10 Year LPG Tank / Cylinder Testing/Inspection/Replacement

[Sheddy]

This subject is now becoming more prevalent in the Leisure vehicle industry, many underslung LPG tanks and user owned Refillable cylinders are now either over 10 years old or rapidly approaching this age .

We have just recently received a communication from Liquid Gas the LPG trade body regarding this subject as users / owners are approaching them for clarification on this.

They have now confirmed that the 10 year test / replacement is applicable to all privately owned tanks / cylinders.

You can be sure that this subject is being discussed by many in the industry so insurance companies will at some point be aware also .

Here’s exactly what it says regarding a 10 year inspection:
At periods not exceeding 10 years from the date of installation the following shall be carried out:
Tanks shall be removed from the vehicle ,stripped,subjected to a thorough examination (including a pressure test), and recertified by a competent person, if found to be satisfactory, it shall be stamped with test date of 10 year test undertaken and repainted.
The valves and regulator shall be renewed.
The hoses shall be renewed.
After re-assembly and re-installation, the installation shall be tested and recertified by a competent person.
When a tank is moved from one vehicle to another it is recommended that the opportunity is taken to carry out a thorough examination and recertification.

Is there any chance you can confirm from Liquid Gas which legislation is being applied to "privately owned tanks/cylinders" that subject them to the periodic examination and testing as specified in thier document.
The language of the instructions above is typical from an industry ACOP, (Approved Code of Practice) which is usually derived from specific legislation and issued as guidance in non legal speak.
As a retired "Competent Person" I'm just interested how the legislation has been or will be applied to cylinders fitted to our motorhomes, but more worried about Funsters currently breaking laws they do not know exist.

As an aside you can be certain that the Insurance folk are completely aware of these implications, the Engineering Inspection departments of the major companies provide engineers which sit on the H&SE committees.

 

[Basildog]

Is there any chance you can confirm from Liquid Gas which legislation is being applied to "privately owned tanks/cylinders" that subject them to the periodic examination and testing as specified in thier document.
The language of the instructions above is typical from an industry ACOP, (Approved Code of Practice) which is usually derived from specific legislation and issued as guidance in non legal speak.
As a retired "Competent Person" I'm just interested how the legislation has been or will be applied to cylinders fitted to our motorhomes, but more worried about Funsters currently breaking laws they do not know exist.

As an aside you can be certain that the Insurance folk are completely aware of these implications, the Engineering Inspection departments of the major companies provide engineers which sit on the H&SE committees.

Yes I have used an extract from a code of practice but don’t tell anyone.
I believe it’s part of PSSR but there are so many documents and references to different legislation I don’t have access to unfortunately.
I am only reporting back on the current information I have received.
To be honest I am seriously reconsidering giving any advice in future.
The NCC have actually been telling their approved workshop members not to work on any underslung LPG tanks.
I have been involved along with other industry professionals in creating a service and inspection course for leisure vehicle fitters .
This is purely a periodic inspection course and does not include installation or 10 year inspection/ valve replacement etc .

 

[DuxDeluxe]

To be honest I am seriously reconsidering giving any advice in future

I think that we all want to hear what you have to say

 

[Basildog]

Both of the Hymer lockers in the last two vans are timber even thought the van is double skinned aluminium walls. The Carthago we are getting apart from the door the locker is all timber.

I take you are referring to extnal lockers on some vans.

Yes I personally believe it sets up galvanic corrosion
Put a rubber mat in the locker floor or earth the aluminium locker box to the chassis and the situation improves.

 

[Sheddy]

Thanks, don't give up it is always helps to have industry related folk on the Fun passing on information/advice.

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[enark]

Are refillable cylinders, eg Gaslow date stamped at manufacture or installation ?

Yes, they have the date of manufacture stencilled on…..some may find it easier to just change the date…..3 to an 8?

 

[enark]

So, do I have to replace all the hoses as well?

Think the ones I’ve just purchased say “replace after 20 years”…so technically yes…

 

[Pausim]

To be honest I am seriously reconsidering giving any advice in future.

I hope you feel able to continue to keep us up to date on these matters. I am sure most of us would rather stay safe and also be aware of the possible legal/insurance implications involved. A few people like to shoot the messenger but I will be checking my cylinder dates and making a diary entry for a trip to Yorkshire.

 

[bubble63]

To be honest I am seriously reconsidering giving any advice in future

Don’t do that, I bought from your company based on your advice on here

 

[jongood]

Put a steel cylinder in an Aluminium Carthago locker and see what it looks like in a year
Alugas cylinders don’t do much better

Why Carthago in particular?

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[jongood]

Don’t do that, I bought from your company based on your advice on here

I'm already a customer, more than once and no doubt will be visiting again. Loving the cavanagh reg and recommended it a few times.

 

[berni109]

Basildog please keep the information flowing.
Many might not like it if it costs them money but tough sh!t.
I would prefer not to have an insurance claim rejected simply because I was unaware of a change of law.

Just renewed insurance and told them tank fitted - not interested but I bet they will be when this sort of info is common knowledge.

 

[clanjones]

Basildog we had our Alugas cylinders fitted by your company and I value your expertise. Please keep posting! I will be checking our cyclinders and as we are in Germany this year may well swing past the Alugas factory for a swap if required.

 

[Basildog]

Basildog we had our Alugas cylinders fitted by your company and I value your expertise. Please keep posting! I will be checking our cyclinders and as we are in Germany this year may well swing past the Alugas factory for a swap if required.

