Getting My LPG Safety Certificate - Mobile Catering Trailer

by cat
(essex)

hi, just starting out with a catering trailer and nearly there, but i am really having trouble finding someone to come and give me a safety check on my lpg appliances.

I have made about 30 phone calls, (they all have said they don't do catering trailers)..and I have had only 1 person (which was this morning) say they could possible do it, but it was £80 a appliance, I have 3.

i thought that was extremely expensive, ??? is it...??? has anyone else had a problem like this, or any info on how I could get it checked out, just need to make sure i have no leaks, thanx cat

Comments for Getting My LPG Safety Certificate - Mobile Catering Trailer

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 21, 2019
Rating

Engineer
by: Anonymous

Hi need gas test on catering trailer struggling to find engineer in cov area any ideas?

Jul 18, 2019
Rating

Get a Quote By Text LPG Engineer
by: David-

Hello all,

You can get a free quote for mobile catering certificate and work. Just text the work needed & postcode to 07422 128528

All work is carried out by a Gas Safe qualified engineer with a CMC qualification

Regards
David

Jul 17, 2019
Rating

Lpg gas fitter
by: Darren

Hi guys I need a gas safe engineer to install a coffee machine into my coffee van
Just needs final connection and a check
I live in se London and mobile obviously lol
Thanks
Darren

Aug 22, 2018
Rating

Inspection needed Bristol
by: Janine

I have a trailer in clevedon, Bristol. Is there anyone local that can do an inspection for me? ASAP ?

Mar 05, 2018
Rating

New Mobile Catering Directory
by: David-

Hi all,

If you can't find an LPG Engineer on the Gas Safe Website which should be your first choice. You may want to please book an engineer service

Regards,
David

Sep 11, 2017
Rating

LPG gas safety and certificate
by: Rira

I live in Poulton Le fylde Lancashire. I'm finding it abit difficult find a lpg gas engineering dose anyone know a gas engineering near me who can recommend please
Thankyou

Jun 07, 2017
Rating

LPG Safety check
by: Anonymous

I had the same problem, but managed to get hold of someone at LPG One, and said he'll do it all for £150 and fix all leaks, check all appliances and issue a LPG safety certificate.

Apr 20, 2017
Rating

by: spencer

i need someone in the oxfordshire area for a gas certificate call 07973195201

Mar 09, 2017
Rating

Lpg gas engineer
by: Scott Day

Hi all, my name is Scott my company is called RS Gas Services I specialise in catering vans/trailers servicing and repairing appliances individual appliances serviced from £50 ( not including parts) gas safe certificates from £30 per appliance I'm based in Kingston upon Hull and I work Yorkshire/Lincolnshire areas although I do charge my fuel cost 15 mile outside of my area. I have over 14 years experience in the gas industry and I pride myself on giving a friendly professional service at a reasonable price

Apr 15, 2016
Rating

Lpg engineers in Newcastle
by: Kerry

Really struggling on finding an lpg engineer to check my appliances on my food trailer.
Is tha anybody who can help me please??? Sick of ringing around and not getting anywhere!!
Someone please just give me a number to ring that can help me
Thanks

Mar 22, 2016
Rating

Help
by: Anonymous

Live in Cumbria. West lake district any gas safety engineers that can do my catering van.

Sep 12, 2015
Rating

LPG Enginner London
by: David-

Hi Kia,

Search the Gas Safe Register .

Just make sure that they are qualified to work on mobile catering equipment.

If you can't find an LPG Engineer, please book a mobile catering engineer here

Best,
David

Apr 13, 2015
Rating

Gas and electrical Engenier
by: Kia

Hi I'm living in London area and I need your help to advice me where can I find gas Engenier to help me and installe gas pipe for 2 appliances in my trailer. At the moment all my applience are electrical . Please advice .
Thanks Kia

Mar 12, 2015
Rating

mobile gas safety
by: Anonymous

please note that the engineer/company that carries out the inspections have to have all 3 separate elements
LPG-COMMERCIAL CATERING-MOBILE CATERING
This all has to be paid for and the engineer needs 3 weeks off work to take these exams
Having checked around the country most companies are not renewing it because of the cost and loss of earnings for the engineer.
The few that are doing it have now told me they are going to increase there prices to £450.00 per trailer

Oct 29, 2014
Rating

mobile trailer gas certificate in bristol
by: Barbara

Please can anyone tell me of someone that can do a gas certificate for my mobile trailer in BRISTOL, as I have urgent need of one. Thank you.

Jul 21, 2014
Rating

Gas safe check on catering trailer
by: Debbie

HELP !!!
I am looking for a Gas safe check on my catering trailer, I can not find anyone who does it on trailers !! I live in Norfolk
Debbie

Jun 25, 2014
Rating

Hi David
by: Nwce

How many appliances do you have?

Jun 25, 2014
Rating

hi cat
by: Anonymous

where abouts are youe based? unfortunately it all depends on area. there seems to be large price variations for gas safety certificates in different areas

regards

nwce team

Jun 25, 2014
Rating

Problem Solution/Resolution?
by: David

Back to initial posters specific problem,are there any LPG inspectors in the Newcastle and Northeast area? I am suffering the same problem - surely their are some in the vicinity?? Anyone got an average ball park figure of what price to expect - i seem to have been stung on every dealing with trades men since entering the mobile catering industry.

May 24, 2014
Rating

directory
by: nwce

hi
Our information and contact details are now available in the directory.
we cover the whole of the northwest, from full refurbish of catering units to breakdowns on catering equipment.

regards

northwest catering engineers team
lpg

May 01, 2014
Rating

Gas and electrical tests
by: Tony

Hi I've recently purchased a 10 x 6 catering trailer and am struggling to find gas and electrical engineers to do the safety checks I'm in leeds, West Yorkshire please could someone help me I've checked the gas safe site and made endless calls but nobody seems to do it.
Thanks tony

Apr 29, 2014
Rating

Mobile catering gas safety
by: Northwest catering engineers

Hi just a quick introductory

Nwce is based in Bolton gtr manchester, we cover the northwest of England. Qualified engineers with over 20 years if experience and gas safe registered. Any problems check out www.nwce.co.uk. All gas work undertaken.

Apr 17, 2014
Rating

To add for everyone's knowlegde.
by: Bristol fitter

Some guys who train up are told from the start their is very large amounts of money to be made, which make the training fee look very small, which of course is isn't.

But it helps the house's put the training prices up so they make more money, to pay their rates etc etc.

To compound the problem their is a thing called "fast tracking" which is a course to get the guy his plastic, in some case's that will be 3 weeks training, but he could have been a bus driver or a painter before he thing's he is a LPG or Nat. gas fitter.

Thinking now he has paid his money and got his plastic, and passed some very simple written exams and test's, in front of trainers who have lost the plot, as in regards to overall "up to date" knowledge they haven't got from a computer, he is in some sort of well paid club and he can print money.

Very far from the truth I'm afraid.
This is why, because of the money involved in training with all the other bits (like a van, tools and the rest).

The trailer owners can be asked to join the party, money wise, because the guy has it in his head he is not far from a doctor and one of a so call elite type persons.

Knowing that trailer owners should not be trading without the correct paperwork.

So the mis match of what the fitter has to pay to train etc to what the trailer owners thinks is a large amount of money is and will be getting even larger.

This is also why owners have a problem finding good LPG engineers around the country, and new ones get their mind set that their are very few members of this so called elite club, so he demands big money (such as doctors).

But yet the training cost go up and up, is the knowledge and skills go down. Gas safe knows all about this and do nothing about it, which is different than when it was Corgi.

Gas safe just pay lip service to the HSE, and that is it bottom line. The only advice I can give trailer owners, is find a good fitter, sort the money side out, build some trust, and keep in touch with him.

