Installation of LPG appliances in boats

The installation of gas appliances in boats is covered by the New Zealand Standard: 5428: 2006.

I RECOMMEND THAT YOU LEAVE ANY REPAIR OR INSTALLATION WORK TO A REGISTERED GAS FITTER.

The silly thing with the application of standards is that it is not permissible to copy or reproduce the standard in any form. This helps prevent the standard becoming well known, in other words it becomes self defeating. On one hand a government organisation wants to produce a standard for safety and then charges for one copy of the standard that cannot be reproduced. The result is that the targets, i.e. boat owners are often ignorant of what is required to install and maintain gas appliances in boats.

So without crossing the line of copyright here is a list of common faults found during a survey.

Instantaneous Water Heaters or caliphonts:
Almost all caliphont installations do not comply because they are mounted either with insufficient flueing, clearance around the appliance or are installed in a combined living/sleeping area.

If you look at the interior of a yacht the galley invariably is in a common area which is used for sleeping. Where is the caliphont? In the galley or even in a cupboard!

So let’s put it in the head compartment. No, another rule clearly states that a water heater cannot be fixed into a toilet or bathroom.

In a typical yacht or launch of say 10-12metres in length the options of installing a caliphont to the required standard become limited if not impossible.

Gas Bottles:
Gas bottles need to be installed in a dedicated locker or on deck with specific clearance, sealing, ventilation and drainage requirement. Bottles should also be stored upright and secured.

Unfortunately this is a common failing on boats. Boat owners are far too blasé about the storage of bottles. Often they a blissfully ignorant of having what could be described as bomb, rolling around in a locker or stored inside the boat. I have even seen a gas bottle sitting beside a cooker. 

The bottle in this photo was out of test date; the gas line was not of the approved type and was secured with a worm drive clip. The bottle was not secured and was not in a locker designed to store the bottle.

Unfortunately this is an all too common occurrence.


Piping:
All piping should be secured and of the approved type for LPG. I have seen garden hose and steel piping inside boats. Obviously not ideal!
A common fault is where the hose passes through the stainless steel liner around a stove. Often the pipe has no grommet and chafes on the sharp edge of the stainless liner.

Clips:
The use of hose clips is probably the more common fault when installing piping. Worm drive clips are not acceptable for fastening piping/hoses or tee fittings. The hoses should be crimped or secured with a band.

Ovens:
Ovens have specific clearance requirements which are usually provided by the manufacturer. Gimballed ovens need stops fitted.
Ovens should be used only for cooking and not a heating appliance.

Installation:
If the gas installation is less than 9kg the work does not have to be done by a certified gas fitter. However ask yourself; ‘is it worth the risk?’
Gas Alarms:
There is no requirement to install a gas alarm in a boat. However they are highly recommended.