gas & elec tests in uk

[ron_374544270]

Can any one tell me if I get my caravans Gas & Elect checked and tested in the UK by an authorised National Caravan Council workshop what is this equivalant to in EUROPE ie EN or Eu or CE number.

I am being told that is ACOPS and that is British Standards.

Thanks Ron

 

[Damian]

Ron, the ACoPS stands for Approved Code of Practice which is the minimum requirement for anyone working on LPG systems on caravans as a business.

The gas test depends on which type of system you have in your van.

If you have the Bulkhead mounted regulator then the test is carried out to EN1949, if you have the older cylinder mounted regulator then th etest is to EN12864

 

[Damian]

Electrical testing would be carried out to BS 7671:2008

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Ron,

I'm trying to understand why you should want to arrange to have this testing to foreign standards.

What I can say is that you will be hard pressed to find any UK workshop setup to test gas or electrical systems to anything other than the UK standards.

However, with regards to Gas systems, the latest caravans are manufactured to a European 30mBar standard, But electrics are still built to meet the national standards of the country it is to be sold in.

Perhaps if you could explain why you want the testing done, perhaps we can then steer you towards a satisfactory solution.

 

[Lutz]

The EN standards referred to above are design standards, not test standards. I would imagine that there is no uniform European test standard, but every country has their own, as they see fit.

Here in Germany, for example, gas installations in caravans and motor homes are tested according to DIN 33811, but electrical installations are not tested at all.

 

[Damian]

Quote "The EN standards referred to above are design standards, not test standards"

The testing of LPG systems is carried out to the relevant requirements as per EN 1949 or EN1286

EN1949

Requirements of Testing: The LPG system shall fulfil the following soundness requirements when tested at a test pressure of 150mBar with Air.

The decrease in pressure shall not exceed 10mbar for a test volume of at least 700cm3 over a 10 minute time period.

EN12864

Requirements of Testing: The LPG system shall fulfil the following requirements when tested using gas.

Permissable pressure drops must not exceed values listed in BS 5482-1 tableA1-A2(PD)(RPH)

And TM 83 Table A1-A2 (LAV)

 

[Lutz]

I stand to be corrected, but don't the EN standards only specify what values must be achieved, not how the test is to be carried out?

 

[Damian]

The EN1949 test must be carried out using a calibrated pressure pump with a volumiser to give the correct volume of air, and is tested over a total time of 10 minutes.

Five minutes are allowed for stabilisation and five minutes for leak detection purposes.

EN12864 is dependant on which gas is being used and is done in conjunction with a calibrated manometer or a specialist instrument such as a Kane 425.

The system is pressurised (for Propane)to 37 or 50mb (50 for systems using 50mb pressure) and allowed to stabilise for 5 minutes then a reading is taken.

The pressure is then reduced to 30mb for propane and tested for two minutes, then the reading is taken.

Pressure drops are calculated according to the tables mentioned in the last posting

 

[Lutz]

Thanks, Damain, for the information. I'm sure that should help Ron, too, although I'm afraid there doesn't appear to be anything equivalent for electric tests, as none are performed over here.