Not to many out there, but they are there somewhere.

Bristol fitter.

Apr 16, 2014
Rating

LPG MOBILE CATERING CERTIFICATES
by: Anonymous

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR GAS SAFE ENGINEER HOLDS AII 3 ELEMENTS TO CARRY OUT THE WORK ON YOUR TRAILER
THEY WILL NEED
LPG
COMMERCIAL CATERING
AND COMMERCIAL MOBILE CATERING
IF THEY DO NOT HOLD ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS WHEN YOUR SEND IN YOUR CERTIFICATE TO THE COUNCIL OR ITS IS CHECKED,YOUR CERTIFICATE WILL BE REFUSED.

THERE ARE COMPANIES TELLING CUSTOMERS THAT THEY CAN CARRY OUT THE WORKS WITH JUST A LPG ELEMENT.

IF YOUR NOT SURE PLEASE PHONE GAS SAFE AND GET THEM TO CHECK OUT THE GAS SAFE REG NO

THE ENGINEER SHOULD SHOW YOU IS ID CARD

Dec 11, 2013
Rating

Glad your glad.
by: bristol

Gassafe would be your first port of call for LPG catering fitters in your area. Have you give them a ring?
Bristol.

Dec 11, 2013
Rating

gas cert
by: Anonymous

im so glad i found this site just new to this, does anyone know of anyone in the newcasle upon tyne area ?? thankyou

Dec 08, 2013
Rating

To David
by: Bristol fitter

Hi ya, glad to see you have updated your site, seems to work well or better than the last one anyway. Went away for a bit got fed up with trying to help with comments that didn't get printed. Well done.

Bristol fitter.

Dec 06, 2013
Rating

Marc
by: Bristol fitter

Give it a rest mate, this is a help site not for cheap hit ad's.
Hope your doing well.
Merry Christmas
Bristol fitter.

Dec 06, 2013
Rating

Mr. Griddle
by: Bristol fitter

Hi mate, bit of a question for the guys on here without seeing it. The answer is maybe?
Few things to consider:
How old is it.
Work involved (parts and labour).
Type of burner.
If the gas valve can infact be changed for a new one with a thermocouple.
Can a thermocouple be mounted on the present burned easily
If the same gas valve and griddle has a temperture control involved.
Last one which may put the top on it for you! are you gas safe registered? or do intend to get a registered engineer to look at it? because he would be able to answer all the above questions on seeing it.
Best of luck, Bristol fitter.

Dec 06, 2013
Rating

Griddle
by: Anonymous

Hi I've got a griddle with out fsd/ffd is it possible to put one on the griddle,.

Oct 28, 2013
Rating

Commercial Gas Safety Certificate
by: Sammy

Hello,

Can anyone assist me in finding a gas safe registered engineer able to issue a commercial gas safety certificate in Greater Manchester Area? I've rang over 50 engineers so far and they don't seem to be interested in small jobs :(

Oct 12, 2013
Rating

i also need lpg cert
by: bob

i live in glasgow scotland i have been looking for some one to give me a lpg gas cert please help

Sep 12, 2013
Rating

gas certificate needed
by: julie

hi I work in the Blackburn area and am really struggling to find a gas engineer to service catering van and also issue me with a certificate. would appreciate any one who can supply a name and number.

Jun 24, 2013
Rating

Service Required near Birmingham, West Midlands area.
by: ASJ Catering

Hi I need a service for a LPG Catering Trailer.

We only have two appliances and the pipework that needs to be checked.

I need this done by this week if possible.

I also need to know the price. PAT testing would be a bonus if you can do that too.

Thanks.

Jun 14, 2013
Rating

lpg gas certificate
by: julie metcalfe

hi is there any one in the Kendal Cumbria area that can check my mobile trailer and do my safty certificates please cant find one thanks julie.metcalfe1@sky.com

Mar 31, 2013
Rating

PJ
by: Bristol

Your fryers going out because you have a weak flame which in turn is coming off of the thermocouple probe that should be sat in it.
The thermocouple is getting cold and telling the gas valve to close.
Same as in a no flame situation.
Your engineer needs to get his head around this for you.
There are tests he could do to prove what it is that is playing up on each and every part to prove them.
As said your next move is:
Gas control valve on the fryer (in regards to internal workings)
Thermostat on the fryer (which could put the burner in low flame)
Sounds like your thermocouple is working(but most be sat at the tip of a strong blue flame)
Jets.(change them if non of the above)
Burner (change them if non of the above)
Its going to be one if not all the above in that order, but if he runs through them one by one to prove them, he should not have a problem finding out what is going on.
It's not going to be big money until you get to the burners but don't be doing them until you have proved it is them.

Good hunting

Bristol

Mar 31, 2013
Rating

PJ
by: Bristol

Long shoot for you and I have had this before, have a look at the gas valve on your fryer.
Strip it and make sure that it is clear of any grease.
If it has a thermocouple connected to it and also a thermostat that section of the valve may have gone down and this will hold the gas back.
Sounds as if it is a gas supply problem in the unit, but if you have 37m/Bar on the service pipe (all on) got to be beyond that.
So thats:
Gas vavle/ thermocouple and stat(turn on and off tap)on the gear.
Oversized jet ( through poking bits of wire down it to clean it) or just wear.
Oversized burner holes (cleaning with a wire brush) or rust.
You meentioned burners @ £70, can you not buy one and see where that takes you? rather than buy the lot.
If one brings you back to blue flame, you have cracked it, then replace them all.
Not seeing it I would be going for gas valve and new jets before I went burners, as you said they look clean but there is no way of telling if the jet hole is the correct size even if the jet number matches the manufactures instructions.
You only need to put a wire or something down them ( wire brush hair) a few times and you can wear the small jet hole in the brass to a new much bigger size as they are drilled out to less than thousands of a M/Metre
Some just go because of age.
But it's going to be one of the above.

Bristol

Mar 30, 2013
Rating

PJ
by: Bristol

If you have 37m/Bar on the fryer with everything else on and you have a poor flame, it can only be jet worn out by bad cleaning and it's gone over sized.
Or the burner is either worn out or gone over size.
Don't forget when you say they are rusty, which they all get. That rust is also small part of the gas holes in the burner which is getting bigger and bigger each time a bit more rust rots off.
Looks like its bite the bullet matey.

Bristol

Mar 30, 2013
Rating

For Bristol
by: PJ

Thanks mate, not too bad here in Pembs, being English not quite the same as in some parts, good job, there are a lot of us here!
Service over for tonight, chip fryer only cut out twice, and relit both times, so not all bad. Still don't know what causes that, I guess I need to make my engineer earn his money and come up with an answer :) Flame still rubbish so will have to clean the burners - the jets are clean as a whistle. I have found replacements burners @ £70 each, so £420 for all six - just another big bill I guess we will have to swallow if cleaning does not work. Hey ho!
Thanks for all your help, shame you are not a bit nearer, the beer is good!

Mar 30, 2013
Rating

PJ
by: Bristol

You never know mate, I was up by Chirk awhile back at The Golden Pheasent Hotel,doing a major LPG sort out, they don't like the English in them parts of the world, but nice country, your OK if you keep your month shut or try and talk Welsh.

See ya!

Bristol

Mar 30, 2013
Rating

PJ
by: Bristol

Keep em strong you wont go wrong.
Just keep them well clean and you should be sorted.
If your going to do the service side of it yourself, never use anyhing metal to clear the jets, or the holesize will soon get bigger and give you the same problem again.
Hot soappy water and a can of blow air from any plumbing centre who do boiler spares, think B&Q might do it,(thats not a joke either) or an air line is best, just blow them out both ways.
Jets arn,t alot of money and easy to fit, get some new ones but check the numbers on the old jet match the new ones before you replace them.
Best, ask the manufatures what size they should be when you order them.
Maybe best looking at some new burners to keep as spares, the older your gear the harder the parts get to find.
Also get a copy of the manufactures service instructions for all your gear.
Always handy and will give you part Numbers and sizes etc etc and all the info to keep them going, parts you can then get on the Net.
Your nearly in PJ, what colour you going to spray the new van? always fanced a pink one myself, with "cause the wife said" on the side! don't forget the matching rays on the top of the head and another pair for when the sun comes out.
If I come up your way we will have a pint and we can talk some more LPG dribble.
Good hunting.
See ya!

