10
American Boat & Yacht Council •
the
Reference Point
• Summer 2013
with no connections along the path. A
manifold is acceptable to distribute the
fuel to multiple appliances, but it must
remain in the locker along with the fuel
pressure regulator. Finally, when the fuel
line arrives at the appliance, a flexible
connector is allowed to accommodate
gimbaled stoves, but only permanently
attached fittings (such as swaged sleeves)
can be used. The goal is to minimize the
number of connections between the fuel
tank and the appliance and reduce the
possibility of connections being loosened.
The single most common misinterpretation
among LPG requirements is the location
of a fuel shut off valve. A-1 requires that
the shut off valve be installed in a readily
accessible location. Commonly we see
a fuel shut off valve at the appliance in
an attempt to meet this requirement…
however, this is against the requirement
that a line be dedicated and continuous.
For the shut off valve to be permissible
at the appliance, it must be a remote
(solenoid) shut off valve. So that brings
up the term “readily accessible.” In order
for a valve to be readily accessible, it must
be “capable of being reached quickly
and safely under emergency conditions
without the use of tools.” Most LPG
cylinder lockers today meet this intent
so long as the boat owner is not storing
fenders, a crusty mop and a boat hook on
top of the fuel cylinders. A remote shut
off is not required, yet it is recommended
in installations where the LPG locker is a
challenge to get to and it would certainly
fall within a prudent mariner’s best
interest to install one.
Liquid Propane Gas is an efficient and
practical fuel for cooking and heating
onboard your boat. However the slightest
oversight in its use can be devastating.
Following the Thermal Appliance
committees guidelines contained in A1,
A-3 and A-30 is not just a requirement,
but it’s a smart decision. If you aren’t
systems certified, consider taking ABYC’s
Marine Systems certification class.
Everything from this article and more is
covered in the class.
MUCH LIKE NATURAL GAS IN
OUR HOMES, AN ODOR IS ADDED
TO HELP NOTIFY THE USER
WHEN A LEAK MAY BE PRESENT.
FOR THAT TO BE VALUABLE,
HOWEVER, THERE MUST BE A
USER ON-BOARD THE VESSEL THAT
CAN RECOGNIZE SOMETHING IS
WRONG AND SHUT OFF THE FUEL.
