[[GQC] Tim]

Just wondering what you guys use to do this the right way. Not 100% read up on the legal side, but as far as I know it needs to be properly secured and vented through the floor, correct?

Anything ready made on the market for me to buy?

Probably going with the gaslow refillable canisters. Easy filling from the pump.

[mac74]

As above, any ideas on this?

[Spruce]

Hi Tim,

Roy Harding had one made up I believe.
However, I would consider a small (200mm diamt) Autogas lay flat tank that can be mounted inside your van. If you still have your Berlingo/Partner van, I guess the space behind the front seats could be used as this is usually 'wasted' space or used for small things that could be stored elsewhere. With the Autogas Vapour tank 4 hole, the tank connectors are 'sealed' and vented outside through the floor so you won't need the gas bottle cabinet made up.

Legally you still have to have your LPG filler on the outside if you were considering the Autofill gas bottles, so IMHO it will probably work out more cost effective doing it this way.

http://www.gasit.co.uk/cubecart/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=8

Everything you need for a complete DIY installation is on this site.

Spruce

[[GQC] Tim]

Thanks for that link. The reason why I want a refillable bottle is mainly so it's easy to take out if necessary. It's got a remote filler option though, but won't be cutting into the van. Looks pretty good that one though.

I'll probably give Roy a ring, just haven't had any time.  

[[GQC] Tim]

After reading up a bit more, it seems that we do not need to have warning stickers on your van as we are below the limit. It is considered good practise though. Expect to be stopped by the police regulary for checks though.

The full ADR law is not in force if you are under the limit of 333 points (ie. 333 KG of gas), if you are under that, some basic safety requirements are in place, nothing more then know your setup and what to do in the event of fire or leaks. Also the following is of interest :

Vehicles used for the transportation of gas cylinders should be open.  If this cannot be achieved the vehicle should be well ventilated.  Toxic gases must not be carried in a closed vehicle unless the vehicle has been specifically designed for the purpose.

A 2kg fire extinguisher is required on all vehicles carrying gas cylinders to fight engine and cab fires.

Seeing that I have got a hole in the floor for the cabinet mount roller guide, there shouldn't be any problem in that regard.

http://www.bcga.co.uk/preview/publications/L12005.pdf

Can't find anything on securing it properly. This seems quite good, and should be easy enough to strap to my tank frame :

http://www.campervanaccessories.co.uk/bottle-holder-bracket-p-568.html

[Dave Willis]

I think there is some misunderstanding between carrying a gas cylinder and transporting cyclinders for sale. You can't tell me builders have floor ventilation and special cabinets built for their gas cylinders. What about motorhomes? How do you transport your barbecue cyclinder from the shop to home or indeed to your campsite in the south of france?

[Spruce]

I think there is some misunderstanding between carrying a gas cylinder and transporting cyclinders for sale. You can't tell me builders have floor ventilation and special cabinets built for their gas cylinders. What about motorhomes? How do you transport your barbecue cyclinder from the shop to home or indeed to your campsite in the south of france?

For motorhomes the rules are quite clear. The gas bottles are to be in a cabinet sealed to the inside, accessed from and vented to the outside. Caravans have always had their gas bottles mounted on the drawbar, once in the open but now in a purpose made enclosure that is still sealed from to the inside but incorporated into the 'lines' of the caravan. These enclosures are vented outside.

Tim,
From what I can gather the enclosure that you would need would seal the gas cylinder from the inside of the van and the vent hole in the floor would need to be in an area within this enclosure to release any gas that could escape through the hole to the atmosphere and not into your van. If you could use the hole for your hose as an outlet, then there would be no point in having the enclosure in the first place. Hence the reason why I would go for the 4 point Gasit tank that seals the connectors with a small enclosure on the tank with a vent pipe to the outside. They are also not that much more expensive than the refillable gas cylinder.

I don't know how the roofers get away with just sticking their gas bottle in the back, but then they take it out and use it outside, so they are just transporting it. When I renewed my van insurance last December one of the questions they asked was did I carry or use gas. They weren't interested in the diesel air heater I have.

Spruce

[Dave Willis]

I imagine caravans and motorhomes need exterior cabinets as the occupants are sleeping next to the appliance. Maybe rules have changed over the years but my camper van used to have the bottle inside the cooker unit. My wife picked up my last gas cylinder for me in her car and put it in the passenger foot-well. The guy in the shop said that although their van had an lpg sticker on the back they often carried twenty cylinders or more loose in the back.
I could find no information on the web for our needs so at the moment my bottle is mounted to my tank cage with cylinder brackets. It poses no threat to me in a collision as it needs to smash through the tank, cage and bulkhead first. It does mean that a gas leak could be a problem particularly as the leisure battery with crocodile clips is not a million miles away. Another good point was - what about portable gas fires? They have a cylinder and source of ignition very close to each other.

[[GQC] Tim]

Yes that's true, for motorhomes it's an entirely different matter since motorhomes are for sleeping quarters. I haven't found even a hint of the same rules applying to trade vehicles. Therefor I don't think I am going to bother with a cabinet or anything like that. Maybe the insurer would think otherwise, maybe that's why Roy has a cabinet?

[Dave Willis]

Although the cabinet is no bad thing, I think Roy did the same as me and googled the information. I'm trying to think of other trades that would use and carry a gas bottle like ourselves. Who's to say the leak will always be at the regulator/cylinder end? You could get the leak at the heater end of the pipe or anywhere really.

http://www.bcga.co.uk/preview/publications/L12005.pdf

http://www.healthandsafetytips.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=19187

[Spruce]

Although the cabinet is no bad thing, I think Roy did the same as me and googled the information. I'm trying to think of other trades that would use and carry a gas bottle like ourselves. Who's to say the leak will always be at the regulator/cylinder end? You could get the leak at the heater end of the pipe or anywhere really.

http://www.bcga.co.uk/preview/publications/L12005.pdf

http://www.healthandsafetytips.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=19187

Catering trallers and vans would fall into our catagory. They would have a gas hot water heater and gas cooking plates. Not sure why they use portable generators, unless that supplies the lights and/or refridgerator. A trailer could just have the gas bottles on the drawbar.

It scares me how we took gas appliances for granted 40 to 50 years ago. My parents were great caravaners and in those days the caravans overseas had gas lights, gas fridge and gas cooker. It was a great find when Dad purchased a 12v bayonet bulb, which promptly got fitted to the caravan so we could have an instant light when we arrived at our destination after dark. It was connected to the car's battery. The gas lights were in the form of a mantel that was set alight first to smolder and once that was complete the gas could be lit. But it was very fragile and would mostly break in transit.
We drove for miles with the fridge alight to keep it cold. I can remember a couple of ocassions when we stopped to find the gas had gone out. It was relit and we went on our way again.

Spruce.