Bristol

Mar 30, 2013
Rating

For Bristol
by: PJ

Hi Bristol

We are in the far west of Wales - a long stretch even for a hero! We have one service to do then the burners are coming out for a reaming.

Our engineer thought the jets might be wrong, but we checked the stamps they seem right. The burners are a bit rusted but do not look blocked (I have cleared them before, and some of the holes were blocked then). None of the other appliances have this problem, all nice strong blue flames.

Mar 30, 2013
Rating

PG
by: Bristol

No such thing as being stumped, if it,s got Nat./LPG gas coming out the end, it can be sorted, trust me I,m a doctor?
You never said where you were based.
Be interesting to take a look see, I like being a hero, some how make's my day.
Remember alot of this gear comes from aboard even though it is badge up with a makers name and have CE No. on it and they say not.
In many cases they don't have a clue either and just sell the stuff, which conpounds the problems with lack of information.
Word of warning for you if it soots up again or the flame gets lazy, stop using it!! or you maybe in for a long sleep.
May see you later (if not to far)

Regards

Bristol

Mar 30, 2013
Rating

Reply to Bristol
by: PJ

Hi Bristol

Don't know why, but there are times I just cannot get a comment to post here, so gave up!

Anyway - our fitter has now replaced our two regulators with just one, so we are running 2 x 19kg in service + 2 x 19kg on standby. Pressure is up to acceptable level but both Pitco fryers still burning yellow and sooty. Going to try another clean of the burners, after that we are all at a loss as to what the problem is, even Pitco themselves. Thanks for all your help, this one seems to stump everyone!

Mar 30, 2013
Rating

Hi PG
by: Bristol fitter

Lots of answers to your questions have still not appeared to be posted.
Hope your sorted now?
If not you can try on here again, but that seems to be a waste of time.
You could try finding out where they do the trianing in your area and go along there, sure they would help you or point you in the right direction.
Have a good session mate.
Regards
Bristol.

Mar 26, 2013
Rating

lpg
by: christine

hi im struggaling getting a lpg man in my area bury manchester ive been on the gassafe site no joy pls help

Mar 10, 2013
Rating

PJ
by: Bristol

Still can't move the blank on your write in and I have writen many that don't show up too.
This is all down to David I assume that runs this site.
Word of warning, if you don't see the engineer doing the tests I have mentioned, plus explain them to you as the regs, state there is a good chance your getting ripped off.
Not saying you are, but beware.
Flame pictures should be checked on all your kit whilst it is all running. This will be the first sign that something is going wrong and the last sign that everything is OK.
Regulators should have several tests:
Visual condition.
Working pressure.
Standing pressure.
Lock up pressure is working and at what pressure it works.
Carcase ( pipework inside ) tests:
Strengh test.
Tightness test.
Pressure drop aross the carcase test.
Main shut off vavle works and is holding.ESO (inside your van and is clearly marked as such)
Each bit of kit has it's own isolation vavle ( that can be got at easily)
All your kit is fixed down (with screws or better bolted)
A load more should be done which takes time, if you cannot see this going on just ask, WHY! as it should be to be deemed as gas safe.
Scroll down and you will find a guy called Billy Hughes does it all £45.
I along with others don't believe this but he does travel give him a ring.
He maybe able to help you, at least you will get your ticket if it's working or not mate.
Good question to ask is what rate of off take do you need? and how do they work that out? that has nothing to do with 37 m/Bar and stops alot of em in there tracks.
Which is what really gives this game a bad name, good or bad engineers should know what there on even if they are carrying plastic, and alot don,t, gassafe registered or not.
The plastic is good for getting the ice of your screen though, bit expensive but works well.

Mar 10, 2013
Rating

Bit more I can see
by: Bristol

Your question about your guy changing the reg.
Yours may look all nice and shinny on the outside but the inside could be a different story.
I would guess he has done some tests and come to the conclusion it needs changing.
Thats the place I would be starting from but only after I had proved thats what it was.
As you now understand LPG is a wet gas and does by it's own nature make water.
A few years ago to my knowledge bottles were being sold ( from Fred in the pub ) full of nothing else but water. As you know they are sold by weight, heavy weight lots of gas.
Good little earner if you didn't see Fred anymore.
I have took pipework apart that didn't make any sense to find them half full with oily water which in turns upsets every thing else.
Your rubber pipe outside from the reg. to the bottle should always be running back to the bottle and never running dowm towards the reg.
So any water stays for the best part in the bottle.
Which means your reg. should be much higher than the bottle and never lower or the same height as the top of the bottle outlet.
Water in the reg. will soon screw it up.
It's a common fault so if thats what your engineer has found don't worry to much.
I would bite the bullet and ask him to fit a double outlet set up (4 bottles) should be game over then.
But check your off take rate first against the take off marked on the reg.
This should be the same if not more than you need but never under.
They are all set at 37 m/Bar or there abouts outlet pressure on propane.
Butane (Blue bottles) are different,but thats another story.
Then as said you can deal with any other problems as you find them.
Funny never guess what the pass word on this is? BLOWUP.

Mar 10, 2013
Rating

PJ
by: Bristol

Spot on, your now understanding! their are different regulators that will give you the range of take off that you need. But in saying that the twin double outlet changeover should do it,( thats two bottles on stand by but turned on, and two working, four bottle total)
This is the most common set up as I,m sure you have seen and should do any bigger van set up's.
But you most work your take offs back to the regulator as you should have only one main gas shut off vavle (ESO) inside you van.
So that will be another problem if you start putting more regulators on.
I can still see only half of your write in but at the bottom you say something about yellow flames.
That is bad news, should be all sharp pointed blue tipping small amounts of yellow at the top ( what is known in the game as the flame picture ) which is another test that should be looked at by any engineer before they do a safety ticket.
Some on here say that none of the kit was turned on, so how they know the flame picture is correct I don't really know.
That flame picture should stay the same with all your bits of kit on and should be the same in colour on all of them.
If in your case you don't use one side it makes no difference.
On the test they should all be sharp blue flames with a little amout of tipping yellow.
Not lazy blue with alot of yellow in them, or if lazt yellow, turn then off at the bottle and get it all checked out.
Lazy yellow makes carbon and carbon manoxide which kills you.
This could be: Jets sizes, Jets blocked,Blocked burners, Burners worn out, Blocked pipework, Wrong size pipework, Wrong presure or Wrong take off rate at the regulator.
Any engineer, who knows what he is up too, should be able to locate any of these faults in 10 / 20 minutes, tops, just by looking at the flame picture, but the answer is not to fit extra regulators to get over it.
Where are you based PJ.
Get back to me, I may know someone in your area if not near Bristol who knows what he is on.
Assuming as you say this van was trading with a ticket before it is either something very simple or it has never been looked at or set up properly.
But as said you most start from the one main regulator ( looking for correct take off and pressures)before you go looking for other problems.
Which by then will be easy to find and locate any fault.

Mar 10, 2013
Rating

Gas advice
by: Billy 01244821666

I cannot believe that a responsible gas fitter is giving gas advice like this, go to the Gasafe website get a fully qualified gas engineer who will sort it for you on site, without this you are not insured

Mar 08, 2013
Rating

Re: Bottles
by: PJ

Hi Bristol!

