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For all the latest energy safety news visit www.esv.vic.gov.au
Winter 2015
energysafe issue 40
Vehicle vibration may damage
caravan gas installations
By Jason Treseder, Gas Engineer
ESV is warning caravan owners and
gasfitters to ensure gas installations are
checked after driving in rough or off-road
conditions with caravans as rough terrain
and excessive vibration can damage their
gas installations.
ESV has recently investigated a number
of caravan explosions that resulted in significant
damage to the caravan and, in some cases,
injury to passengers when a gas appliance that
had developed a leak was used.
While the cause of the caravan explosions
has not been confirmed on all occasions,
in many of the incidents it appears that the
explosions occurred after extended travel over
poor quality roads. In these cases it appears that
travelling has resulted in strong vibrations in the
van, which has then been transmitted through
to the gas system and gas appliances.
Over time, vibrations caused by road
surfaces can cause gas connections and gas
pipes in some appliances to fatigue. Eventually
a crack may develop, resulting in a leak the next
time the appliance is used.
Propane is heavier than air and tends to
build up in sealed enclosures, meaning small
leaks can gradually build to a critical point. Also,
additional time and stress from further travel can
cause the leak to increase until enough gas finds
an ignition source that will then ignite all the built
up gas and cause an explosion.
One caravan cooker manufacturer, Swift
Appliance Group, has recently initiated a product
recall in relation to caravans up to five years old
incorporating their Swift caravan cookers.
The manufacturer has identified that in a number
of installations, some models of Swift cookers
were installed in caravans without adequate
support, resulting in excessive movement and
flexing of the cooker during travel. Caravans up
to five years old incorporating a Swift caravan
cooker are potentially at risk of explosion or fire.
The outcome of an explosion can range from
minor damage to the appliances and the caravan
to a major explosion that can write off the
William takes
stage with
future gas
leaders
Congratulations to William Hajjar,
an Engineer in ESV’s Gas Pipeline
Infrastructure Safety division, for being
selected to present a paper on gas
caravan, result in injury to travellers, or interrupt
and spoil a holiday.
To minimise the risk of being involved in
an explosion, ESV is recommending caravan
owners get gas installations on caravans
checked after travelling rough roads. Caravans
should always be serviced at regular intervals
to ensure the gas appliances and installations
remain gas tight and there is no damage to the
appliances or the installation. This is particularly
important after travelling on poor roads and
there is evidence of other damage to parts
inside the caravan.
In particular, caravan owners should be
alert to the distinctive smell of leaking gas.
In many cases caravan occupants have detected
the odour of gas inside the caravan for some
time prior to their caravan exploding but have
failed to recognise the risk and continued to
safety in China as part of the Institute
for Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM)
Young Person Paper Competition (YPPC).
William presented his paper titled
“Role of the Gas Technical and Safety
Regulator in Victoria, Australia” at the
Towngas offices in Suzhou, China.
Eight young professionals from Hong
Kong, Sichuan, Shanghai and Australia
participated in the competition. William
said the event highlighted to him that ESV
is very proactive and progressive in
gas safety.
use the installation.
If the unexpected odour of unburnt gas is
detected it is essential that gas appliances are
switched off and gas turned off at the cylinder.
Gas appliances should not be turned on again
until a gasfitter has checked the installation and
confirmed any leaks or damage are repaired.
Gasfitters and caravan repairers who are
performing work on caravans should also be
aware of the additional leakage risks that can
occur on caravans and conduct checks to
ensure the entire gas installation is in a safe state
and remains leak tight at each service.
Full details of the Swift cooker recall are
available at www.recalls.gov.au. Anyone who
has a Swift cooker installed in their caravan
and would like further details can contact Swift
Appliance Group on (03) 9359 3068 or by email
on [email protected]