🛑 Gas Safety Basics for Campervans

Read this before doing anything with gas in your van.

Gas makes cooking and heating possible in a campervan — but it is also one of the most dangerous parts of a conversion. When gas is handled incorrectly, it can lead to:

• 🔥 Fire

• 💥 Explosion

• ☠️ Carbon monoxide poisoning

• 🫁 Asphyxiation

• 🚫 Insurance claims being refused

Because campervans are small, sealed spaces, even a tiny gas leak can quickly become life-threatening.
This guide explains the basics in clear, honest language so you can make safe decisions.

Important: This guide is for awareness only. Gas installations should be carried out by a qualified and competent person.

1️⃣ Why Gas Safety Matters So Much in Campervans

LPG (propane or butane):

• Is heavier than air

• Collects at floor level

• Is extremely easy to ignite

• Expands quickly, making leaks very dangerous

Meanwhile, carbon monoxide:

• Has no smell

• Can cause confusion, sleepiness, collapse, or death

• Can build up if appliances are not vented correctly

Because of these risks, gas safety in leisure vehicles follows strict standards — even though the standards themselves are not laws.

2️⃣ British Standards vs Legal Requirements

(This is where most DIY builders get confused.)

There is no specific UK law that says:

“You must have a sealed gas locker in a campervan.”

BUT:

✔ British Standards are the accepted safety standard for gas in leisure vehicles

✔ Insurers and professional converters expect compliance

✔ Campsites (especially in Europe) may refuse entry without compliant systems

✔ If an incident occurs, investigators use these standards to decide whether the installation was “safe”

The main standard is:

BS EN 1949 – Specification for LPG systems in leisure accommodation vehicles

This standard covers:

• Pipework

• Installations

• Gas lockers

• Vents

• Regulators

• Appliance requirements

⚠️ It is not law — but it carries legal weight

If something goes wrong, you may be found negligent if you did not follow accepted industry practice.

So in plain English:

You do not have to follow BS EN 1949 by law — but you really should if you want a safe, insurable, industry-compliant van.

3️⃣ When You MUST Use a Sealed, Vented Gas Locker

If your campervan uses a fixed gas system, meaning:

• A plumbed-in gas hob

• A gas oven or grill

• A fixed room heater

• A water heater or boiler

• A gas fridge

• Permanent pipework (copper or stainless)

• Any appliance fed by a gas cylinder via a regulator

Then the accepted standard is:

🔒 Use a sealed gas locker

🔽 With a drop vent to the outside at floor level

🪛 Gas-tight to the inside of the van

🔧 With the correct regulator and isolation valves

This is the professional, expected, insurable method.

4️⃣ What About Portable Gas Stoves?

Portable appliances, such as:

• Campingaz stoves

• Single-burner butane cartridge stoves

• BBQ gas bottles not connected to fixed pipework

Do not fall under BS EN 1949, because they are not “installed systems.”

BUT:

• Storing loose gas bottles inside a van is dangerous

• Butane cartridge stoves have been involved in multiple fatalities

• Insurance companies may view them as an uncontrolled hazard

• They should never be used inside a van due to CO and explosion risk

So while a locker is not required for portable bottles:

It is still strongly recommended to store them safely and use them outside the vehicle.

5️⃣ Key Components of a Safe Gas Installation

A compliant, safe, industry-standard gas installation includes:

✔ A sealed, vented gas locker

Holds the gas cylinder and vents any leaks outside.

✔ Correct regulator (propane/butane, correct pressure)

Often 30mbar for modern appliances.

✔ Copper or stainless steel pipework

Correctly clipped, protected, and sized.

✔ Isolation valves

Allow individual appliances to be switched off.

✔ Drop vents

Let leaked gas escape out of the vehicle.

✔ Bubble tester (strongly recommended)

Allows quick safety checks before each trip.

✔ CO alarm & LPG gas alarm

Carbon monoxide kills silently, and LPG sinks to the floor.

6️⃣ What Should NEVER Be Done

❌ Running flexible hose through the entire van
❌ Using non-gas-rated hose
❌ Storing anything other than the bottle inside the gas locker
❌ Using jubilee clips instead of gas hose clips
❌ No drop vent in the locker
❌ DIY compression joints without pressure testing
❌ No isolation valves
❌ Using appliances without correct flues and ventilation

Any of these can make a van unsafe, uninsurable, and potentially life-threatening.

7️⃣ Ventilation: You Cannot Compromise on This

Gas appliances produce carbon monoxide.
Correct ventilation is vital.

Every gas appliance must have:

• Adequate air supply

• Correct flue or exhaust path

• Manufacturer-specified spacing

• Ventilation that cannot be blocked

Never tape over vents to “reduce draughts.”
People have died from doing this.

8️⃣ Who Can Install Gas in a Campervan?

✔ There is no UK legal requirement for Gas Safe registration for LPG in vehicles

(Although many installers are Gas Safe LPG-qualified.)

✔ However, the installer must be competent

Meaning they must have:

• Appropriate tools and equipment

• Understanding of LPG behaviour

• Ability to test joints under pressure

• Knowledge of BS EN 1949 principles

If you cannot test a gas system, you should not be installing one.

High Peak Conversions strongly recommends using a qualified LPG engineer with experience in leisure vehicles.

9️⃣ Annual Checks & Ongoing Safety

Just like a boat or caravan, a campervan gas system should be:

• Inspected annually

• Leak-tested regularly (bubble tester recommended)

• Ventilated correctly at all times

• Kept free from damage, corrosion, and loose fittings

If you smell gas:

• Turn off the cylinder immediately

• Ventilate the vehicle

• Do not operate switches

• Leave the van

• Have the system inspected professionally

🔟 Summary — The Simple Truth About Gas in Vans

Gas isn’t something to fear — it’s something to respect.

✔ Not all gas rules are laws

✔ But the accepted industry standards exist for very good reasons

✔ Following BS EN 1949 keeps you safe and insurable

✔ Gas installations should be done by competent professionals

✔ A sealed gas locker is essential for any fixed gas system

✔ CO alarms and LPG detectors are must-have safety equipment

Your campervan is a small space.
Mistakes with gas have serious, sometimes fatal consequences.

A properly installed system is safe, quiet, efficient, and reliable.