t rule out anything working loose

Very few if any dealers would know how to do a gas pressure test. Most just use a sniffer, anyone can do that, I always carry one in the van.

 

[Stag man]

Very few if any dealers would know how to do a gas pressure test. Most just use a sniffer, anyone can do that, I always carry one in the van.

Agree.
As with most tests the range span is from cursory to detailed
I always want to see the actual results from each appliance (and flues where applicable) before I am happy

 

[Motorhomer14]

This is a wake up story to be safe with the gas, as others have stated a gas leak will ignite then fridge kicks starts electrical or something else. Usually propane is heavier than air and if gas box has floor vents the gas should go out of the van. You can get gauges for gas bottles which are a great way to pressure check the system for leaks. Still sad news for the couple but least they are around to tell the story.

 

[tonyidle]

pilot light for heating or water gone out?

Does anything use a pilot these days? And even if something did it would have a FFD.

 

[tonyidle]

Agree.
As with most tests the range span is from cursory to detailed
I always want to see the actual results from each appliance (and flues where applicable) before I am happy

I'm much happier with a manometer test - that I do myself.

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[Motorhomer14]

Be interested if anyone has fitted one of these below. I use to have a different on built into the regulator but new vans now have mounted regulator. You can do a gas leak check on this and if you have an excessive leak it shuts off. Might post this on a separate forum to get some reviews. https://www.gasequipmentdirect.co.u...Ab_9UnriwNogxi8IDnk0MLsghKXB_ZshoCRMsQAvD_BwE

 

[Lenny HB]

Does anything use a pilot these days? And even if something did it would have a FFD.

Only very old fridges.

 

[tonyidle]

Only very old fridges.

I thought the pilot was the only burner on old fridges?

 

[Lenny HB]

I thought the pilot was the only burner on old fridges?

I think you might be right the flame just goes up & own and it is on constantly. A long time since I've seen one of them.

 

[tonyidle]

I think you might be right the flame just goes up & own and it is on constantly. A long time since I've seen one of them.

Not long enough IMO .

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[nicholsong]

The report says they owners only had it two weeks, but does not say whether bought new or used.

If new, the dealer may have some difficult questions to answer.

If used, then 'Caveat Emptor', but hopefully insurance will pay.

On the insurance aspect do policies normally cover collateral damage to other MH/Caravans in these circumstances? [Not got my policy wording handy]

geoff

 

[Coolcats]

I hear a lit match is good for checking leaks, if its a small leak you may get a 'pop' and a small flame appears if its a bigger leak your problems are all over

On a serious note as others have said Gas checks are vital if you are confident and know how to carry out a gas safety check then that's great or ensure its in the habitation check schedule

Glad to hear the owner of the vehicle affected at this incident is OK

 

[two]

I know someone who blew the windows out of their caravan one morning. They did not smell gas but there ws enough to ignite when they went to boil a kettle for an early morning cuppa.
No harm to themselves, and no subsequent fire. Just an embarrassing story to tell.

 

[scotzsue]

The report says they owners only had it two weeks, but does not say whether bought new or used.

If new, the dealer may have some difficult questions to answer.

If used, then 'Caveat Emptor', but hopefully insurance will pay.

On the insurance aspect do policies normally cover collateral damage to other MH/Caravans in these circumstances? [Not got my policy wording handy]

geoff

Sons car was in a multi story car park when another car had an electrical fault about 20 vehicles damaged or destroyed, the faulty car’s insurance did not pay out for any of the others damaged. This was in the late 80s

 

[TheMachMan]

Be interested if anyone has fitted one of these below. I use to have a different on built into the regulator but new vans now have mounted regulator. You can do a gas leak check on this and if you have an excessive leak it shuts off. Might post this on a separate forum to get some reviews. https://www.gasequipmentdirect.co.u...Ab_9UnriwNogxi8IDnk0MLsghKXB_ZshoCRMsQAvD_BwE

Just ordered one, as looks fair price, so worth a punt. Now that Calor have stopped their lite bottles.

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[Minxy]

I think I would have looked out the window to see what the noise was, but I camp alone good thing the were not parked close together a good lesson

If you hear an alarm going off check it

... and get blown to smithereens!

I refer the honourable gentlemen to a previous thread about habitation checks and the importance of an annual gas pressure test as the one thing that really is a good idea to get done.
These vehicles bounce around in the roads you can’t rule out anything working loose

We had our 'flame thrower' incident due to a badly dealer fitted BBQ point 2 months after it had had it's full hab check including gas test, so it is no guarantee that it is safe, in our case whoever did the hab check should have realised and ensured that the 'idiot' who installed it was shot and then immediately rectified it.

 

[Motorhomer14]

Just ordered one, as looks fair price, so worth a punt. Now that Calor have stopped their lite bottles.

Be interested how you get on. Heard mixed reviews. I know the gauge is not very accurate but for gas leak test should be ok. Only worry is the flow rate may be reduced due to poor design

 

[PeterE1947]

On our fridge when on gas actually goes out when cold enough.So,no pilot light but sometimes seem to "click"forever before lighting. We will have it serviced this year. On a slightly different topic the fridge "broke free" whilst on the road this tour! The screws on one side which has the thinnest panel just pulled out. So, now I need to find short but fat screws. That will need an interpreter as we are in Poland! Lovely people but difficult language!! I have managed to jam it in position as the other side screws into a much thicker panel.

 

[SueLH]

Please can anybody recommend a particular gas sniffer? There seems to be such a range on sale & neither I nor OH are gas experts. We do get it checked every year but would be good to be able to check for ourselves in the interim. We use propane. Thanks

 

[Trackman]

Pressure tests are the best check by far for gas systems. On my boat, I have to have a safety check 4 yearly or no licence & boat has to be removed from the CRT waters.
The check includes a gas pressure test, & any leak means a failed safety check.

In a boat, of course, there cannot be a vent in the bottom to allow any gas to escape, but in a MH there should be such vents.

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