We fired up the fryers yesterday to clean them out, and both are not burning properly, the flame is yellow and not much pressure. Also they have started to soot up again. Even with only one fryer on, it did not burn properly. Our engineer has not suggested the possibility of water in the pipework, or that the regulator might be the problem. I do wonder, as we have not had this problem from the start, one, if not both used to work fine.

Do I understand from your post that there are different regulators that would give more take off? Engineer has not discussed this in our deliberations. We have two regulators now, each with a service and changover bottle. Gas guy did think to go to one regulator, joining both sides of the van to it and running 2 x 2, but he decided that would not work, by your calulations I think that is right, although we never run with more than 2 x fryers and the bain marie.

Gas guy is coming back Tues to do the work, I am pretty 100% that he has not done all the tests you suggest, he has only tested at the fryer. I am now worried he will change the regulator and the problem in in the pipes!

Mar 07, 2013
Rating

good news.
by: Bristol fitter.

Your in PJ. you know more now than abour 50% of em, so thats half way there. Get yourself a new van now and play Jack the Lad down the pub.
Don,t forget to wear your rays on your head, got to look the part! thats another 25% you'e done. Only another 25% to go and you crac1ked it mate, but thats the hardest bit.
Good luck to you mate, glad to be of help, but you still only need one reg set up, believe me, I,m a doctor.

Mar 07, 2013
Rating

Just a Quick Note
by: David

Hi All,

Just a quick note: I actually don’t rewrite any of the comments on this page; all I do is add some space or line breaks between sentences or paragraph, as to make it easier for people to read.

Otherwise it just a long piece of text stuck together which makes it harder for people to read.

I think this is down to the software but do try and leave spaces in-between paragraphs or sentences to see if this helps.

Thanks,
David

Mar 05, 2013
Rating

I can see another bit
by: bristol fitter

At the end of any pipework run ( test nipple under the work top which you may not have but should do) even though in the prefect world with everthing on you should get a reading of 37m/Bar you are allowed(by the regs ) a 2.5 m/Bar drop on the carcase at the end point, which means your ok.

If the reading is 34.5m/Bar (all on) lowest, test both side at the same time with two manometers, if lower you most go to work on the regulator / take off and pipesize side of things.

I would doubt very much in 22mm pipe you would have a problem anywhere, so it most be your take off rate is not right (amount of bottles both side of the regulator) you don't need two regulators to sort that, the right size one will do it be that single (two bottles one each side of the regulator making two bottles total) or double bottle set up ( two bottles each side of the regulator making a total of four bottles), remembering that both side are on but one side is on standby and not putting any gas into the pipework, only just too the dead side of the regulator ready for the change over valve to work, which shuts the live side down and the dead open (if that makes sense).

If your talking using the gear you have already it sound to me you have a regulator problem, do as I said and check the pressure on or near the regulator and that should be 37mm with it all on and lite.

If not you will have to change it. Dont do as you suggest, their should be no need for more than one regulator, unless it,s a double decker bus size set up you have, even then one regulator should do you.

Once you have sorted that it will not be a take off problem as you have 37m/Bar (all on) at the regulator, it will be pipesizing which I would doubt in 22mm, blockage or damage pipe, blockage on your gear or feed into your gear or a pilot light problem (blocked with fat maybe)or thermocouple (the bit that sticks in the flame).

Don,t forget LPG is a wet gas fall of water because it makes water,I have had pipework just running backwards out of level that have filled with water from the gas and give the same effect as you descibe.

Check it out and blow the pipe runs with an air line but do it in a well vented area, down to your engineer really as it needs to be lite at the end of the test flash valve to burn it off, never let LPG hang around except inside the bottle, best place for it.

See what I can see tomorrow, I will get my computer looked at it may be mine. Also don't forget you should be registered to do any of the above, but your in training, if you mess about with this gear, make sure you work safe, funny stuff is LPG, worst than petrol.

Mar 05, 2013
Rating

PJ
by: Bristol fitter.

Ben on to David who rewrites these massages because I only get half off then on my screen and can,t read the top half, so when this goes in yours should be lower so I can read it, I hope!

You mentioned ( what I can see) a regulator on each side or each bit of kit? all you need is a change over set up outside the van, the rated duty of that change over regulator will be printed on the side and most be more than the duty you want it to do.

They come as single bottle (one bottle each side)or double bottle set up(two bottles each side. But understand only one side works at any one time ( one side working (open) and the other on stand by not passing gas even though there open as well) or should be for the changeover to work.

This happens when one side (no matter who many bottes are connected to that side are nearly running empty). as said before the number of bottles per side depends on your total rating( amount of k/W per hour of your van.

One regulator should cover anything you would want it to do, I have never used more than one on anything, as above you buy one that is over your total loading so their is no need for more one anyway.

I see the loading you may have put down so I cannot tell you what you will need, but I will tell you without seeing your van you can do alot of LPG gas supply in 22mm copper, as most of your gear connections will only be 10 or 8 mm if their rated for LPG.

Hope you understand out this, but as far as bottle go think sides of the regulator not the van, getting the right pressure to your gear when all working is a pipesize excersice which 22mm should more than cover.

You may need two bottles each side (regulator) to get your take off amount correct, if you don't this will give you a overall pressure lose just because their is not enough gas being allowed to come out the bottle and into the pipework because your takeoff is wrong, if you have or want a changeover set up you need to mirror the bottles both sides of the regulator

I have done a three a side set up but that was on a massive van with loads of gear in it, which some of the guys on here would service and ticket for £45 (I think not) your engineer should know how to sort all this out for you, as said it,s not that hard if you know what your on.

As this site rolls down i maybe able to see your loading and be of more help. all you need to do is check your loading (total in your van) worked against your take off per bottle/ bottles / side of regulator, put the same amount of bottle the otherside on standby ( turned on ready to go)and with 22mm pipework that should sort it,not seeing your set up but working against many very large set ups you should not have a problem, you maty have to change the first bit of pipe coming in to 28mm but I doubt that very much.

You most get your loading and take offs correct but any engineer would take about 2 minute to find that out. Write in again when I can see the total of what you have written.

Mar 05, 2013
Rating

Re: Bottles
by: PJ

Hi Bristol Gas

I did try to reply to your prev comments, but even submitting three times, my comment never appeared!

Anyway, thanks for the bit about bottles - as it happens just had a master class with our gas engineer, so do understand a bit more now.

Our set us is 4 x 19kg bottles, 2 supply one side of the van (2 x fryers), 1 service + 1 changeover and ditto 2 the other (bain marie and griddle, which is rarely used). All on 22 mil pipes with a auto regulator for each side.

The fryers require 1kw each which was not being achieved. The plan we talked through today was to connect 3 bottles to the fryer side and leave one on the bain marie. We will lose any automatic change over, but tbh with our gas usage this is not a problem, and we can store spare at the site where we work. He needs to check how this will be done, but he assures us it will resolve the problem of the fryer at the end of the line cutting out. Does this make sense to you?

Mar 03, 2013
Rating

Put your mind ar rest PJ
by: Bristol LPG gas fitter

Without going into a lot of figures that you may not understand or care too, I'd like to explain a bit about gas bottles that you mentioned.

Which ever set up that you have got no matter how many bottle that is, be it one /two /four/six/eight or ten, any set up should give you 37 m/bar working pressure through your regulator.

Any one or all of the bottles has what is known as a take off rate (amount of gas that come,s through the neck valve on the bottle). It is this take off rate put together with your total k/W loading that will give you how many bottles you will need.

It won't make any different,s at all how many, as said, you should still be getting 37 m/Bar at working pressure. Standing pressure and lock up (everything turned off) will be a bit higher but
I won't bore you with that.

