Legality of Gas Bottles for Caravans Urban Myths

landy · Guru

Cheep Gas Refils

herbie · Guru

What a good price for the gas refill have not seen it that cheap for years..just one problem we are no where near Ballarat, but have been there and have filled up with fuel at servo as it is one that is easy to get into and out of.Some have not a lot of room to enter or exit.

Regards Herbie

goldcoaster · Senior Member

Very good price,I paid $24 on the Goldcoast yesterday,and last week paid $35 for a swap n go.

Cloak · Guru

Is it feasible to install a 45Kg bottle I wonder? That would last a couple of years.

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

Our local Barbecues Galore Central Coast NSW has refills for $16 don't know if this applies to all stores

David

Cupie · Guru

Got a swap & go exchange for my out of date bottle at Bunnings Underwood (Bris) for under $20.

Check out chick suggested that competition from Masters was a factor in pushing their prices down.

Got to watch out though for varying bottle circumferences, out of date bottles and those rated as '4' ... ie OK for BBQs but not caravans. I usually rat through the cage of bottles to get one that ticks all the boxes for me.

landy · Guru

Cupie wrote:
Got a swap & go exchange for my out of date bottle at Bunnings Underwood (Bris) for under $20.
Check out chick suggested that competition from Masters was a factor in pushing their prices down.

Got to watch out though for varying bottle circumferences, out of date bottles and those rated as '4' ... ie OK for BBQs but not caravans. I usually rat through the cage of bottles to get one that ticks all the boxes for me.

Cupie can you tell us more about the bottles rated 4 that are only for BBQ 's.That is something I have never heard of.

Landy

tezza · Senior Member

As for filling water tanks I have never been refused permision to fill with water . I always ask before I fill with petrol and have had no problems. I did not ask crossing the Nullabor.

landy · Guru

We were refused water in Dalby last year at a petrol station that had been recommended by the information centre, luckily we had not started to fill our diesel tanks so we gave our business to a station just down the road that would alow us water.

Landy

allinone · Senior Member

Refilled a 9kg gas bottle in Burnie at Mitre10 the other day. The m10 store was advised as one of the cheapest in Tasmania. The refill was $32. A swap was $45. BTW a refill at a camping store in launceston was only $22.

barrie · Guru

Cost is $39 at Streaky Bay

Cupie · Guru

landy wrote:
Cupie wrote:
Got a swap & go exchange for my out of date bottle at Bunnings Underwood (Bris) for under $20.
Check out chick suggested that competition from Masters was a factor in pushing their prices down.

Got to watch out though for varying bottle circumferences, out of date bottles and those rated as '4' ... ie OK for BBQs but not caravans. I usually rat through the cage of bottles to get one that ticks all the boxes for me.

Cupie can you tell us more about the bottles rated 4 that are only for BBQ 's.That is something I have never heard of.
Landy

Hi Landy ..

This is a reference that I picked from another forum. I don't have access to the Standards but will have a look at my Son's copy on the weekend. Hope that he has them. This standard just describes the ratings but doesn't specify their uses .. BBQ v RV et al.

.................................................................................................................................

From AS 2469 (Two Piece Gas Cylinder Standard)

S11 SURFACE COATINGS
The surface coating used on the cylinder shall be identified by the symbol shown. The
symbol shall be an Arabic figure within a circle of 10 mm minimum diameter, located in
accordance with Clause 13. Where required by the application code under which cylinders
are to be used, one of the following surface coatings shall be applied.

(a) Hot-dip galvanized in accordance with AS/NZS 4680, and identified by symbol (1).

(b) A base coating to a minimum dry film thickness of 25 ?m, on a surface prepared by
abrasive blasting in accordance with AS 1627.4, to not less than Class 2½, and
followed by coating with a high grade resin-based material with recognized outdoor
durability to give a total minimum dry film thickness of 75 ?m, complying with either
of the following:
(i) Inorganic zinc-rich coating in accordance with AS/NZS 3750.15.
(ii) Organic zinc-rich coating in accordance with AS/NZS 3750.9.

The identifying symbol shall be (2).

(c) Sprayed zinc coating in accordance with BS EN 22063, to be not less than Class Zn4
for the entire surface area from the internal junction of each attachment for a width of
not less than 25 mm, and to not less than Class Zn3 for the remaining surface area.

