Hi All, Couple of queries regarding my upcoming BSS cert. Firstly my gas locker which fits in the cockpit is unchanged from it's last test in 2014 by it's previous owner and i cannot see a drain in it. Should it have been a failure,? Secondly if i wanted to fit a Bubble Tester in the Gas Locker instead of using a Manometer, can i use the proper rubber hose to both sides of the Bubble tester. Going on line gives conflicting opinion. Regards Phil Hunt.
As I've been retired for a bit and things might have changed I cannot definitively answer you BUT your gas locker MUST have an unimpeded drain to over the side so no leaking gas can get into your boat.
Doesn't the boat gas system copper pipe go into your gas locker and there get connected to the cylinder? That is what should happen so the proper flexible connection is fully contained within the gas locker.r That being the case can you not disconnect it from the copper, fit your bubble tester which is what I did on my Ocean and reconnect the flexible pipe to the bubble tester? If the copper is not long enough you can extend it with a connector and a short piece, you might in any event need to change the end fittings to suit the bubble tester.
I recommend Hylomar gas jointing paste on fittings to ensure gas tightness and DON'T tell the PC brigade that you and not a Gas Safe engineer did the fitting although it is not illegal until you actually connect the gas or at least that was the case. Also screw of bolt the bubble tester to the locker side at same height as the gas bottle valve and make sure it is easily visible without standing on your head with one leg in the toilet.
Jubilee clips were a no-no on gas rubber tube which must show no signs of perishing and have the date on it from memory.
And the drain for the gas locker must be no more than around an inch off the base! Ask me how I know! I got around the drain being too high by using fire cement to put some thick floor tiles in the base.
Thanks for the quick replies, as usual very easy to digest. Went to the boat this morning removed all the crud --- and found the drain. sorry for the red Herring. Ref the bubble tester the set up is exactly like Clive says but because my bottle is quite a tight fit in the locker it would be impractical to fit one there. Everything is compliant so i will stick to the manometer. The test point is on the water heater feed. Btw my total pipework for all 3 appliances is only 2 mtrs of copper and 3 compression fittings. It only takes 2 mins to leak test the lot with a spray regularly. Cheers again.
The chap that did our most recent BSS told me that bubble testers had fallen out of favour a little with BSS because they are not very sensitive and also because there had been a number of incidents where the testers were found to be the source of a leak! I've no idea how "official" this view is but I have to say I love ours. It's so quick and easy to turn on the gas and press the button to check the system.
BSS and LPG.
Posted - 09 Jan 2018 : 16:12:11
