Getting the right gas saftey check

[slurpingwalrus]

I've just purchased a 2021 VW California as a VW used approved vehicle. We'd like to get a gas saftey check done on it to verify everything is correct and get a certificate. I'm based in Exeter, and looking and speaking to a few people on the Gas Safety register who are listed as being qualified for Caravans, they don't seem to do campervans and talked about needing a test point (which I think VW Californias don't have). I've found someone who is used by campervan dealers to do gas tests, but they don't appear on the Gas Safe register, although mention being ACoPS registered, which I'm struggling to find out what that means. There are some caravan centres offering habitation checks, but we only need a check for the gas.

- What qualifications do you need to give a gas saftey certificate?
- Where do you find these people?
- Does the VW California have a test point? Should it have a test point added?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sidepod]

Any gas certified plumber will do.

I genuinely wouldn’t bother. It’s simply a bottle and a valve.

 

[calikev]

When they say test point it is basically a spare regulator and hose to adapt for the test

 

[RobertCalifornia]

TLDR Don't bother with the gas safety check unless you really need to.

I went through all this last summer when we decided to start renting the van out on GoBoony. It is a massive pain in the neck!

Basically VW have set the California up to make it practically impossible to do the gas safety check because there is no built-in test point. I tried to get multiple campervan specialists to sort it for me, but all of them were stumped. I eventually found a specialist in West Wales who spent a good chunk of a day adding a test point - it was an expensive and time-consuming job, as not only do VW not build in a test point, there are precious few places to build one in, and the only place our guy could find was inside the cupboard under the hob. He spent most of the day on his back with his head in the cupboard trying to make it all work!

Anyway, we know have a test point, so when we get it done next year it will be much cheaper and easier!

 

[slurpingwalrus]

TLDR Don't bother with the gas safety check unless you really need to.

I went through all this last summer when we decided to start renting the van out on GoBoony. It is a massive pain in the neck!

Basically VW have set the California up to make it practically impossible to do the gas safety check because there is no built-in test point. I tried to get multiple campervan specialists to sort it for me, but all of them were stumped. I eventually found a specialist in West Wales who spent a good chunk of a day adding a test point - it was an expensive and time-consuming job, as not only do VW not build in a test point, there are precious few places to build one in, and the only place our guy could find was inside the cupboard under the hob. He spent most of the day on his back with his head in the cupboard trying to make it all work!

Anyway, we know have a test point, so when we get it done next year it will be much cheaper and easier!

That's really interesting. Was it done by a Gas Safe person or ACOPS?

We've got a 6 month warranty on our vehicle and it's coming up to 5 years old (which I understand is when pipes often need to be replaced). I also suspect our regulator is not giving enough pressure as the flame is incredibly weak (even with a new full 907 bottle). I'd like to get a test so that I can then get any work done under warranty without quibble. The VW garage we got it from fobbed off any concerns about gas safety - which I thought was absolutely incredible.

Would you be able to take a picture of what your test point actually looks like @RobertCalifornia?

 

[Baldrick]

Coming at this from a slightly different angle perhaps. I get a habitation check done on ours every year or two. Checking the electrical breaker, the gas, and a variety of other safety things incl an in date fire extinguisher & fire blanket. We also have a domestic combined fire & carbon monoxide alarm.
Ours is nine years old now.
The number one piece of advice I would give (at the risk of Mansplaining - if one person doesn’t know this hopefully it positive for the forum) is make sure there is decent airflow in the van when the gas is on. Two windows open a little at a minimum.

 

[slurpingwalrus]

Just checked the GoBoony website. It looks like they need Gas Safe. What on earth are the ACOPS guys checking then if they can do it without a test point?

 

[RobertCalifornia]

That's really interesting. Was it done by a Gas Safe person or ACOPS?

We've got a 6 month warranty on our vehicle and it's coming up to 5 years old (which I understand is when pipes often need to be replaced). I also suspect our regulator is not giving enough pressure as the flame is incredibly weak (even with a new full 907 bottle). I'd like to get a test so that I can then get any work done under warranty without quibble. The VW garage we got it from fobbed off any concerns about gas safety - which I thought was absolutely incredible.

Would you be able to take a picture of what your test point actually looks like @RobertCalifornia?

Not sure what ACOPS is, but I think the latter. We had it done by a guy called Richard Phillips at Tenby Caravan Services: https://www.tenbycaravanservices.co.uk/. I can highly recommend - he was the only person who I found who was a) qualified; b) capable; and c) willing to find a creative solution.

I'm picking the van up from its MOT today - so I'll send you a photo later.

