LPG bits of boat inspections!
Boats with LPG (butane and propane) aboard
If your vessel has gas aboard, please remember to
prepare the vessel before its examination and ensure there is a supply of gas ready for the examiner to undertake the checks.
LPG cylinder lockers - boat owners must ensure the BSS Examiner can carry out careful checking of the LPG cylinder locker for condition, including the removal of all loose portable items, base protection mats, removable false floors and the temporary removal of connected LPG cylinders.
Discuss your LPG cylinder locker arrangements with your examiner in advance of the examination as this may require your attendance or you to make prior arrangements involving service agents.
LPG lockers not accessible enough to allow an assessment of condition will involve the BSS Examiner having to return to carry out the check with the obstruction removed.
The BSS Examination includes checks on any LPG system covering aspects of the storage of gas cylinders, gas system and the connections to gas appliances.
The complete set of checks can be read in Chapter 7 of the BSS Examination Checking Procedures (See page 41 of the PDF file).
Here is a diagramtic description of the BSS requirements linked to a boats LPG system. The numbers refer to the chapters and section in the BSS ECPs refered to in the link above.
How do we check your boat is free from gas leaks?
The BSS examination includes a test that checks that the gas system is free from leaks i.e the gas tightness-test.
However, we would like to stress that the system should be gas-tight (not leaking) all times, not just when the BSS examination is due.
For boat owners the simplest way of having that assurance is to install a bubble tester and use it routinely. The examiner can also use this device to check the system is gas tight too, if it is installed correctly.
Where a bubble tester isn't fitted, the BSS Examiner must use a device called a manometer, this has to be connected to a gas test point.
The test point is simply a threaded opening into the gas system. It is sealed by a screw action nipple. To test the system, the nipple is undone, the manometer is connected up, the test is carried out, the manometer is then disconnected and the nipple is tightened back down. It is tightened sufficiently to seal the test point once more to prevent a gas leak, but not so tight as to damage the seal and cause a gas leak.
Who can carry out BSS Examinations on your boat?
All BSS examiners are trained and assessed in the same way to carry out checks of the gas system and to be competent undertake gas-tightness tests with manometers or with bubble-testers. They are quality assessed and have to undergo periodic retraining and assessment.
However, the use of a boat, affects its status under UK gas legistation, as follows:-
Privately owned boats used solely for leisure and pleasure purposes
If your boat is used by you for private leisure and pleasure use, all BSS Examiners can legally carry out a full boat safety scheme examination including checking by manometer that the gas system does not leak - the tightness-test.