Installing gas in a camper
The prevailing view is that unless the petrol tank is part of the vehicle's drive system, it is not subject to inspections and charges such as for a vehicle running on LPG. In turn, one of the members of the Polish Caravanning Facebook group suggested that it would be necessary to obtain the opinion of specialists on pressure vessels subject to supervision. To dispel these doubts, I asked the Transport and Technical Supervision (TDT) to indicate the interpretation of the current standards for the installation and inspection of gas tanks in campsites. Well, TDT replied that the topic is quite complex, because we can deal with permanently installed or replaceable tanks, with flow in the gas or liquid phase, as well as with factory or built-in installations. I also learned that... in Poland there are no rules governing this topic.
Most often in campers and trailers we use liquefied gas, that is, propane-butane, which is used to heat the car when parked, to heat water in boilers or for cooking. Most often we store it in two replaceable gas cylinders, i.e. pressure transport devices. Regardless of their volume, if the gas installation is approved for operation, you can replace the cylinders yourself, in accordance with the operating instructions. What is the legal status of “pressure transfer devices” subject to TDT supervision? This is unclear since there is a caveat that the institution bases its position on the applicable legislation and documentation of technical devices and, as such, does not have the authority to give legal opinions and interpret legal provisions in this regard.
When asked whether a tank installed in a camper that does not supply power to the drive unit requires certification, I also received a list of regulations, links to regulations and applications.
To begin with, the technical requirements for specialized pressure equipment, both in terms of its design and, for example, operation, repair and modernization, are specified in the Regulation of the Minister of Transport of October 20, 2006, hereinafter referred to as the SUC Regulation.
– Therefore, tanks installed in vehicle power systems filled with liquefied petroleum gas LPG, and cylinders with liquefied or compressed gas installed in vehicle heating installations are used to heat the cabins of vehicles and caravans and travel trailers, as well as for carrying out technological processes . , must be operated in accordance with the standards on devices subject to technical supervision, TDT inspectors assure us.
The operating conditions are also specified in UN Regulation No. 122 concerning the uniform technical conditions for the approval of vehicles of categories M, N and O with regard to their heating systems. Its guidelines govern the type approval of a vehicle with respect to its heating system or the type approval of a radiator as a component thereof. It states that the installation of a gas phase LPG heating system in a vehicle must comply with the requirements of the EN 1949 standard on requirements for LPG systems for domestic purposes in motorhomes and other road vehicles.
In accordance with paragraph 8 of Annex 1.1.2 to UN Regulation No. 122, a fuel tank permanently installed in a “campervan” requires a certificate of approval for compliance with UN Regulation No. 67. In this case, the tank must be intended and none of them, for example, installed in installations feeding CIS automobile engines.
– To power the devices in the motorhome, we need a volatile gas fraction located in the upper part of the tank, and to power the drive units, we need a liquid fraction. That’s why we can’t just install a car tank,” explains Adam Malek, Truma sales and service manager at Loycon Systems.
In this case, it is necessary, among other things: intervention in the so-called multi-valve and limiting the filling level of such a tank. There are still many barriers to adaptation.
Therefore, we should only be interested in tanks produced by specialized enterprises that have the appropriate certificates. The tanks themselves must be stamped with a number and a certificate of legalization issued by TDT, valid for 10 years. However, making any changes to them is unacceptable.
Time for the next step. The previously selected tank must be integrated with the gas installation on board the camper. Common sense dictates that installation should be entrusted to a person who has a gas license. What about recipes? There is no interpretation here.
TDT acknowledges that Polish regulations do not regulate the installation of a tank for volatile fractions. Therefore, it is unknown who can perform such installation in car heating systems and what documents are required for this. However, it is certain that if an installation is approved to comply with UN Regulation No. 122, then the tank is installed by the manufacturer of the particular campervan, as they have the exclusive right to apply for approval.
What to do if the unit is installed aftermarket, i.e. in a vehicle that is already on the road? TDT stops at stating that the decree of December 31, 2002 is in force. Meanwhile, in the decree of the Minister of Infrastructure on the technical condition of vehicles and the scope of their necessary equipment (Journal of Laws 2016, paragraph 2022) we find only reservations regarding the design of the vehicles themselves .tanks for heating purposes. The fact is that such a “fuel tank of an autonomous heating system should not be located in the driver’s cabin or in a room intended for transporting people” and “should not have a filler neck in the cabin”, “and a partition or wall separating the tank from these rooms, must be made of non-flammable material. In addition, it must be placed in such a way “that it is as well protected as possible from the consequences of a frontal or rear collision.”
Taking into account these statements, it can be assumed that such a tank is recommended to be mounted under the floor and between the axles of the camper wheels.
When entrusting the commissioning of such an installation to a competent person, let's use common sense and not do it alone. For example, hoses must be installed in safe and non-hazardous areas, while maintaining the principle of controlled elasticity of the installation under the influence of vibrations and temperature changes.
If you want to use the heat while driving, your car must be equipped with special devices that cut off the gas supply in the event of an accident.
1. Regardless of the container, make sure it has valid legalization.
2. When replacing a cylinder, check the condition of the seal.
3. Use gas appliances on board only for their intended purpose.
4. During cooking, open a window or vent to ensure proper ventilation.
5. When using heating, check the permeability and condition of the chimney system.
I also asked TDT if the gas installation requires inspection and who is authorized to do it.
– On a vehicle with an installed device subject to technical inspection, an authorized diagnostician must check the documents before starting the technical inspection of the vehicle. The absence of a valid document confirming the operability of a technical device leads to a negative result of the technical inspection of the vehicle, say TDT inspectors.
Let us mention here that owners of campervans with a Truma installation must carry out a leak test every two years using a specially designed device or after each intervention on the installation, such as disassembling or reassembling any device, be it a heating, refrigerator or stove. .
– We are required to replace the reducer and gas hoses every ten years - counting from the date of manufacture of these elements, and not from the date of installation. These and other procedures should be performed only in services that have gas certificates, recalls a company representative.
Do the rules for checking camper equipment (vehicle) also apply to trailers? The TDT again refers to UN Regulation No. 122, which applies to vehicles without dividing them into categories: passenger cars (M), lorries (H) or trailers (T). He emphasizes that the tightness of the installation should be checked by a diagnostician at a technical inspection station.
It is clear that there is still a lack of clear regulations and common-sense rules. A good step, until specific standards are developed, would be to perform inspections similar to those for LPG engines. Regarding trailers, there are proposals that the provisions regarding gas equipment for motorboats should apply to them.
Propane-butane is odorized, that is, it has an intense odor. Therefore, even if there is a small leak, you can feel it. In this case, close the main valve or plug the gas cylinder and contact a specialist workshop to repair the problem. It is also worth periodically checking for leaks in a gas-licensed workshop.
Rafal Dobrovolski