The simple way to explain this, just say your total load is 4 and a bottle is equal too 1, you would need four bottles at 1 to give you 4.

Sorry if that sound too simple, but it,s not rocket science, and that,s it really, but a lot of people get confused with LPG working gas pressure (37 m/bar) and gas rate needed (k/W loading of your van with every thing working).

The only way you can reach your loading if over 1 bottles take off is to keep adding bottles until your loading is either reached or is more than you need.

You can also add bottles over your load to increase the time of hours burning of your gas supply. Go back too the 1 and 4 routine above, if you wanted 4 (your loading) too burn twice as long you would have eight bottles at 1 to give you that.

This of course changes if you use a bigger bottle, as said the bigger the bottle the more off take/ hour it has.All take off rates per size off bottles are known to the trade and written in stone.

Same as your Nat. gas meter at home, which would be either a U6 (6 cubic metres/hour) or a big house with lots of gas around a U16 ( 16 cubic metres/ hour) they are also worked out on the total rating of your gas load, k/W loading / hour.

See told you your already on your way too your plastic as a lot of so called gas engineers can't work that out either or have a clue how too, and I most sound really boring by now.

After that you can get into pipe sizing (what size to give the rate where it is needed)
Really blow your mind!!!!. All that for fiver,s and tenner,s, good or what? haven,t even opened the book yet either.

Hope that helps you mate.

Mar 03, 2013
Rating

PJ comments.
by: Bristol gas fitter

Every thing you say is correct PJ, and at best Gassafe is where all the old Gas board engineers/ corgi admin boys now work to see there time out and draw their pensions and or part of the HSE. which from where your coming from really don't bother with anything much until someone gets killed.

Wrongly that's the way it has become. Even sadder is most of the inspectors who do care up until someone gets hurt are just as worried about it but can only make reports.

Us engineers of good age have seen it change for the worse and are conned with the money we pay, but the public which is more important are conned as well, hence your feelings.

Your also correct it is all about gassafe making very very big money, together with all the spill off's and all the government bodies along that way as well, and that,s the bottom line.

There are thousands of guys out there with plastic with no background of what they are doing what so ever, car plant workers are now gas engineers as so some x bus drivers and the like are, seems if you can get a boiler on the wall your a gas engineer these days, so where their background?

Simple? they have not got one, together with very little overall knowledge. There is no long term training any more unless you pay big big money to learn it and your talking many years, and as you have said there are no real guidelines to the reg,s apart from ventilation (which has always been their favourite) or someone dying.

Sad to say with 40+ years in the game tha's the way it is, and they have managed to make it Law, so that the good engineers and yourself have no choice to apply common sence, so make of it what you can. Your not now going to change it as many of us old school boys have tried to do, and failed, good thing is they have manage to stop bent MOTs so I guess with time they might manage to stop what's going on now.

Up until that time its hand in the pocket for everyone to play their game, I,m afraid. Sad but true.

When good engineer pack it in because of age I'm not to sure what will happens with their Laws, like where do you get a MOT if you can't find a garage still trading?

Good luck with your van and good trading and all the best, but I would suggest an open fire in a field would be different, and gassafe would be out of it all together like headless chickens with no jobs or pensions.

I'm sorry you feel the way you do about my trade but I only hold the spanners and don't make the Laws, but I well understand the way you feel. Not much different than any old school fitters that know what their on about, who now carries to pen pushers to their pensions.

Mar 02, 2013
Rating

GasSafe waste of time?
by: PJ

Hi

I have read with interest comments from engineers about saying customers should report rubbish engineers. We we did and it got us nowhere.

We bought a van knowing nothing, assuming a valid gas cert would mean that the install was safe, only to find the engineer we employed giving us the ubiquitous sharp intake of breath, stop notices and telling us to report the previous engineer.

It took Gas safe three weeks to send investigator, then another three weeks for the report, so potential loss of six weeks trading if we had been - no incentive to customer to report with those delays! And GasSafe did nothing, he is still on register, they never ever suggested taking the bloke to court.

We got van rebuilt to Gas safe investigator spec, as vast cost, but certified. All good possibly? No - probs with fryer highlighed by our new engineer as lack of sufficient pressure to fryer and needs another refit of regulator, t type pigtails pipework to address - although my simple brain cannot compute how this will improve things (2 x 19kg bottles on at once rather than one), which seems to have been confirmed by comments further down this thread.

And second engineer cannot have done the full-on appliance test as this problem would have shown up then - so another dubious certificate. But no, not going through reporting process again - see above why! (season just about to start).

I am a lowly cook, not a gas engineer - how am I supposed to know who to trust? Seems everyone has the same problem, a) cant find an engineer b)conflicting advice c)Standards from one engineer to another totally different.

The regs seem to to be so drafted to make it almost impossible to have a compliant van from one year to the next.

I want to work in a safe environment, but they do seem OTT in some areas - there is far more ventilation on my van than ever a static commercial kitchen might have, but even so we had to spent shedloads getting the venting right (to Gas safe inspector) standard, only to have an engineer say it was insufficient ...

I assumed Gas safe were there to protect public, but they way they work I cannot see how they achieve this - no incentive to report, no support for traders, no consistency of engineers, no action against engineers.

I asked Gas safe if they monitored engineers to ensure a standard level of compliance, they said no, it was up to each engineer how they applied the regs.

Seems to me they take the money for certifying engineers then just pay lipservice to the compliance issues. And clearly some engineers are wiling to sign off certificates that are not worth the paper they are written on.

Mar 01, 2013
Rating

gas
by: Anonymous

have you checked how many kg/hr your regulator passes 40kw will need to have 2 19kgs in use at the same time

Feb 28, 2013
Rating

Getting the correct LPG propane pressure to my appliances
by: Andy

currently have a 1970's converted Airstream catering van. The conversion was done in Germany I think but it has been used by two different caterers in this country previous to me.

The gas input valve ( where I hook up from my 19 kg propane gas bottle to the van) is a push and twist bayonet fitting. Inside my van there is 22mil piping servicing five appliances which all attach via bayonet fittings. The appliances are; two baine Marie's, a large lincat opus char grill, a parry double burner hop and a water heater.

I had a gas safe engineer come out today to check my appliances and his readings were coming out at 22kw instead of the desired 37kw. We tried attaching a second 19kg propane bottle via a t bar and pig tail but the reading didn't get much better!

I then noticed one of the internal pipes had a large dent in it. Could this be the only problem? Is 2 x 19kg propane gas bottles enough to power over 40kw of appliances? I'm really struggling to find out how to get it working safely! The engineer I'm using dosnt seem to know how to improve the input ( he wants me to add a third 19kg propane bottle) will this help? I have also spoken to Calor and the guy said "I'm just a salesman"

Really hope you can help?

Many thanks

Andy

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Welcome aboard, and enjoy the party.
by: Anonymous

Thanks for the info Safety In Action (Evessham) and I agree with you on charges, but as stated I do not like to see people getting rip off or mislead giving the game a bad name.

Now your going to get another enginneer do what Billy does for £35 a van, wait and see.
Pin money, don't you agree, not to mention not true.

I will cheak the mag. out about engineers cost for course's.

My last visit for training to update my plastic was for:
Core comm.
Comm. catering.
Changeover to LPG (comm and dom )
Lpg catering mobile van element.
I have used the same training center for maybe 15/20 years and have known the owner for many more (X gas board) so I do not think they would over charge me.

But I will look it up and ask some questions.
Billy, you had your time mate, and you now state its not £45 a van as it first read, and your not that far away from £45/hr, in fact it works out at 60/65 per hour, which is not as you stated in the first place, so carry on mate and good luck to you.

One point is that you don't seem sure how to spell your surname? check it out, got to get it correct for the cert.

By the way I cannot read some of your message on my computer, big block of computer information in the middle, which I cannot clear, so I cannot really read your answer but I can make out your new charges.