The identifying symbol shall be (3).

(d) One of the following, and identified by symbol (4):
(i) Red oxide/zinc chromate primer applied on the surface treated in accordance
with the coating suppliers recommendations, with a high quality alkyl-based
top coat to a total minimum dry film thickness of 50 ?m.
(ii) Polyester powder coat on a surface treated in accordance with the coating
suppliers recommendations, to a minimum dry film thickness of 75 ?m.
(iii) Systems shown by testing to have equivalent surface-protecting performance to
the systems specified in Items (i) and (ii) above.

...............................................................................................................................................

landy · Guru

Cupie wrote:
landy wrote:
Cupie wrote:
Got a swap & go exchange for my out of date bottle at Bunnings Underwood (Bris) for under $20.
Check out chick suggested that competition from Masters was a factor in pushing their prices down.

Got to watch out though for varying bottle circumferences, out of date bottles and those rated as '4' ... ie OK for BBQs but not caravans. I usually rat through the cage of bottles to get one that ticks all the boxes for me.

Cupie can you tell us more about the bottles rated 4 that are only for BBQ 's.That is something I have never heard of.
Landy
Hi Landy ..
This is a reference that I picked from another forum. I don't have access to the Standards but will have a look at my Son's copy on the weekend. Hope that he has them. This standard just describes the ratings but doesn't specify their uses .. BBQ v RV et al.
.................................................................................................................................
From AS 2469 (Two Piece Gas Cylinder Standard)

S11 SURFACE COATINGS
The surface coating used on the cylinder shall be identified by the symbol shown. The
symbol shall be an Arabic figure within a circle of 10 mm minimum diameter, located in
accordance with Clause 13. Where required by the application code under which cylinders
are to be used, one of the following surface coatings shall be applied.

(a) Hot-dip galvanized in accordance with AS/NZS 4680, and identified by symbol (1).

(b) A base coating to a minimum dry film thickness of 25 ?m, on a surface prepared by
abrasive blasting in accordance with AS 1627.4, to not less than Class 2½, and
followed by coating with a high grade resin-based material with recognized outdoor
durability to give a total minimum dry film thickness of 75 ?m, complying with either
of the following:
(i) Inorganic zinc-rich coating in accordance with AS/NZS 3750.15.
(ii) Organic zinc-rich coating in accordance with AS/NZS 3750.9.

The identifying symbol shall be (2).

(c) Sprayed zinc coating in accordance with BS EN 22063, to be not less than Class Zn4
for the entire surface area from the internal junction of each attachment for a width of
not less than 25 mm, and to not less than Class Zn3 for the remaining surface area.

The identifying symbol shall be (3).

(d) One of the following, and identified by symbol (4):
(i) Red oxide/zinc chromate primer applied on the surface treated in accordance
with the coating suppliers recommendations, with a high quality alkyl-based
top coat to a total minimum dry film thickness of 50 ?m.
(ii) Polyester powder coat on a surface treated in accordance with the coating
suppliers recommendations, to a minimum dry film thickness of 75 ?m.
(iii) Systems shown by testing to have equivalent surface-protecting performance to
the systems specified in Items (i) and (ii) above.

...............................................................................................................................................

Thanks Cupie.

Delta18 · Guru

BCF Mandurah today $19.95 for 9kg (8.5) and $14.25 for a 4.5kg

Barbeques Galore $29.95 and $18.95.

Cheers Neil

Cupie · Guru

landy wrote:
Cupie wrote:
Got a swap & go exchange for my out of date bottle at Bunnings Underwood (Bris) for under $20.
Check out chick suggested that competition from Masters was a factor in pushing their prices down.

Got to watch out though for varying bottle circumferences, out of date bottles and those rated as '4' ... ie OK for BBQs but not caravans. I usually rat through the cage of bottles to get one that ticks all the boxes for me.

Cupie can you tell us more about the bottles rated 4 that are only for BBQ 's.That is something I have never heard of.
Landy

Looks like I was wrong once again ... This is an article on the subject from ELGAS, the operators of the Swap & Go system I think.

Sorry.

Legality of Gas Bottles for Caravans

Legality of Gas Bottles for Caravans Urban Myths

There are a number of recent discussions on various online forums relating to the type of gas bottle required for use on caravans. However, the comments being shared in these forums are perpetuating urban myths that have no basis in fact.

