Carbon
monoxide awareness - Caravans
& Holiday Homes
Safety precautions: For Caravans, Motor Homes
and RV's - 14
recommendations to reduce the risk of CO poisoning:
1. The most important recommendation: USE
A CARBON MONOXIDE WARNING DETECTOR. As is true of a
smoke alarm, reliance on a CO detector is
acceptable only if the device is in good working order and is tested
periodically as directed by the manufacturer.
2.
Inspect your RV's chassis and generator exhaust system regularly,
at least before each outing and after bottoming out or any other
incident that could cause damage.
3.
Inspect the RV for openings in the floor or sidewalls. If you locate
a hole, seal it with a silicone adhesive or have it repaired before
using your generator again.
4.
Inspect windows, door seals, and weather strips to ensure that they
are sealing properly.
5.
Yellow flames in propane-burning appliances such as coach heaters,
stoves, ovens, and water heaters usually indicate a lack of oxygen.
Determine the cause of this condition and correct it immediately.
6.
If applicable, have your built-in vacuum cleaner checked to make
sure it does not exhaust under the underside of your RV. Have the
system changed if it does.
7. Do not operate your generator if the exhaust system is damaged
in any way or if an unusual noise is present.
8.
Park your RV so that the exhaust may easily dissipate away from
the vehicle. Do not park next to high grass or weeds, snowbanks,
buildings, or other obstructions that might prevent exhaust gases
from dissipating as they should.
9.
Keep in mind that shifting winds may cause exhaust to blow away
from the coach one moment and under the coach the next.
10.
When stopping for long periods of time, be aware of other vehicles
around you, such as tractor-trailers at rest stops, that may have
their engines and refrigerators running.
11.
Do not sleep with the generator operating.
12.
Leave a roof vent open anytime the generator is running, even during
the winter.
13.
If you do not feel well, do not be fooled into thinking that it
is because you have been driving too long, you ate too much, or
you are suffering from motion sickness. Shut off the generator and
step outside for some fresh air just to be sure.
14.
Consider parking in the "No Generator" zone that FMCA
makes available at its conventions. Your Caravan Holiday Home was
built, and the gas appliances installed, in accordance with the
safety requirements of British Standards. It is essential to maintain
your caravan to prevent any risk to you and your family.
Carbon Monoxide Accidents which have occurred as a result of carbon
monoxide poisoning or asphyxiation are caused by a combination of
circumstances, usually involving two or more of the following factors:
- Inadequate ventilation (permanent air inlets)
- Unsatisfactory flueing
- Poor appliance performance
- User interference
- Lack of routine maintenance
Annual
Servicing
All Gas appliances in your holiday home should be serviced annually
to keep them in a safe and efficient condition (this is a legal
requirement in certain circumstances, see sub-letting below). It
is vital that appliances are properly services and maintained, however,
while this will reduce the risk of CO leaks it will not eliminate
all problems that occur between service dates.
The
service should include:
- Ventilation check (air inlets are clear and adequate)
- Flue check (smoke spillage test)
- Appliance safety devices are working correctly
- Appliances are safe for further use
- A check for gas leaks and condition of pipework and hoses
This work must only be carried out by a gas installer who is CORGI
(the Council for Registered Gas Installers) registered and carries
an I.D. card covering their competence. Always ask for a Gas Safety
Inspection Record form to be provided for the work carried out.
Don't Do It Yourself with Gas. By tampering with the gas installation/appliance
you may put yourself and your family's life at risk. Gas is very
safe in the hands of an expert. The message is clear: ALWAYS
USE A CORGI REGISTERED INSTALLER
If you, or your
park, sub-let your Caravan holiday home you may be seen as a 'landlord'
under the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations and thereby
face other legal duties. The Regulations place a legal duty on landlords
to ensure all gas installations, including the appliances and their
flues are maintained in a safe condition. In order to achieve this,
the appliances and their flues must be safety checked at intervals
of not more than 12 months.
In addition to keeping records of their checks for 2 years, landlords
are also legally required to prominently display the gas safety
inspection record within the caravan holiday home.