The other comment about £350 a day? I don't earn 350 aday? if I did I would pack it in.
Lpg catering is a very small part of what I do.

But maybe the traders your on about you should ask to see all the other paperwork they should hold to trade.

It depends if your doing it for a living to pay your way or pocket money, given the fact their pitch money as well.

At that level of earnings they may be abit short of both and not as legal as they should be.

Thats where this game falls apart, as all us engineers well know.

Bit like a bent MOT, you won't get one of those these days either.

Any other comments I will always look at, but may decided my time is spent better else where.

Everyone enjoy the party.
Mr. Real World. ( whose been in this trade for for 47 years, time served).

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Professionals commenting on here
by: Safety In Action (Evesham)

Wow what a lot comments back and forth between our gas safety professionals Billy Hughes and Annonymous.

Bill I have done my own research using your phone number and looked you up on Gas Safe Register. Sure enough you are on there and have heaps of qualifications covering LPG and Natural gas both domestic and non domestic including mobile catering.

You are also if you dont think it is too cheeky for me to mention not young, so I assume you have a fair amount of experience behind you. If I had checked you out as a customer I would have been happy to use you.

If I had a problem with your work or wanted someone to check it I could always contact Gas Safe as I know they are keen to get customers to volunteer to have an engineers work checked as part of their ongoing quality monitoring.

Annonymous, Surely it is up to the person doing the work to decide what they want to charge (afterall, in my field a day rate can differ by several hundred pounds and it doesnt mean that those that charge less are any less competent if they are suitably qualified and insured).

Also I didnt realise that different assesssment centres vary their charges for the training and assessment/reassessment so maybe the one you use is expensive?

There is an interesting article on ACS and training costs in 'The Last Word' in Registered Gas Engineer magazine this month.

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Mobile Catering
by: Billy Hughes

Anybody who hides behind anonymity must be suspect, the figuire of £2000 is misleading as it covers more than mobile catering.

My last mobile catering element was £250.00.It is people like you that are causing the problems in the mobile catering industry with your half truths, which pushes traders down the illegal route.

When I do aninspection I do it properly and I provide all the notices required and I am recommened to traders by local councils.The rest of your epistle is just the aftermath of a bull passing by

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Now now Billy
by: Anonymous

Billy, you know and I know, you seem to be very good at stories telling. If your really in the game £45 for a van is not where it is at and you clear very few vans for that amount, end off.

I've been in the game maybe before you were born, I do not rip people off, never have, they pay the price so I can make a living and do the job in the first place, with no rip off involved.
Tell em as it is, but don't mislead them that £45 is it, £45 per hour is more the norm.

Break it down? You state a ticket for £45. Minus say 20% tax = £36

You state 2 hours work = £18-00/ hr.
I would agree you can work on a van and get alot done in two hours if you know what your on, which I assume we both do.

But £18-00 an hour? lets hope you have to do no soldering with your own small gas bottle, flux and solder and all the rest off it that would have to come out of your £18.00

Last time I took my comm. core/ comm. catering/ Lpg changeover/ mobile catering van element cost me over just £2000 plus the vat.

Take the vat off and say £2000 thats £18 into 2000, lets keep it simple and call it 20 into 2000, thats 100 vans you have to do to break even on your course money.

Bearing in mind your not earning when you take them, which is about 2.5/ 3 weeks for the lot.

Lets say you work ( with your other job) on a figure of a grand a week all in to make a living.

So thats another 3 grand in the pot for time training, so thats another 150 vans to break even. Your van total is now running at 250 for time training and cost of training

You have not made any of that dirty stuff called profit so far as you have to get your 250 vans done before that can happen, or paid your personal bills, PL insurance, £240 gassafe reg. bill, taxed and insured your van, maybe have some repairs done or even a set of tires for the miles your doing.

250 vans in a 365 day a year = 0.7 vans a day, everyday of the week.

If your keeping up, thats just under a year at 0.7 vans aday, 7 days aweek to break even to be out there in the first place with the correct plastic, with no other bills mentioned above paid so you can trade.

Baring in mind that the other 4 years you work before your comm.

Core runs out, you have to put the same money and time to one side to be able to retake them once their 5 year life is up, so thats now.

To cut a long story short, the best part of 2 years your working at the sort of money you have mentioned to even break even, still with none of the above mentioned bills paid for.

Do you believe in fairies as well, you tell a very good story.

I enjoy a good laugh along with a good story, what I don,t like is LPG engineers misleading the public who use this site for help and not to be mislead by cheap advertising hits, of lets just say "rubbish" by so called engineers.

The reason I do not give my information out is I have not got the time for endless phone calls from the public about the LPG engineers that have just left them.

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Re Installations
by: Billy Huyghes

I travel all over the country doing installations so send me your name and address and subject to the usual checks I will send you a quote I charge £40 for the first half hour and £20.00 for each additional half hour

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Billy do you do installation?
by: Anonymous

Hi Billy
Would you come down to Essex to install gas on a trailer to one piece of equipment and issue safety cert? Cheers

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Mobile catering
by: Billy Hughes

Thank you for your comments I do know my job I have had my views on the mobile catering gas safe regulations published in the trade publications along with photos of the horrors I have found,to charge £80 or 2 hours labour an appliance, which in gas terms are pretty basic, to me shows a lack of knowledge
Tel 01244821666

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Well done Billy
by: Anonymous

Nice to see someone offering a reasonable rate. I see from your number you are in an area where there must be hundreds of mobile caterers. You obviously won't travel the length of the country to do this but you can help a lot of people within a certain radius. The other annonomous person wondering how you can earn £350 a day, the point here is that many people operating mobile catering units don't make £350 a week.

Sep 02, 2012
Rating

Re Comments
by: Billy Hughes

Pity you dont have the small syphrical objects to put your name to the comments or are you one of the rip off merchants?

Aug 27, 2012
Rating

|Renewing.
by: Anonymous

HERBALShort answer to your question, its every six months.
Only applies to the catering van because of the very nature of being mobile.

Bristol lpg gas fitter

Aug 27, 2012
Rating

Safety certificate on catering trailers
by: Anonymous

Hi, Is a gas safety certificate on a catering trailer renewable after six or twelve months.
Thank-You

Aug 20, 2012
Rating

Gas sfety
by: Litton Wood

Hi, I believe there is confusion rergarding gas safety certification for mobile catering vans/trailers,this can only legally be carried out by an engineer registerred by "Gas safe" holding CMC1 which is part commercial catering, part LPG,and obviously CCN1 being the base qualification.

I hold the necessary qualies and can advise anyone accordingly. Please call for imparcial advise,I will be pleased to advise on the correct method of installtion,certification, and any other requirements needed to be legal

Aug 20, 2012
Rating

flexes or solid pipework?
by: Gas- Lit

Hi.further to recent posts. Ref flexed or solid.A basic rule uf the appliance is portable ie has wheels then it can have a flex fitted.

If it is fixed (as all appliances in a mobile catering unit should be) then it must be solid piped.

I am a registered engineer engineer with CC 1 which the only recognised qualification for issuing of certificates for catering vehicles a landlords cert or LOG is not adequate.

Aug 15, 2012
Rating

who checks the certificates
by: Safety In Action (Evesham)

I have read many of these posts with interest. I was an EHO (now independent advisor - food safety and health and safety for SMEs) who initiated a gas safety project here in the west midlands(it is ongoing) after injury through 2 explosions in Birmingham.

We DID check the certificates - oh how few caterers get their appliances checked! And that the Gas Safe Register engineers were qualified to work on commercial catering appliances. Several were not and were duly reported to Gas Safe Register and the HSE.

Please Please if you get someone to service and check your gas appliances make sure you check their registration card or online or by phone at gas safe register that they are competent to do so. Dont as several people did just get the guy who checks their boiler at home to do it.