One other thing to consider - I was advised that to put my own test point in could invalidate the warranty on those parts. My warranty was almost up at the time anyway so I was prepared to take the risk.

 

[andyinluton]

That's really interesting. Was it done by a Gas Safe person or ACOPS?

We've got a 6 month warranty on our vehicle and it's coming up to 5 years old (which I understand is when pipes often need to be replaced). I also suspect our regulator is not giving enough pressure as the flame is incredibly weak (even with a new full 907 bottle). I'd like to get a test so that I can then get any work done under warranty without quibble. The VW garage we got it from fobbed off any concerns about gas safety - which I thought was absolutely incredible.

Would you be able to take a picture of what your test point actually looks like @RobertCalifornia?

I would have thought that adding a test point to the calis extremely simple gas system would be introducing more chance of a failure.

Don’t get hung up about the gas regulator it’s £50 part that is a diy replacement. Vw won’t want to sort it as they don’t like dealing with gas.

 

[WelshGas]

That's really interesting. Was it done by a Gas Safe person or ACOPS?

We've got a 6 month warranty on our vehicle and it's coming up to 5 years old (which I understand is when pipes often need to be replaced). I also suspect our regulator is not giving enough pressure as the flame is incredibly weak (even with a new full 907 bottle). I'd like to get a test so that I can then get any work done under warranty without quibble. The VW garage we got it from fobbed off any concerns about gas safety - which I thought was absolutely incredible.

Would you be able to take a picture of what your test point actually looks like @RobertCalifornia?

The regulator and rubber pipe connecting it to the gas inlet within the gas locker are classed as consumables and will not be covered by any vehicle warranty, certainly not at almost 5 yrs old.

 

[slurpingwalrus]

You may be right. I asked specifically about this at the dealership and he said get a habitation check (which includes gas) and any issues will be fixed under warranty. I mentioned the lifetime on the pipes and he said they never have problems. Maybe I was fobbed off, we'll find out.

 

[WelshGas]

You may be right. I asked specifically about this at the dealership and he said get a habitation check (which includes gas) and any issues will be fixed under warranty. I mentioned the lifetime on the pipes and he said they never have problems. Maybe I was fobbed off, we'll find out.

The Habitation Check was introduced by the Caravan and Coach built motorhome industry + their Insurers because of the construction methods and materials used in the construction which can lead to water ingress into the tri-walled panels used in their construction. Van conversions are completely different in their construction .

 

[Sad]

As above, if it's not right, just change it. It must be an easy job as even I managed to do it!

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/product-category/vw-california/gas-parts

Thread 'Replacing gas regulator and hose' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/replacing-gas-regulator-and-hose.13360/

 

[sticky1]

I thought we might have a German owner comment.
In Germany you have to have a gas safety check and even carry a certificate/ sticker on your van confirming you have a safe gas system. I only know this because I removed the little green sticker from the back of my T7 which was on there for the German market apparently.
Their gas safety check is in the form of a pressure test, which makes perfect sense to me.

 

[RobertCalifornia]

That's really interesting. Was it done by a Gas Safe person or ACOPS?

We've got a 6 month warranty on our vehicle and it's coming up to 5 years old (which I understand is when pipes often need to be replaced). I also suspect our regulator is not giving enough pressure as the flame is incredibly weak (even with a new full 907 bottle). I'd like to get a test so that I can then get any work done under warranty without quibble. The VW garage we got it from fobbed off any concerns about gas safety - which I thought was absolutely incredible.

Would you be able to take a picture of what your test point actually looks like @RobertCalifornia?

Here you go.

 

[andyinluton]

Here you go.

View attachment 143753

View attachment 143754

Installing that test point in that location makes no sense.
They’ve cut a solid pipe to introduce a T so they can pressure test what was previously a single length of pipe. The most likely leakage point in the whole set up is now that test point.
If they needed to insert a T like that the sensible place would have been in the Gas safe itself between the solid pipe & the flexi hose, no need to cut anything & if the new weak point failed it would at least be to a point isolated from the van interior.

 

[calikev]

When I had to get a van tested for rental he made a testing point by using a gok gas regulator and a flexible pipe

 

[slurpingwalrus]

Here you go.

View attachment 143753

View attachment 143754

Thanks

 

[Beeechke1]

Just checked the GoBoony website. It looks like they need Gas Safe. What on earth are the ACOPS guys checking then if they can do it without a test point?

ACOPS stands for Approved Code of Practice, these are used in many industries and represent best practice. Liquid gas UK is the trade association for the LPG (butane & propane) industry in the UK and will cover system design, maintenance, and testing requirements. Some one who claims to work to the relevant ACOPS will have had some sort of formal training.