My understanding is that they require you to book in advance around a fortnight before.

 

[cyberyacht]

At least with composite bottles, I don't get rust or galvanic activity. Lenny HB Perhaps you'll need a sacrificial zinc anode on your new cylinders.

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[Lenny HB]

At least with composite bottles, I don't get rust or galvanic activity. Lenny HB Perhaps you'll need a sacrificial zinc anode on your new cylinders.

Mine are in excellent condition as the locker is inside the garage.
They never have the composite bottles in stock that are suitable for an external filler & whats the point in having refillables if you have to lug them out to refill them.

 

[Googlebot]

If anyone is absolutely convinced beyond 10 years is fine, I have a complete set of x2 11kg Gas it cylinders with hoses that will be for sale shortly.

For the avoidance of doubt, that was supposed to be a funny joke and they will be going for recycling.

Dunce of the day award goes to me.

New kit arrived and I went to check how to fit today. Never noticed that the cylinders are stamped 2016 as are the hoses. I thought it was out in when the van was new, but no.

So, if anyone wants a refillable kit with 3 years left, the classifieds will have an ad in soon.

What an idiot.

 

[Lenny HB]

Dunce of the day award goes to me.

New kit arrived and I went to check how to fit today. Never noticed that the cylinders are stamped 2016 as are the hoses. I thought it was out in when the van was new, but no.

So, if anyone wants a refillable kit with 3 years left, the classifieds will have an ad in soon.

What an idiot.

2016, they are out of date by 7 years.

 

[enark]

2016, they are out of date by 7 years.

No 3years left? My new ones are stamped 2023?

 

[Lenny HB]

No 3years left? My new ones are stamped 2023?

My ones are dated 2023 they were fitted to my last van in March 2014.
They are Alugas which I think is what Googlebot are.

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[enark]

My ones are dated 2023 they were fitted to my last van in March 2014.
They are Alugas which I think is what Googlebot are.

Ah, maybe Gasflow date when manufactured?

 

[Lenny HB]

Ah, maybe Gasflow date when manufactured?

A bit odd they are both German companies you would think they would use the same standard.

 

[Bramidan]

Well I look at it this way. Seen those photos when a domestic gas boiler explodes and the house plus a few each side are decimated?
I also think I’ve got two potential bombs underneath me!
A lot of people think they are better than “ professionals” never mind they’ve been retired a few years and therefore are not up to date.
Basildog please keep posting it adds to the pool of knowledge.

 

[Pausim]

Basildog please keep posting it adds to the pool of knowledge.

Ah the pool of knowledge. I have spent half my life looking for it but I am none the wiser.

 

[peterc10]

Yes I personally believe it sets up galvanic corrosion
Put a rubber mat in the locker floor or earth the aluminium locker box to the chassis and the situation improves.

My two Gasit bottles (one 9 years old and the other 7) are in my Hymer's traditional position for their wider A Classes, i.e. where the cab step would be in an unconverted Ducato. The floor of the locker is GRP and the wall between the locker and the inside of the motorhome is in some form of plastic. The inner skin of the external door is aluminium, but it does not touch the bottles. The bottles are in pristine new looking condition with no sign of rust at all. I have a look at them every time I have to replace the batteries in my Mopeka level sensors, i.e. about every 2 years.

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[Basildog]

Well this afternoon’s job which was supposed to be a simple relocation of a filler point that the customer had managed to rip off as it was very low , resulted in the LPG tank only being 145 mm off the ground but the tank was severely corroded so we didn’t actually do anything, 5 year old tank is scrap as the original installers didn’t apply any corrosion protection ( stone chip protection) being so low it’s taken a battering .

 

[enark]

Well I look at it this way. Seen those photos when a domestic gas boiler explodes and the house plus a few each side are decimated?
I also think I’ve got two potential bombs underneath me!
A lot of people think they are better than “ professionals” never mind they’ve been retired a few years and therefore are not up to date.
Basildog please keep posting it adds to the pool of knowledge.

But they would not explode, unless somehow you managed to get an ignition source inside the gas bottle?

if anyone failed to correctly tighten a hose, refillable bottle or non refillable bottle, then maybe some gas would leak, but unless you positioned the bottles in the cab or living!!!, then the leaking gas would leak to the atmosphere surely?

domestic in house gas boilers are somewhat different.

 

[enark]

Looking at PSSR 2000, schedule 1, para 15 seems to indicate that gas bottles are exempt?

15. Any pressure system comprising a gas propulsion or a gas fired heating, cooking, ventilating or refrigerating system fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer (both within the meaning of section 185(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1998(1)).

 

[Googlebot]

A bit odd they are both German companies you would think they would use the same standard.

They are GasIt Lenny HB, I am confident that they are manufacture date as the new ones say 2021 which I find a bit bizarre that they had had stock sitting there for at least a year.

The hoses also have a 2016 date stamp which in my experience is usually the manufactured date.

 

[Pausim]

But they would not explode, unless somehow you managed to get an ignition source inside the gas bottle?

if anyone failed to correctly tighten a hose, refillable bottle or non refillable bottle, then maybe some gas would leak, but unless you positioned the bottles in the cab or living!!!, then the leaking gas would leak to the atmosphere surely?

domestic in house gas boilers are somewhat different.

Propane pressures are much higher than domestic gas. If a corroded tank or perished pipe ruptured the gas could erupt in a spectacular fashion. A small spark might be enough to set off a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion) and you really don’t want to be anywhere near if that happens.

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