Jul 10, 2012
Rating

Mitch
by: LPG Fitter

Another word of warning for you which maybe already to late?

Stay away from fanned canopy with filters over your gear? stay with a natural canopy with a vent in the roof, once again if you scroll down you will find someone who has had a load of problems with interlocks etc etc.

The firm who gave him the quote and advice are correct in what they are saying, so stay well away form fanned canopy's or you will be in for loads of money.

Another reason for bying the correct gear instead of second hsnd.You can make sure then at the point of buying the gear is flueless or natural draft, this is why you need the manufactures instructions.

Jul 10, 2012
Rating

Mitch
by: LPG Fitter

Can't read half your message on my computer! But if you scroll down Tudor Trailers have wrote as it is written in the Regs book, save you buying one. you have to read into that what you will as in regards to being the Regs.

Because of the tempertures stated and of which any gas fitter would have no control over I as a fitter of 37 years go solid all the way with IV,s to each piece of kit.

This way you know if anything should go wrong you don't end up in court over who said what about hose's.

The hose makers won't stand by you because of these tempertures and neither will gassafe should you have a fat fire in your van thus any insurance claim otherwise.

Solid is the cheapest way to go any way for yourself.

You mentioned compression fittings! as in regards to reducers, I have been told by a gassafe inspector that these are not allowed as they or deemed to be not suitable for any sort of gas, solder type reducers are ok in compression fitting ie. 15mm x 10mm or 15mm x 8mm and so on.

Secondhand gear is not where you want to be going, but if they comply with BS standards ( flame safe, burners and controls ) have their rating plates with either a BS or CE number still fixed to them stating they comply with LPG regs and sold to you with their manufactures instructions, which is the law as in regards to selling second hand gear, then no problem as long as you have then fully serviced be for they are commissioned.

Alot of gear is being sold because they are all nice and polished and look the part, but will not stand up to LPG regs in regards to catering vans, beware!!

You could be doing your money for nothing, anything you buy, just look for the manufactures rating plate if you can't find one, move on, and don't listen to the sales pitch as you won't get it fitted or passed, because 9.5 times out of 10 it is not suitable.

As said it is the LAW they should be sold with all their instructions and are not in many cases.

I have had many that look the part but the inside ie. burners etc are rotten, which is why must are sold in the secondhand market, by people who know nothing about gas appliancesor even what to look for.

I live to far from you to help you but you need a fitter who knows what he is on and they may well not be as cheap as you think.

Try your local training center for a fitter, gassafe will give you one but that dose not always mean he knows what he is on.

Good luck with it anyway.

Bristol fitter.

Jul 09, 2012
Rating

Hose or Rigid
by: Richard M

Dave Would you use hose or rigid piping.??

Jul 09, 2012
Rating

mobil catering trailers
by: Anonymous

Hi Mitch you need to get yourself a copy of LPGA COP24 which is the standard for gas in mobil catering trailers this will clarify what you can and cant use bearing in mind that unless you are gas safe registered you should not be carrying out gas work regards Davy Weddell gas engineer scotland

Jul 09, 2012
Rating

LPG Test Certifcate Hoses -v- Rigid
by: MBG

Hi All,

I have recently purchased a Catering Trailer and have since bought several second hand catering appliances, nameley a single 7 ltr tank fryer, dry bain marie, water urn and a burner hotplate. All of which are LPG.

The trailer I bought has no gas connection pipes at present as the pipework was stolen from the van with the previous owner.

I am now getting around to the stage of having the pipework fitted. However.......

I have spoken to a number of Gas Safe engineers who have all gave me conflicting advice when it comes to installation of pipework and connection to the appliances.

Some engineers are saying that it is safe to use the Orange LPG Hose from the countertop isolator to the applance as this will help prevent any pipe fracturing whilst in transit. And each appliance does have nozzles on for hose.

Other engineers are saying that under no circumstances can you use hose and that all connections should be piping (copper) throughout the van and to the appliance.

Now all of the above have came from Gas Safe Engineers from the Gas Safe Website.

So the ultimate question is....... Who can give me the definate answer to this. Perghaps even show me where I can physically see the regulations myself in black and white.

The start up process is frustrating enough as it is to be told conflicting information. I want to do this right from the off set so any advice will be muchly appreciated.

Any engineers from West Midlands who would install please drop me a text 07899006007.

Further to this what kind of price do you expect to be reasonable to have the appliances installed and test certificate issued with items I have already purchased below.

I have already purchased 15mm copper pipe, inside yellow handled shut off valve, isolation taps, test nipple, compression tee's with reducers so please take into consideration with charges.

Mitch

Jul 03, 2012
Rating

Gas and electric certificates need in Essex
by: Anonymous

Hi
Can anyone suggest engineers in Essex?
Cheers

Jun 12, 2012
Rating

Catering trailer gas testing Bristol
by: Anonymous

I use M Cunningham Plumbing and Heating for my CMC Test. He's in Bristol and you can get him on 07776370933

May 18, 2012
Rating

commercial mobil catering
by: Anonymous

To onthemove unfortunately not any lpg tester can do this as well as lpg you need to have cmc mommercial mobil catering- as well as wat 1/2 if there is a water heater fitted also com cat 123 it would be a good idea to check with gas safe before giving out the wrong info

May 18, 2012
Rating

lpg safety certificate
by: onthemove

mobile caterers only need landlord safety certificate any lpg gas tester can do this.

appliance details
flue test
inspection details

happy catering.

Apr 23, 2012
Rating

Interlock systems in catering trailers
by: Tudor Catering Trailers

The only time a interlock system is needed is when an extraction canopy is installed.

Most of the time when a frying range (fish and chip range) is installed to a catering trailer/van they are installed under a extraction canopy.

Some come with flues which can be ducted out to atmosphere or into a extraction canopy and some are flueless.

It should be installed according to the manufacturers guide lines ie: (sufficient ventilation, adequate ventilation, mechanical ventilation), sufficient ventilation and adequate ventilation is usually a natural canopy (hole in the roof with a cowl )and mechanical ventilation, is an extraction canopy with fan and filters.

At end end of the day any appliances situated under a extraction canopy (fan and filters) should have a interlock system.

Apr 23, 2012
Rating

Tudor Catering Trailers
by: Anonymous

Thanks for your reply, we can all learn including me, the last time I asked gassafe about this I managed to get gassafe tech guy tied and a knot.

He phone me back out of hours and told me that the only hose that could be used was the s/s comm, cat. hose LPG rated.

That is not the first time they have said that to me and you will find it in the regs as the only hose you can use, under comm. cat. according to gassafe.

I will ask again because it seems to be abit of a problem area.
Bristol LPG Gas fitter

Apr 22, 2012
Rating

have gas regulations changed for burger vans
by: Anonymous

I took my burger van to a gas safe registered company for its annual inspection last week expecting maybe a few little jobs and nearly fell over when I was called into premises to be told I needed some work in order to meet with new legislation.

Something about an interlock system been installed upgrading of pipework, few sheets of stainless steel on walls around where huge venting fan would go which is part of interlock system and a total payment of 3400 pounds for all the work.

They insist this has to be done before they can even inspect van to issue a certificate. I am naturally feeling very angry at this moment in time I have a seasonal pitch and can certainly not justify thousands of pounds for work on a van that was new 4 yrs ago.

How can this be justified they said with the new system my gas will not start until fan is operating to stop build up of gas in enclosed area, I have a 6ft x 4ft hatch plus vents how much ventilation do they require.

I should point out there is only one gas safe company within the entire area roughly 150 mile radius are these regulations for real and do they apply to my burger van and everybody else when they go to get there new certificates under gas safe instead of corgi.

