GAS ALERT Some cookers have not been installed and supported adequately to prevent the cooker shaking within the installation cavity. There have been instances where the support below the cooker has broken at the rear, fixing bolts have come out or sheared off and the top timber frames have flexed placing stress on the inlet connection or pipes within the cooker. There are a number of contributing factors that can increase the shaking inside the caravan. Over or uneven loading of the caravan producing incorrect ball weight. Travelling at high speed off bitumen. Leaving level ride bars connected on rough road conditions. The varying quality in performance of the suspension systems and wrong tire pressures. Caravans with no shock absorbers are harder on impacts absorbed within the caravan. WHAT YOU MUST DO 1. Contact a licensed gas fitter to check that the base of your cooker has been supported and/ or the top frame is braced to prevent flexing. If you find that the cooker is not supported as per the installation instructions and requirements of AS/NZS 5601 you must contact the caravan manufacturer to have this rectified and 2. The appliance must be checked by a licensed gas fitter for any damage and leaks. Fitting a gas leak detector is also recommended 3. If you are unsure of how to assess the installation or you are unable to contact a caravan manufacturer because it has ceased trading contact Swift for further advice on: 03 93593068 or by email accounts@swiftappliancegroup.co.au In the USA and Canada leak detectors are now being mandated to be fitted in all caravans. Although it is not mandatory in Australia, fitting a leak detector is the best way of ensuring that leaks are detected if one develops over time. The Detector must be fitted below the cooker and inside the cabinet so that it can sound an alarm if any leak develops. If you have a gas appliance installed under the bed then a second detector should be fitted. Swift can supply a detector at minimal cost related to this alert. This Gas Safety Alert is issued by Swift as a result of information gathered in co operation with Caravan Manufacturers, Plumbers and Repair centres.
Swift GroupSwift Caravan Cookers PRA number: 2015/14707 Date published: 25th May 2015 Product information Product description Caravan Gas Cookers Identifying features All cookers up to 5 years old by date of caravan purchase. (Cookers are required to be regularly serviced but must be checked by Swift after five years). What are the defects? The caravan gas cooker has not been installed with adequate support in the cavity in accordance with AS/NZS5601 in order to prevent movement. What are the hazards? Excess movement or vibration may cause the cookers fitting lines to leak, posing a potential risk of explosion or fire. Where the product was sold Nationally Traders who sold this product Various caravan manufacturers Supplier Swift Group Supplier's web site What should consumers do? 1. Contact a licensed gas fitter to check that the base of your cooker has been supported and or the top is braced to prevent flexing. In particular check below the cooker to ensure the base of the oven is resting on a shelf and is not hanging freely. 2. If you find that the cooker is not supported as per the installation instructions and requirements of AS/NZS 5601 you must contact the caravan manufacturer to have this rectified and the appliance must be checked by a licensed gas fitter for any damage and leaks. In particular the licensed gasfitter must confirm the installation mounting is adequate and undamaged, there is no damage to the appliance and the pipes from the interlock valve, to the oven burner and the grill burner have no signs of damage or fatigue. Fitting a gas leak detector below the appliance is also recommended. 3. If you are unsure of how to assess the installation or you are unable to contact a caravan manufacturer because it has ceased trading contact Swift for further advice on: 03 93593068 or by email accounts@swiftappliancegroup.co.au
Bruce and Bev said
08:16 PM Aug 28, 2015
this issue was raised on the Forum about 3 -4 months ago.
I contacted Swift at that time and was told that my 'van manufacturer does fit their ovens in accordance with Swifts requirements and the Standards relating to them and there was no risk of failure.
But they also advised that as this is a warranty issue relating to poor installation, customers should contact the selling Dealer or the manufacturer straight away. They will arrange and pay for a gas fitter to carry out the necessary inspection. Failure to do this means the customer will pay for the inspection and remedial work not approved. This is the same procedure as with motor vehicle faults and warranty recalls (bear in mind that safety issues like this must be warrantied by the manufacturer way beyond they may usually claim - one year....this is a decision made by the ACCC some years ago)
Spook - appreciate that you are only recounting what you have been told or read :))
KFT said
07:14 PM Aug 29, 2015
Not a bad idea to pop in a reminder though especially for newbies who may have joined since the last posting.
frank
ps maybe it should be a sticky for 12 months or so
-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 29th of August 2015 07:14:42 PM
Spook said
08:25 PM Aug 29, 2015
Bruce, I picked it up in an Office of the Technical Regulator bulletin.
Kiwi-as said
08:39 PM Aug 29, 2015
That is exactly what happened to ours, two years ago, shook itself loose. The manufacturer installed a new stove and beefed up the supports.
03_Troopy said
07:49 AM Aug 30, 2015
I emailed Swift a couple of months ago when the problem was first highlighted, but the at fault caravan manufacturer not mentioned. Swift rang me back the next day and explained it was not the brand of van I had, that had a problem, and was only relevant to the full oven stoves (we only have the cooktop with grill). They then offered me a free Swift dLux gas detector which arrived about a week later. Very good of them I thought, considering it is a van manufacturers error causing the problems. I believe the company manufacturing the poorly installed stoves has since sent out safety recalls.
Bruce and Bev said
09:21 PM Sep 2, 2015
Swift are very good with their product warranty. When my van was new, the Swift hot water system started leaking about 100 lt of hot water a day.
I was out in the "sticks" and getting no-where with the Dealer who just kept telling me I needed to go to a particular city (which was about a days drive away) to get it fixed.
I phoned Swift and they said they would see what they could do. About 30 minutes later they phoned me back (thank you Telstra mobile) - they had found a caravan repairer who worked from home and only about an hours drive away. They also told me the repairer was not familiar with the Swift product, but they had told him to replace it with a new unit if he had problems.
The repairer took off the cover and found it was the 'van manufacturers poor installation that had caused vibration to cut open the hoses in various places. The Swift product was just fine. He replaced all the hoses and put rubber bushes around them where they could rub and a year later, no problems still.
He sent the bill to the manufacturer - not Swift.
Swift phoned me later in the day to check how things had gone, and then again a week later. 110% customer service !!!!
GAS ALERT
Some cookers have not been installed and supported adequately to prevent the cooker shaking within
the installation cavity. There have been instances where the support below the cooker has broken at
the rear, fixing bolts have come out or sheared off and the top timber frames have flexed placing stress
on the inlet connection or pipes within the cooker.
There are a number of contributing factors that can increase the shaking inside the caravan.
Over or uneven loading of the caravan producing incorrect ball weight.
Travelling at high speed off bitumen.
Leaving level ride bars connected on rough road conditions.
The varying quality in performance of the suspension systems and wrong tire pressures.
Caravans with no shock absorbers are harder on impacts absorbed within the caravan.
WHAT YOU MUST DO
1. Contact a licensed gas fitter to check that the base of your cooker has been supported and/ or the top
frame is braced to prevent flexing. If you find that the cooker is not supported as per the installation
instructions and requirements of AS/NZS 5601 you must contact the caravan manufacturer to have this
rectified and
2. The appliance must be checked by a licensed gas fitter for any damage and leaks. Fitting a gas leak
detector is also recommended
3. If you are unsure of how to assess the installation or you are unable to contact a caravan
manufacturer because it has ceased trading contact Swift for further advice on: 03 93593068 or by email
accounts@swiftappliancegroup.co.au
In the USA and Canada leak detectors are now being mandated to be fitted in all caravans. Although it is
not mandatory in Australia, fitting a leak detector is the best way of ensuring that leaks are detected if
one develops over time. The Detector must be fitted below the cooker and inside the cabinet so that it
can sound an alarm if any leak develops. If you have a gas appliance installed under the bed then a
second detector should be fitted. Swift can supply a detector at minimal cost related to this alert.
This Gas Safety Alert is issued by Swift as a result of information gathered in co operation with Caravan
Manufacturers, Plumbers and Repair centres.
Swift GroupSwift Caravan Cookers
PRA number: 2015/14707
Date published: 25th May 2015
Product information
Product description
Caravan Gas Cookers
Identifying features
All cookers up to 5 years old by date of caravan purchase. (Cookers are required to be regularly serviced but must be checked by Swift after five years).
What are the defects?
The caravan gas cooker has not been installed with adequate support in the cavity in accordance with AS/NZS5601 in order to prevent movement.
What are the hazards?
Excess movement or vibration may cause the cookers fitting lines to leak, posing a potential risk of explosion or fire.
Where the product was sold
Nationally
Traders who sold this product
Various caravan manufacturers
Supplier
Swift Group
Supplier's web site
What should consumers do?
1. Contact a licensed gas fitter to check that the base of your cooker has been supported and or the top is braced to prevent flexing. In particular check below the cooker to ensure the base of the oven is resting on a shelf and is not hanging freely.
2. If you find that the cooker is not supported as per the installation instructions and requirements of AS/NZS 5601 you must contact the caravan manufacturer to have this rectified and the appliance must be checked by a licensed gas fitter for any damage and leaks. In particular the licensed gasfitter must confirm the installation mounting is adequate and undamaged, there is no damage to the appliance and the pipes from the interlock valve, to the oven burner and the grill burner have no signs of damage or fatigue. Fitting a gas leak detector below the appliance is also recommended.
3. If you are unsure of how to assess the installation or you are unable to contact a caravan manufacturer because it has ceased trading contact Swift for further advice on: 03 93593068 or by email accounts@swiftappliancegroup.co.au
I contacted Swift at that time and was told that my 'van manufacturer does fit their ovens in accordance with Swifts requirements and the Standards relating to them and there was no risk of failure.
But they also advised that as this is a warranty issue relating to poor installation, customers should contact the selling Dealer or the manufacturer straight away. They will arrange and pay for a gas fitter to carry out the necessary inspection. Failure to do this means the customer will pay for the inspection and remedial work not approved. This is the same procedure as with motor vehicle faults and warranty recalls (bear in mind that safety issues like this must be warrantied by the manufacturer way beyond they may usually claim - one year....this is a decision made by the ACCC some years ago)
Spook - appreciate that you are only recounting what you have been told or read :))
Not a bad idea to pop in a reminder though especially for newbies who may have joined since the last posting.
frank
ps maybe it should be a sticky for 12 months or so
-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 29th of August 2015 07:14:42 PM
Bruce, I picked it up in an Office of the Technical Regulator bulletin.
I was out in the "sticks" and getting no-where with the Dealer who just kept telling me I needed to go to a particular city (which was about a days drive away) to get it fixed.
I phoned Swift and they said they would see what they could do. About 30 minutes later they phoned me back (thank you Telstra mobile) - they had found a caravan repairer who worked from home and only about an hours drive away. They also told me the repairer was not familiar with the Swift product, but they had told him to replace it with a new unit if he had problems.
The repairer took off the cover and found it was the 'van manufacturers poor installation that had caused vibration to cut open the hoses in various places. The Swift product was just fine. He replaced all the hoses and put rubber bushes around them where they could rub and a year later, no problems still.
He sent the bill to the manufacturer - not Swift.
Swift phoned me later in the day to check how things had gone, and then again a week later. 110% customer service !!!!