Propane storage on Taiwan builds
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That is the setup on mine too.
All penetrations that lead to the cabin are raised 4" above the deck and filled with 5200 around the various wires, Morse cables, propane line, etc.
Vents either rear corners at deck level, no opening windows below the vents.
Louvred doors in front of the tanks,
Survey this year noted the propane installation as "open to atmosphere".
All Good.
If the LP tank is under the FB helm area, and not in a gas-tight top-opening container, it simply is not ABYC-compliant, regardless of what, or how many, surveyors may approve. The surveyor may believe, personally, that this is safe, but that opinion would not be based on any recognized standard I' aware of.
A locker that is "open to atmosphere" has no bearing on the issue. Even if the area is gas-tight, the electrical equipment sharing it almost certainly isn't ignition-protected. Vertical doors on LP lockers, louvered or not, are not compliant.
LP tanks that are stored on deck, in open air, with, among others, some restrictions regarding proximity to hull/deck openings and weather protections (which can be a canvas cover), can be compliant.
So two questions about a side loading sealed locker, built into the deckhouse at the main deck:
(1) There should be no fresh air intake vent at the top of the box, only the drain vent at the bottom?
(2) If there were spilled gas inside the locker, and the door were opened, then the gas would just run onto the main deck and then dissipate. Is this still considered too dangerous of a situation?
Logically if the LP tank is actively venting then it will spill over the top of a top-loading locker just as easily. So the ABYC rule may be a nice guideline, but it is only that. I have yet to find any classification society that states the same requirement.
Perhaps a gas detector inside the locker itself would be a good mitigation measure?
I would appreciate a link to an LPG standard for pleasurecraft from any of the classification societies.
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These are what I have researched recently, but you can search more IASC organizations. This thread seems to have evolved into discussing ABYC which apparently is God-Almighty. Perhaps if your insurer is requiring compliance to them, and you cannot do so, then find another insurer!
CHINA CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY 6.3.1.6
http://www.ccs.org.cn/ccswzen/font/fontAction!article.do?articleId=8a808a5b3ee3faf8013eef51dd7004aa
BUREAU VERITAS
Does not specifically address propane in its publication "Rules for the Classification and the Certification of Yachts" but there are sections on fire fighting, appliances, etc. However BV has an entire document for propane fueled vessels which you can read through if you have a lot of spare time.
https://www.veristar.com/portal/veristarinfo/files/sites/veristarinfo/web%20contents/bv-content/generalinfo/giRulesRegulations/bvRules/yachtsrules/documents/4760.5.NR500_2012-03.pdf
http://www.bureauveritas.jp/news/pdf/647-NI_2018-01.pdf
DNV GL 2.2.3
http://rules.dnvgl.com/docs/pdf/dnvgl/ru-yacht/2016-10/DNVGL-RU-YACHT-Pt4Ch11.pdf
ISO 10239:2014 (needs to be purchased)
https://www.iso.org/standard/60148.html
BRITISH STANDARDS BS EN ISO 10239:2000
I just came across this document, summarizing the BS standards which are compliant with the ISO above, and it DOES address side opening lockers, so I may have answered my own previous questions in this thread:
https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/164540/bss%20guide%20chap7.pdf
Thanks for that. I have been through all of these before (except for the Chinese one that Google can't translate). None but the British Standards BS EN ISO 10239:2000 appear relevant to the subject under discussion and I've never seen a Taiwan trawler with the tank under the brow that would meet the British spec. either but they may well exist.
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dhays
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Beyond any requirements, I think I'd be more concerned about what is reasonable. On the flybridge I have a built-in propane locker with a side access door. The back of that locker has a drain at its base that drains outboard. The drain is 1/2" in diameter and the drain opening is 3' from any window, hatch, door, or other perforation in the hull.
So, not sure if this locker is "compliant" but it certainly is safe.
So, not sure if this locker is "compliant" but it certainly is safe.
FoxtrotCharlie
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Yep, you can easily build an air tight, side opening container that will be safe and compliant - and will fit under the eyebrow of many trawlers - of course with drain openings.
dhays
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My locker isn’t air tight. The door doesn’t go all the way to the bottom of the locker. The door is not air tight. Any gas that leaks flows to the bottom of the locker and out the drain.
Perhaps it doesn’t need to. As we’ve just demonstrated, side loaded lockers are acceptable to ISO, British Standards and pretty much all the classification societies globally.
ABYC serves a great purpose of trying to bring a standard of safety to the American yachting community, the majority of whom know nothing about commercial classification. But it doesn’t make them the law of the land.
As dhays said, we all just need a system that is safe.
Safe is good, and the ABYC doesn't guarantee safe.
I'm needing to install a propane system myself, the way it was done on factory installs for this boat is to use a locker in the cockpit. I believe they put a vent in the bottom of the locker and let it drain into the cockpit, which is self draining overboard. Now the ABYC says the drain must be "outboard" which is a confusing term.
I'm needing to install a propane system myself, the way it was done on factory installs for this boat is to use a locker in the cockpit. I believe they put a vent in the bottom of the locker and let it drain into the cockpit, which is self draining overboard. Now the ABYC says the drain must be "outboard" which is a confusing term.
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