24
Gas
news
Mobile catering
vehicle owners:
make sure
gas cylinders
are safe
By Kelvin Rauber, ESV Gas Inspector
Storing your LP Gas cylinders correctly
is of paramount importance for the safe
operation of your mobile catering vehicle.
In our January edition (issue 34) we outlined
the approval requirements for mobile catering
vehicles. Mobile catering vehicles come under
the banner of complex gas installations and
require an Application for Acceptance to be
submitted to ESV.
Since mobile catering vehicles are used for
preparing food or providing hot water with the
use of LP Gas appliances, the safe location and
security of gas cylinders plays a major part in the
approval process.
ESV regularly attends public events to audit
mobile catering vehicles. Recently at a major event,
ESV inspectors identified several gas cylinder
non-compliances.
The photograph (right) shows a collection
of badly placed LP Gas cylinders connected to
an installation. This is clearly non-compliant and
potentially dangerous. Don’t allow this to happen.
Mobile catering vehicle owners must be aware
of their responsibilities and ensure the safety of
their staff and the public is not compromised.
Mobile catering vehicle owners should be
aware of the following requirements with regard
to cylinders:
»» Any cylinder connected to an appliance
shall be in an upright position with the valve
uppermost, and the relief valve vent directed
away from the appliance or combustible
materials
»» Exchange cylinders should be located on
a firm, level and non-combustible base
»» Cylinders must be stabilized, where
appropriate, to minimize the chances of being
knocked over or the cylinder hose connection
being strained
»» Stabilization can be achieved by securing
the cylinders to a permanent structure, or
securing with chains to a stake or star pickets
»» Placing smaller cylinders inside a crate (plastic
crates are acceptable for public events as
defined in the Code of Practice)
The Essential First Step
of any excavation.
Visit www.1100.com.au
or call 1100 during business hours.
»» Cylinders must be separated from ignition
sources and located outside of the exclusion
zone as stated in AS/NZS 5601:2013. (Note:
Some portable appliances have provision for
the cylinder to be with the appliance)
»» A minimum of 1.2m wide clear walkway
should be available for all exit routes.
For further enquiries please contact the
Gas Technical Information line on 1800 652 563.
further information click here
For
or go to www.esv.vic.gov.au