Gas Pipe / Regs

[Trevor_swfyc]

I have just purchased NEW rubber gas pipe for my gas bottle and cooker connections. The old pipe was dated 1985 the boat was launched in 1988, the new pipe has EN559-8mm-1997 on it. My question is: is this the date of the regs or is the pipe fours years old already. If it is the date of the regs how on a safety check would the age of the pipe be determined in order to recommend replacement?
At least it only cost £2.99 for a metre.
Thanks in anticipation for all replies.
Trevor

 

[billskip]

Thought you could not use rubber any more ..

Bill
www.aegeansailing.co.uk

www.macsyachting.com

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Do you mean this pipe is not fit for purpose, it was purchased as "Flexible gas hose suitable for all gas cookers".
I'm off to see my solicitor!
Thanks for your reply.
Trevor

 

[Chris_Stannard]

My boat, built 2000 to Germaniscer Lloyds A1, haas a rubber pipe (Or at least it is flexible and not armoured. Someone tole me that the thought it should be armoured. Do we have different regs to the rest of the EU? Be interested to know.

Chris Stannard

 

[Guest]

Just scanned through the new British Waterways Boat Safety Scheme regs. - Bottle connections and cooker connections can be flexible gas hose in BS 3212 type 2 or equivalent - length to be kept to a minimum and should not exceed 1 metre.

There is a lot of other stuff about how it is to be fitted.

For info the new standard is a useful document available for only a fiver from British Waterways. How this all ties in with Euro standards I am not sure!

Hope this helps.

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Princesszena,

Thank you for taking the trouble to look up the B.W.B.S.S. regs I am a little happier.
My boat is used on salt water evidently this makes a difference but I do want to be safe. According to the Plastimo catalogue you are right 1 metre is the max you can use in flexible pipe. It also says it should be replaced if on inspection it looks as though it requires replacement.
I have fitted the pipe and intend to pressure test it to ensure no leaks.
Thanks again
Trevor.

 

[Gordonmc]

I will probably be shot down in flames (sic) but this seems a case of regulations v sense.
Regs. say put your gas bottle in a compartment venting overboard. Sense says leaks are more likely in pipe runs, junctions or appliances than in bottles religiously turned off after use.
Regs. say armoured hose is a must. Sense says an armour hose will hide the deteriorating inner liner.
While we are at it, why is armoured hose a must at the cooker end but not at the bottle where there is potentially more exposure to abuse?

 

[Guest]

I agree with Gordonmc's comment on armoured hose. I was caught by that one and only became aware of a leak because I have a bubble detector. It took a long time to track it down to the deteriorating inner. I had to destruct the thing to confirm that it was the inner. Steer clear of armoured hose.

ac

 

[Avocet]

Have a look at the following website. I got a load of useful information off it recently. Also, while I can't be sure, I think the date on your hose IS the date of manufacture!

Good luck!

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Ian,

Thanks for your reply but what web site ?

It looks as though the date is the year of maufacture so the pipe is 4 years old, so if the date was used to fail it on inspection this would be a nonsence. Suppliers are hardly going to throw unsold pipe away every year, before somebody else says it "No they are going to sell it to mugs like you".
As a previous posting said some of these regs are rubbish ie 7.14 An approved gas test point shall be fitted at the furthest practical point from the supply. Such a tester shall be securely fixed in the gas tight compartment or box as defined by standards 7.2 and 7.3
7.2 refers to the gas bottle storage which must drain overboard. Which proves you can't please all the regs all the time.
Thanks to all
Trevor

 

[vyv_cox]

I find http://www.socal.co.uk/best.html to be very helpful.

The date on the tubing is the year of manufacture and the guideline age is five years but my experience is that you can extend quite a lot over that. This winter I have binned some bought in 1999 with a 1995 date on it and it still looked reasonable.

I think the regs you refer to are the Inland Waterways ones? As far as I know there are no regs for elsewhere, but of course installation good practice is crucial.

 

[Avocet]

Sorry!!!!

I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on properly!

The site is:

http://www.socal.co.uk/marinenotes.html

and yes, they are inland waterways regs.

I think suppliers don't (or shouldn't) buy more hose than they can sell on a year. I ordered some from the above company and it had a 2001 date on it. I guess the trick is to order from somewhere that will have a reasonable stock turnover.