@77 Westy its entirely your choice. Mine was installed last year in line with Regs. If it worries you don't do it. The underseal is a regs requirement.
Ours will be getting coated in Upol raptor when I do the wheel arches this week, then dynax UB when I get round to cavity wax and under seal. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Does Steve certify it then Phil? He states on his own website that as a rule campers can't have under slung due to COP11, whatever that is, specifying a minimum requirement for 200mm ground clearance with the vehicles suspension on full depression. I dunno mate, can you, can't you, 200mm, 250mm??? I do know that when the bloke who did ours issued our certificate he said it wasn't really worth the paper it was written on because any 'competent' person could do it. Maybe it's one of these industries where 'regulation' is optional....until there's an issue!
Whether the installation complies with regulations or not I think it prudent that anyone considering an underslung gas tank close to the ground be aware that it might not be the best idea. The side step is the lowest part of my bus, if it hits the ground it’s not too much of a problem; although unlikely, dragging a gas tank along on its hose might be. Your choice, your risk.
Hiya, COP11 is the code of practice for converting vehicles to run on LPG and registration relates specifically to that. It doesn't apply to a tank to power a cooker. The link to the code is below and it simply doesn't mention gas tanks for cooking and is very clearly written with respect to conversion of engines to run on LPG. The registration process is to include the vehicle on the UKLPG vehicle register. http://www.drivelpg.co.uk/uploads/DOC4F7C449A70415.pdf
I accept that and am working on the Principe that my bus has survived 40 years with an underslung gas tank and the biggest safety threat it poses me or mine is if I crash it and become my own crumple zone. These vehicles are simply not safe when compared to modern vehicles.
That's that then. The regs only apply to propulsion and not cooking gas? As I said, I wasn't sure coz I'm not qualified to interpret the regs, but you've cleared that up. As you say it all comes down to individual risk assessment.
FYI anyone who is interested further. It seems since Baghead left us in 2015, we lost our resident bs-en 1949/2002 qualifier. No mention of under slung tanks, but maybe a useful read with the camping season ahead http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/gas-regulations-in-vans.22884/
Ta Neil Interestingly underslung cylinders aren't mentioned or covered at all in that. They are certainly accessible only from outside the vehicle and are definitely well ventilated!
I’ve just read that^ thread again and a few posts are worth repeating here. #25 @vanorak Believe it or not....gas cylinders are pretty bomb proof, unless they leak. The engine bay would never get hot enough to cause a standard Calor bottle to explode, unless there was a serious fire, for a prolonged period of time. Having said that, people's perceptions of what is dangerous, doesn't always tally with reality. If you were that concerned about driver/passenger safety, you wouldn't choose to drive a VW Type 2 The same can be said for outboard LPG tanks....if you were to have a serious crash in a Type 2 chances are an outboard LPG tank would be the only piece of kit that remained unscathed. #26 @physiopro I have recently fitted a 20lt gas tank to my van and sealed the pipes within tubes so if the pressure relief valve blows it vents external to the van. I bought the whole package from Gasit in north wales. They have been brilliant throughout and the owner, a guy called Nick actually wrote the latest regs for it . It is called code of practice 306 and is for fixed LPG tanks in habitable vehicles. #27 @PIE I wonder if it would fit between the chassis rails underneath on the off side. #28 @physiopro All depends if you have lowered your van!! You need 250 mm clearance!
Thread from the dead I know. After having this fitted for a few years now @JamesLey have you found any issues with ground clearance or anything like that? I’m thinking about fitting one myself and at the point in the interior redesign where I’m thinking of I need the existing gas bottle cupboard or if I can use that space.
It's been under there for 2 years now and I've not had any issues with ground clearance. There are quite a few speed bumps around Poole/Bournemouth and it's been fine. Now I just need to plumb the damn thing in! I finally bought all of the pipes, reg etc a few months back but have yet to find time to fit it all.
As you may remember Iain our propex is underneath between the chassis rails and the refillable gas-it bottle is in a locker behind the (Left) driver seat. 11l, compact and plenty big enough. We don't even know it's there. Been in use since 2014 and wouldn't be without it Edit...going to add, our local boat safety examiner has the manometer and quals to test this for us each year for peace of mind. The test point takes off the regulator, which came from gas-it as part of the kit I specified
That’s the other option I was looking at, I remember seeing your system on the Chip thread years ago and being impressed by it. I’ve not got an issue cutting a hole for the gas connection in the side panel, but the extra storage space would be helpful with the under slung tank.
Since I no longer have my original LPG underslung tank I've been using a Calor tank inside the sink cupboard. OK for a temp solution but I'm deciding which permanent solution to go for:- Calor swap bottles in gas cupboard, refillable bottle in gas cupboard or underslung. @theBusmonkey's refillable internal set up is very impressive and after talking to Neil and doing some research, it seems to be that LPG fill points may still be available longer than I thought. Jim (@JamesLey), thanks for the great pictures above. I was wondering if you have a picture of your set up now the van is up and running. A side on view showing ride height and clearance would be super Cheers
Embarrassingly I’ve still not plumbed in the hob or propex after nearly 4 years. I’ll hopefully get round to it this year. I’ve had zero problems with clearance, even with Poole’s speed humps. I’ll see if I have a pic somewhere. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk