 After enjoying an evening’s fishing from their small cabin cruiser, two friends called it a night when the gas ran out in their camping lantern. One of them removed the gas cartridge from the lantern and discarded it into the cabin’s waste bin. The next morning one of the men lit up a cigarette and there was an explosion, leading to both men being hospitalised. The explosion was caused by ignition of the residual gas in the lantern cartridge leaking out throughout the night, and because the gas is heavier than air, it had no means of escape from the confines of the boat.
This case highlights the need to respect LPG in whatever form it is supplied. The use of portable gas appliances can be a safe, convenient and quick method of cooking, heating or lighting. Their use falls outside the scope of the current codes of practice (COP) and only just fall into the remit of the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS). Commonly these appliances will contain a self-sealing or pierceable gas cartridge and have been used in the camping and caravan world for the last 50 years.
There use, however, still raises some safety issues. By their very nature, portable appliances can be used anywhere including in situations and locations that under normal circumstances would not be allowed for fixed appliances under the COP. With cookers for instance, the major concern is there use in proximity to combustible materials. The COP suggests that non flame retardant materials should not be within 400mm above a cooker and 125mm either side. It also says that curtains and other suspended textiles should not be within 600mm of a cooker. With lights and heaters there are also concerns about their use in proximity to combustible materials, although there is no recommendations in the COP’s, so manufacturers instructions should be adhered to.
As with any unflued gas appliance there is the issue of adequate ventilation. The COP’s have a formula for working out the correct amount of ventilation. This is 2200 x the heat input in Kws of the appliances plus 650 x the number of berths = the effective area of ventilation.
For example, a 2Kw cooker used in a four-berth boat would require:
2200 x 2 + 650 x 4 = 7000mm 2 or a hole approximately 94mm (3 ¾”) in diameter.
The need for adequate ventilation cannot be overstated. Adequate ventilation not only provides fresh air important for complete combustion, but it also allows for the removal of the products of combustion and in turn will make the cabin a more comfortable place to be in. It also prevents oxygen depletion and the build up of the silent killer Carbon Monoxide (CO).
The storage of the cartridges themselves is also something that needs consideration. LPG, which is heavier than air, will sink to the lowest level in still air conditions. It makes no difference whether it is supplied in a disposable cartridge or a refillable cylinder. The BSS suggests that unused or spare cartridges are stored in a self-draining locker constructed to the same specification as for the refillable cylinders. It also suggests that cartridges / appliances when not in use are stored in the locker. The choice of portable appliances with self-sealing cartridges will make this easier as you can disconnect the cartridge and only store the gas in the locker.
Once the gas cartridge is empty you will need to be careful how you disposed of it. The pierceable cartridges need extra care as they may still contain sufficient amounts of LPG to cause an explosion, as in the case above. In Hampshire, and probably the same nationwide, empty gas cartridges should be taken to your local Household Recycling Centre where they will be stored in a separate cage until they are recycled. They should not be put in with the normal household waste collection. The same applies to aerosol cans.
As a portable appliance will not be secured down there is also a risk that it will move to an unsuitable location or become unstable as a boat heals or pitches. For this reason, they should never be used when unattended. If the gas cartridges are turned on the side when in use, then the liquefied gas can leak into the burner causing a dangerous “flare up”. To combat this, on some new appliances an anti flare device is fitted which prevents liquid from entering the burner.
General Dos and Don’ts for Cartridges
- DO Keep out of the reach of Children.
- DO Store in a well-ventilated place.
- DO Protect from Direct Sunlight.
- DO Store in a cool dry place.
- DO Ensure the appliance rubber seal is in good condition.
- DO Close the appliance valve before changing cartridge.
- DO Exchange cartridges in a well-ventilated place free from ignition sources.
- DO Dispose of empty cartridges in a safe place.
- DO NOT store in living spaces.
- DO NOT expose to temperatures exceeding 50oC.
- DO NOT puncture or pierce.
- DO NOT incinerate.
- DO NOT carry cartridges on aircraft.
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