Simple rules for caravan safety

Press, 19 October 1978, Page 8

Simple rules for caravan safety

The old saying, “accidents don’t just happen, they are caused.” is just as true of a fire as a road accident. Unfortunately because most of us don’t even think these things can happen to us we tend to be careless about things which are in fact a potential danger to our lives, and those of our children and friends too. There’s no need to be a safety fanatic to take simple precautions and we believe all caravan owners should carry an extinguisher of some sort. This article will help you to understand a few basic fire-fighting principles and to choose the correct type of extinguisher. The use of gas, kerosene, or spirits for cooking and heating in a tent or caravan presents a risk of fire. This risk is heightened when cooking fats are used and the use of deep fat should be discouraged, particularly in a caravan.

The chances of total destruction in a caravan fire are extremely high due to the confined space and limited access, so the caravanner should take great care to prevent even a minor outbreak. Electrical fires too, which are usually the result of overloading a circuit, are also a risk when hooked up to a mains supply. Preventing lire A few simple fire-pre-vention rules are worth more than a heap of usedup fire extinguishers and the following should always be observed: (1) Flammable liquids: Gas, petrol, kerosene or meths should never be stored inside a caravan. One or two caravans have specially built storage lockers with outside access, but bear in mind a cylinder can burst under the effects of heat from a fire.

Never use petrol for lighting fires or for heating purposes. Only metal containers should be used for storing flammable liquids. When refilling appliances, do it outside and away from naked lights. Make sure that portable heaters, stoves, lanterns, etc, cannot be tipped over. Preferably they should be secured when in use. Children should not be able to reach stored flammable liquids or appliances.

(2) Gas installations: Always keep your gas cylinder outside (unless you have a specially designed storage locker). Don’t try to reset or interfere with the pressure regulating valve on your gas bottle. When you go to bed, turn off all appliances and turn off the valves at the gasbottle.

Check regularly to see that all piping and connections are tight and in good condition. Check for leaks using soapy water. Never leave a cooker or gas fire unattended if there is- a danger of a draught extinguishing the flame.

When you change cylinders, turn off the valve on the empty cylinder before you disconnect. Don’t open the valve on the full cylinder until securely connected. Be careful that boiling fat does not spit out and melt through plastic gas piping. (3( Electrical: You must have an electrical warrant of Fitness if you are using mains electricity —th is is renewable every 14 months by law. Don’t overload circuits — the total wattage you maydraw off on a nrmal 15 amp caravan circuit is 230 v times 15, i.e. 3450 watts. A two-bar heater can draw about 2000 watts, an electric jug about 1200 watts, so you only need these going plus a couple of lOOwatt lamps to be close to the maximum loading.

General precautions

Because fire spreas as rapidly in a caravan, children should never be left alone — the tragic results Of this have been seen here recently. They should also be discouraged from playing with gas knobs on the cooker and only older children should be "asked to turn on gas appliances. Better organised caravan clubs make their own fire precaution arranements at rallies — Wellington for instance have a flagpole at which water and extinguishers are sited, and they appoint duty fire officers. This practice should be more widespread. When camping or caravanning independently, make sure you know the arrangements provided at the camp you are visiting. Which extinguisher?

In New Zealand, fires are calssified into three types according to the materials involved. The five main types of extiniuisher are rated bydescribing their ability to deal with the different fires. Water should ont be used on fat fires, and in no circumstances on electrical fires because water conducts electricity. It also makes a soggy mess. A fire which really takes

hold may turn into as Class A fire by setting light to woodwork and fabrics, and at this stage water may be necessary , but use of one or the other types of extinguisher in good time should prevent this stage being reached. Foam, too, is a conductor of electricity so should not be used at the source of an electrical fire. Although it is excellent for smothering flammable liquid fires it leaves a nasty mess to clear up.

So, in practical terms for campers and caravanners, the choice of an ex tinguisher is between CO2 gas, dry powder and BCF. Both CO2 and BCF are

completely clean and leave no trace afer use, while’ dry powder forms a hard crust which requires thorough cleaning up. Neverthless it is highly efficient when used properly, and when the appliance is in good condition.

Narrowing the choice

After questioning several independent fire protection experts, my inclination would b? to disregard CO2 on the grounds that is less efficient (four times less according to tests) and needs to be bought in much greate quantities than BCF. It therefore ends up costing much more and — almost as important for the caravanner —weighing much more. BCFand dry powder remain as the two types best suited to our needs. One further product needs mentioning. This is the aerosol can such as the one made by Selley’s and sold widely. The can contains BCF but the pressure is very low which means it has to be held close to the source of the fire. It should only be used to prevent a very minor fire spreading and beyond this is of little use. Like any’ aerosol it should be stored away from heat. BCF stands for bromochlorodifluoromethane — quite a mouthful. It is a fairly' new fire-fighting agent and per quantity is four times as efficient as CO2: twice as efficient as dry powder. It is odourless (-though some people say it can make your eyes water slightly in a confined space), and leaves absolutely no mess at all. It is sold under a number of brand names though Graviner Swordsman extinguishers are the most widely' sold and have a first "class reputation for efficiency. Another well constructed BCF extinguisher is the Nu Swift.

Dry powder extinguishers have long been the favourites of boaties and caravanners, though by comparison with the new BCF they have limitations. Most common of

these is the tendency for J the powder to compact as « a result of movement. They need regular checking and this should be • done in a thoroughly dry s atmosphere — any moisture which gets into a container can cause solidifying. In these extinguishers, the powder is expelled either by the piercing of a cartridge of CO2 gas in- t side the unit, or a Spar- . klet type bulbn of the gas. ■ The pressure thus released , forces the powder out. , Though it costs more BCF is clearly superior in . its efficiency and by vir- • tue of tis pressure storage and discharge has less that can go wrong — in fact we have heard of hardly any failures. Dry powder is quite alright provided the unit is properly sealed and regularly checked. It is well worth while - paying a little more for an extinguisher with a controllable discharge, rather than one which discharges ; the total contents. Not only can you use it again if only part of the contents have been used, but if a smouldering fire restarts itself you will have a reserve to cope. A fire can be handled better when the extinguisher can be controlled. When fighting a blaze aim at the base of the fire. Start discharging from several feet away and walk in towards the fire —never get too close to start with and risk spreading the fire by excessive pressure. Most important of all, . whatever kind of extinguisher you use. always have it checked after use. What you may think has only been a small discharge could be sufficient to be the differnece between life and death the next time you need it. While we hope you will " not have the terrifying experience of a fire on holiday, always remember the following drill: Get everyone out; get someone to call the fire brigade: and attack the fire. Where possible, exclude as many draughts as you can. Oxygen will only fan the flames. Above all, get yourself a reliable extinguisher and fix it in a place where •» you can easily grab hold of it. It may save your van —and vour life.