Fridge gas pipe + Camping equipment shop recommendation *GAS

[keytouch]

Ok, so I decided to take my fridge out to give it a bit of a shake.
Seemed simple enough, undid screws either side, slid it outabout 4 inches, bit of resistance then slid out another 6 inches. Turns out the bit of resistance was the copper gas pipe attached to the top of the fridge kinking at the hole where it comes through from the laet had cupboard where the cut off valve is.
Having done this now, I cannot see any other way to have taken the fridge out without causing damage to this fixed pipe.
Would it be safe, or even accepted pracice, to replace the pipe attaching to the top of the fridge with flexible hose? It already has flexible hose leading from the gas bottle to the start of the copper pipe leading up to the cut off valve. This way i'd be able to put in a slightly longer hose so it could be slid out more easily.
Any thoughts please? ....oh and I don't anticipate having to use the fridge much as I don't get away a lot.

[kevtherev]

I don't see any reason why not..as long as the correct pipe and clips are used

[Billiemaye]

My frigde is hose all the way to the top of the fridge a couple of gas couplings should do it.

[Stefvan]

Keep it copper - much safer in my humble opinion.. as many a rusty camper shows we don't know What the blithering heck is going on behind the fridge ! A caravan shop will put you in touch with a motorhome or caravan gas fitter

Stefvan

[rugchucker]

Hi
If you are using lpg hose then make very sure that the hose is not routed anywhere near the rear of the fridge, it gets HOT and could melt the hose, and there is a naked (ooh er missus) flame just waiting to turn it into a flamethrower.

[kentishvanman]

I have just installed a new fridge in my Autosleeper and made some enquiries about this matter. All of the textbooks/literature that I found and also the fridge manf. Dometic state that all the pipe work should be rigid ie copper. The two Haynes manuals on motorcaravans also say the same; I even e mailed the author to confirm. They all quote HSE, Codes of Practice and British Standards. Independent LPG engineers are of the same opinion.
As I understand it all the regulations apply to profesional installers ie manufacturers so as an individual it appears that you can do what you like. Some literature says that lpg gas fitting can be done by a "competent" person but does not say how you define their competance.
My argument was that if you can use rubber tubing from the gas bottles to the control valve (where it will be prone to damage) then surely a short length of similiar grade tube on top the fridge, out of harms way, should be fine. Nobody agreed.
However Calor Gas (Marine) said you CAN use rubber tubing to connect a fridge. I assume they know what they are talking about, it was the answer I wanted, so that's what I did.
I used the correct grade of tube. I used two jubilee clips at each end to connect to the copper. Made sure that the tube does not touch anything sharp when you push the fridge in, or will rub against anything. Made sure it is away from the (hot) flue and tested with gas detection fluid. Not washing up liquid, it's corrosive. I will change the tube every 3 yrs. Hope this helps and not confuses.
Calor Gas website has some useful info on gas fitting.
Don

[keytouch]

Well I went to my local camping equipment shop. ANd the people there were brilliant, the chap came out to the van and had a look at my original connectors etc, then we wentr back in to the shop and he picked out what I needed and cut the hose etc. Top notch service.

Also they say that they ALWAYS have stocks of GAS in which is often a problem having red other peoples posts. This place is in Kingston so hand for anyone in SW London.

Because I found them so useful I decided to give them a mention on here.

Tam Leisure Ltd
180-182, Kingston Road,
New Malden,
Surrey,
KT3 3RD
Tel: 020 8949 5435

http://www.just-camping.co.uk/

[DentedDevon]

If you ask enough times you will hear the answer you want , dosnt mean its the correct answer.

two jubilee clips at each end to connect to the copper

If you are going to use flexible hose you should use a nozzle to connect it to the copper pipe work.

I will change the tube every 3 yrs

Flexible hoses should be inspected annually. If the vehicle changes hands, the future owners may not be aware of the hose on the fridge.

lpg gas fitting can be done by a "competent" person but does not say how you define their competance.

CORGI insist that all their registered fitters have a cetificate (originally ACOPs and now ACS) to prove thie comptance. Caravans and campers may fall outside the scope of the regulations, BUT , if things go very wrong and you end up in court , how are you going to prove your competance ?

[kentishvanman]

Richard, thanks for your comments.
What I really meant to say (getting the answer you want) was that if the major player in the lpg market ie Calor Gas was happy with my arrangement then that was good enough for me.
I have used nozzles. I was just trying to keep my blurb short. Thanks for raising it though.
I check the system yearly and all hoses have replacement date labels attached. When I part with my van it will go with a detailed log.
The competance question was in an article about Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations. It said that as far as privately owned motor caravans were concerned 'competant people can carry out gas fitting' but it does not say what defines a persons competance. As you say that would cause a problem if things went wrong.
Sorry I did not make myself clearer.
Don