LPG gas cylinder company Calor has issued an immediate recall of its 4.5kg Butane cylinders.
The recall notice explains that a problem with some of the cylinders manufactured from 2017 onwards allow gas to escape when the valve is open and supplying your regulator or appliance. There is no such safety issue when the valve is closed, says Calor.
The recall notice gives instructions about how to check whether any of the cylinders you have purchased since 2017 are faulty. The 3-step check involves looking at the Tare Disc Next Test code on the bottom of the cylinder and if this includes the numbers 33 or 34 you need to give the cylinder a further examination – if not, the cylinder is safe to use.
Step 2 involves checking whether the letters TPA are stamped onto the handwheel valve. If they are, go to Step 3 – if not, the cylinder is safe to use.
In Step 3 – once you have spotted the letters TPA on the handwheel – you are looking for the year and month of manufacture. This is in the format of YY-MM. Only those cylinders manufactured in 2017 (those numbered 17-8 or 17-11, for example) risk being at fault and you must then use the online form or telephone 0800 181 4522 to inform Calor what you have found.
Gas safety in your caravan
Although the current problem with Calor gas cylinders is likely to affect relatively few products and the company seems to be fully on top of the recall exercise, it provides a timely reminder of the importance of gas safety in your caravan.
That is the focus of guidance issued by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, which identifies a need to pay attention to several key areas:
Wear and tear
- just like anything else, the gas installation in your caravan – whether a tourer or static holiday home – suffers wear and tear in normal use and as it ages;
- although you can estimate the useful – and safe – working life of many of the parts, an annual gas safety inspection will alleviate many worries and may even be a legal requirement in some circumstances, as we have explained in one of our articles;
Leaks
- before normal wear and tear take their toll, of course, the frequent jostling and jolting of a touring caravan on the move can disturb connections and fittings to cause gas leaks;
- if you detect a leak, shut off the supply at the cylinder immediately and get it fixed – and, as we have advised previously, don’t smoke anywhere near the suspected leak;
Carbon monoxide
- fire is probably the most obvious risk from gas supply problems in your caravan – so always keep fire extinguishers to hand and remember to install smoke detectors;
- a far more silent killer, however, is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning – caused when the gas has insufficient air for adequate combustion, because of the way an appliance is being used, a faulty flue, poor maintenance and servicing, or inadequate ventilation;
- in addition to your smoke detectors and fire alarms, therefore, you might also want to install carbon monoxide detectors – safety features that might be actively required by some caravan insurers.
Given the breaking news and recall notice issued by Calor, now is the time to carefully check your LPG gas cylinders – and take the appropriate action, of course, if you discover yours are at risk.
But this is also a time for a more general wake-up call and reminder about the importance of maintaining gas safety in your touring or static caravan.