Does anyone out there have a propane tank installed between the frame rails? If so, do you have any pictures of it? I am wondering if there are brackets you would buy from a store or if it is something I am better off having my welder fabricate. I could just sacrifice the exterior port side underbody storidge compartment but when you only have 23 ft. to work with, you try to conserve space.

I can't quote chapter and verse, but I have read that propane tanks must be in a marked "accessible exterior compartment" so the firemen can deal with it if need be.

Check on it.

Now we are talkin! This is the type of stuff I needed to know. I don't mind using up an outside compartment as long as I know it has to be done this way. I will check code and let everyone know.

The door can't lock, and if my coach is an example, there is a skid plate mounted vertically that will hit the road surface before the tank can. I'll take a pic or 2 tomorrow to show you what I mean.

Thanks Danny!

Is the floor vented on anybody (or everybody's) propane compartment?

I don't believe there are any specific regulations requiring the mounting of propane tanks "inside" a compartment of an RV, nor do many RVs have any type of exterior markings that would indicate a propane tank at a readable distance to an approaching fire crew. Propane tanks seem to be mounted in a wide variety of locations and if in a compartment, it typically seems to be vented.

The Hose Jockeys are going to *assume* there is a hidden propane tank on any given coach, regardless if it's there or not. Most tanks seem to vent prior to FD's arrival [check-out RV Fires on youtube].

My tank must be at least a 40 gallon tank and is mounted between the frame-rails / midship. The coach is currently in the shop having the Pan and Gear Cover Gaskets replaced, due to an on-going and worsening oil leak, so I am unable to take-a-look at this point regarding how it is mounted, but would gladly share that information when I pick-it-up, hopefully tomorrow.

...I could also be completly wrong...

I can't remember ever seeing a door for a propane storage compartment or space that had a lock. The locking devise is a spring loaded catch. Makes it easy to access........

The only restrictions AFAIK are:

1. There must be a manual cutoff valve

2. There must be a electric (solenoid) valve operated by a propane detector in the interior of the coach

3. There must be an Overfill Protection Device (OPD)

4. Access to the manual valve cannot be in a locked compartment or inaccessible

The 2005 edition of NFPA 1192 Standard on Recreational Vehicles replaces ANSI A119.2 and has clarification of requirements for location and securing of propane containers.

http://www.nfpa.org/catalog/pr...119205&cookie_test=1

Your local fire marshal should have an electronic copy, and might print the pages with the information for you.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
The only reestriction AFAIK are:

1. There must be a manual cutoff valve

2. There must be a electric (solenoid) valve operated by a propane detector in the interior of the coach

Oh-Oh........I'm in trouble. Don't have one. Do you know when that was mandated?

quote:

3. There must be an Overfill Protection Device (OPD)

Don't have one of those, either. Just a spit valve. I have read that OPDs were required on ASME tanks starting in 1984. Previous MH was a 1985, and it also had only a spit valve, as well. I remember getting it filled, and the attendant asked, "fill it up?". My response was "Yes."

After an hour of freeway and a little city street driving, the tank had absorbed enough heat for the pressure relief valve to let go. It was very dramatic, to say the least, being right underneath me. It took perhaps half an hour for it to bleed down and reseat.

Needless to say, I always watch now. I also make sure the spit valve is fully closed, after a hard lesson on that, too.

I have read that the 2001 edition of NFPA 58 (the LP-Gas Code) recognizes that horizontally oriented cylinders that were manufactured prior to October 1, 1998, are unable to be retrofitted with OPD's. As a result of this fact, the Code now exempts these cylinders from having to be retrofit with OPD valves. Any such cylinder must have a label affixed to it to inform the user and the refiller that an OPD valve is not installed.

Guess I better find one of those labels. Camping World, no doubt has them.

I don't recall when the OPDs were first mandated, but you're legal (grandfathered in). The spit valve isn't an OPD - primitive, but effective; it's basically an overpressure vent to relieve pressure if the tank is overfilled. I'm assuming that you mean the tank vented due to overpressure.

Later tanks have a vent that opens when liquid hits it, installed at the 80% of fill level. The rule is an overfill protection DEVICE - it doesn't have to be a closure valve. This may be what you mean by "spit valve".

Portable (vertical) cylinders have an actual float valve that shuts off the intake. The problem with them is that there's no overpressure relief, and so the valve.

The problem in every case is that gas in compressible, and liquid is not. A fully-filled tank subjected to sufficent higher temps will burst - and actually this holds for any liquid in a non-vented tank.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
The spit valve isn't an OPD - primitive, but effective; it's basically an overpressure vent to relieve pressure if the tank is overfilled.

The spit valve is different from the overpressure vent. It is the outlet for a dip tube. When it is open during filling, gas escapes until the liquid level reaches the bottom of the tube. At that point, the tank is as full as it is supposed to be, (~80%)and liquid starts to "spit". That is when the fill guy is supposed to close the spit valve and stop filling. The spit valve is always under pressure, and if not firmly closed, propane will leak out. After a massive inconvenience on one trip, I leak check it after every fill up.

quote:

I'm assuming that you mean the tank vented due to overpressure.

Yup, sure did. Right out the overpressure valve. Just like it was supposed to.