Specifically, claims that you can only use gas bottles with certain Coating Classification Codes on a caravan and that the use of the wrong gas bottle could void your insurance. There is no truth to either of these contentions.

To explain, a bit of background is in order. As with most urban myths, there is a bit of fact mixed in with misinformation. The paint coatings for caravan sized gas bottles are covered under AS2469-2005, in Section 11. This Standard specifies manufacturing requirements for welded carbon and stainless steel cylinders with water capacity not less than 0.1kg or more than 150kg. The Standard does NOT reference any application restrictions.

There are four Coating Classification Codes in this manufacturing Standard. The Classification Codes are stamped into the neck ring of the gas bottles. Depending on the Classification Code, the number 1, 2, 3, or 4 will appear within a 10mm circle. The lower the number, the more durable the finish.

Classification Code 1: These are hot dipped galvanised gas bottles. This would be the most durable finish but these bottles could cost 3X what a normal caravan gas bottle would cost.

Classification Code 2: These are abrasive blasted, then coated with a base coat and a zinc rich top coat. This is the Classification Code that SWAPnGO purchases when we feed new gas bottles into the SWAPnGO^® system, to replace sold and decommissioned gas bottles.

Classification Code 3: These are sprayed with a single layer of a zinc coating.

Classification Code 4: These are sprayed with a primer and a polyester top coat. This would be the least durable finish.

In reference to the first myth, there is not, nor has there ever been a prohibition regarding the use of any Classification Code gas bottle on a caravan. Many, many years ago there was a common sense recommendation suggesting that Code 4 bottles would not be ideal for continuous exposure on a caravan tow bar. This was never a ban and even the recommendation vanished from the Standards many years ago. We know this for a fact because the gentleman that wrote that recommendation, as a member of the Standards Committee, currently works for Elgas.

The Standards also make no reference whatsoever to the Coating Codes being for specific applications, like marine, caravans or other applications. This is pure urban myth.

With the advent of swap, even the issue of finish durability became a moot point. SWAPnGO paints more than half of the bottles that come through for refilling, making long term coating durability less of a necessity. Also, contrary to yet another urban myth, SWAPnGO does not blast the finish off of the swapped bottles, unless they are already heavily corroded, so we do not compromise the original undercoat and top coat. We just spray over both with an additional top coat.

SWAP'n'GO complies with all Australian Standards for caravan gas bottles

Regarding the insurance issue, there are no grounds for an insurance company to reject a claim on the basis of the Coating Classification Code, as there is no Standard or legal requirement for any specific Coating Classification Code for a caravan application. In addition, we have never seen such a clause in any policy and the LPG industry association would almost surely oppose any such arbitrary and capricious clause. If anyone actually has a policy that states this, we would love to see a copy!

A Real Issue That Could Affect Your Insurance

In reading the online forums, there was another issue of GREAT SAFETY CONCERN that actually could affect your insurance. Contributors make mention of having 6, 8 or as many as 12 gas bottles.

Separate from the Australian Standards, there are various state regulations that limit the number of gas bottles you can carry in a private vehicle. For example, Queensland limits you to two gas bottles. If you are caught with more than two you can be fined. An insurance company could be within their rights to deny coverage if you make a claim while you are breaking the law by carrying too many gas bottles. This would be especially true if there was a fire in which the extra bottles contributed to the blaze.

Caravan owners should observe the relevant State laws regarding gas bottle quantities transported. In addition, gas bottles should only be transported in external holders or secured in a purpose built, ventilated and ignition source free compartment / locker. Details of these installation requirements are specified in AS5601.2-2010. Gas bottles should never be stored in any other enclosed compartment within the caravan.

landy · Guru

Thanks for the article Cupie it was verry interesting, and allways remember the person who has never made a mistake has never done anything

Landy

herbie · Guru

I had to get a swap and go gas bottle the other day from here in Glady ..like every thing here very expensive $32 ..even Bunnings are cashing in on the boom happening here at moment.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Legality of Gas Bottles for Caravans Urban Myths

SWAP'n'GO complies with all Australian Standards for caravan gas bottles

A Real Issue That Could Affect Your Insurance