Please someone advise quick before I replace gas for electric appliances as to me it seems legislation gone mad and Im sure it will see an end to many of the small individual snack vans that in many instances are a lifelines for those on a long journey.

Apr 21, 2012
Rating

Mobile catering trailer hoses
by: Bristol gas fitter

bristol gas fitter im not aware of that, but Over the years we have had numerous inspections at our workshop from corgi/gassafe and our last inspection was only two weeks ago and was passed ok with these hoses which i mentioned

Apr 21, 2012
Rating

Tudor catering
by: Anonymous

have alook at the book again my friend.
I have asked gassafe tech. many times about flexiable hoses in catering vans.
The only one you can use is a S/S conical comm. catering hose, LPG rated, as these are not made in the UK under a 1000mm, your abit stuck, and thats it, how you look at it is how you look at it, but the law will bend to a gassafe report. Trust me!

Bristol LPG gas fitter.

Apr 21, 2012
Rating

Catering trailer Hoses
by: Tudor Catering Trailers

UK LPG ,CODE OF PRACTICE 24, PART 3:2000 ,Use of LPG in mobile
catering trailers and similar commercial units. Section 5.5-5.8

GAS INSTALLATION PIPEWORK.

5.5 Length of pipework should be as short as possible using solid drawn copper tube with copper or copper alloy fittings,or stainless steel tube to BS 3605 and appropriate soldered ,compression or screwed fittings.

Steel tubes to BS 1387 can be used with steel compression fittings or malleable cast iron fittings for low pressure stage.Copper pipework should not be placed where temperatures exceed 100c.

Pipework running beneath the vehicle should be installed where most protection is given against mechanical damage,impact by stones etc.All pipe work should be suitably secured.

5.6 The number of pipe fittings should be kept to a minimum and changes of direction avoided as possible, allowing for flexing.Jointing compounds where used must be compatible with LPG.

Pipe bends should be used where practicable rather than fittings.

5.7 Final connection between rigid pipework and appliances should be either directly,(with isolation tap)or in the case of cookers and ovens, by means of purpose made hose as 5.8(a),(b)or(c) with factory fitted end fittings.

5.8 Flexible hoses for cookers and ovens should be as short as practicable but in no case exceed 700mm in length and either:
(a) flexible hoses or tubing to BS 3212.Such tubing should be protected by armour or over-braiding.(NOT ORANGE HOSE ON ITS OWN BS 3212:1991) it should not be where it could be subjected to temp above 60c,

(b) strip wound flexible hoses to BS 669 part 1:1989 NOTE:-

These are not necessarily suitable for LPG service,but the standard is currently being updated to include 3rd family gases.In the meantime hoses of this construction can be used provided they are modified as necessary and warranted suitable for LPG service by the manufacturer or supplier and are identified by a red band or;

(c)corrugated metallic hose and end fittings to BS 669,part 2 for 3rd family gases with seals in swivel end fittings complying with BS EN 549.

At the end of all this wofful rigid pipe work is OK as long as each appliance has a isolation tap and NO ORANGE FLEXIBLE HOSE INSIDE THE TRAILER OR VAN CONVERSION (gas box only)

Type in ebay MOBILE CATERING HOSES.

ALL THIS FROM UK LPG CODE OF PRACTICE 24 PART 3:2000

www.Tudortralers.co.uk 01934 420033

Apr 19, 2012
Rating

reply to hoses
by: Anonymous

scroll down to april 01 and you will see the regs for hoses.

Apr 18, 2012
Rating

is copper pipping compulsery
by: Anonymous

Hi i have everything ready for inspection but would like to know if i can use 8mm orange lpg hose or do i have to use copper piping?
and does every appliance have to be fitted or can i remove for transit

Apr 12, 2012
Rating

extension lead
by: steve

I have only the fridge running on electric in my catering trailer, so can I just run an extension lead screwed to the wall of the trailer to the generator?

regards

steve

Apr 10, 2012
Rating

Gas and NicEic certificate
by: Anonymous

Hi if anyone needs advice on gas or a Gas certificate or NIC-EIC certificate for mobile catering trailers please contact us as we manufacture catering trailers/van conversions /exhibition trailers.

Tudor Catering Trailers
uint 2
Creslands,oldmixon creasent,
Weston-super -mare or vist our web site www.tudortrailers.co.uk

Apr 02, 2012
Rating

Hot water
by: Anonymous

It all depends on the inspector from which ever council who is going to look at your van, alot of the vans I see have the set up you are on about but you do have to have a seperate hand wash bowl which is marked as hand wash only, this should be away from any prep area.
Where you get the hot water from is of no matter as long as the containers are not used for anything else apart from hand washing ( hot and cold containers clearly marked).
Running hot water is the best way around it but its not a legal requirement, but your council may well think it is and if they do you will have to comply to beable to trade.
This would be a Health and Satety issue not anything to do with gas tests.
Best thing to do is phone them and ask as they do change from town to town/ council to council.

Regards

Apr 02, 2012
Rating

running water in catering trailer
by: Anonymous

is it a legal requirement to have hot running water with a water heater, or can use the water from the water boiler (tea urn) for handwashing and dishwashing if i have a cold water container next to the sink to enable the safe temperature?

regards

Apr 01, 2012
Rating

Hoses
by: Anonymous

Yep, everything in your van has to be what is termed as solid pipe with its own ESO (Emergency Shut Off valve).

On each unit feed with a test point on the end of the pipe run underneath the work tops to enable a drop test to be done whilst each unit is on burning at full rate which should be no more than 2 m/Bar.

Drop on the run of main pipework. The only LPG rated orange hose you are allowed is the one that runs outside to the regulator which has to have a proper hose to copper connector on it as it leaves the inside of your van, which would be after your main internal ESO valve.

This hose to copper fitting has to be fixed with screws to the outside of your van, and have crimped clips on both the connector and regulator (not screw down clips or be just fitted over the end of the copper feed pipe).

These are date stamped and can be no older than 3/5 years old and be in good condition with no signs of wear or cuts etc. The regs state you can use a white or yellow LPG rated comm.

Catering hose, inside your van, as these are not made in either 10mm/8mm or 6mm and the 15mm hose which you can get but is longer than the max. 500mm as stated in the regs for LPG.

So as the 15mm/ 1/2" hoses with the proper manufactures crimp fittings on them are not made in a length of 500mm, only 1000mm, and if they were, you would be looking at about £130/ 150 per unit with all the other fittings you would need, so copper is the best and cheapest option to comply with the regs.

Before you ask! why they state sizes and hoses that are not made to BS standard in the UK is beyond me as well, but I or your engineer don't make the rules or regs, we just have to try and make sense of them.

You can always phone gassafe and ask them, I have many times, but they don't have an answer anyway, and say you most comply with the regs, and ignore the fact that you cannot buy them or more to the fact they are not even made.

You have no options but to change them if you want to be legal.Not what you want to hear but your engineer is correct.

LPG gas fitter from Bristol.

Apr 01, 2012
Rating

Are hoses illegal in catering trailer ?
by: Anonymous

I have bought a used trailer and had the bain marie, griddle, and tea urn already fitted with lpg hoses connected to the copper pipes, i have been informed these are not allowed and all appliances must be coonected with rigid copper pipe ( basically no hoses in trailer). can anyone advise me on this please ?

regards.

Mar 28, 2012
Rating

LPG gas certification
by: Anonymous

Hi all , my names Bruce and I am qualified to test , check and certificate catering trailers and have been for a number of years . I fit all the gas lines and appliances wherever the customer wishes ( within reason ) . I also create all worktops and splash backs to your requirements . All wing boards and roof signs made to order and can all be fitted at your place whenever convenient . For more information please phone 07952921913 , I'm based in Leicester but travel throughout the country

Mar 27, 2012
Rating

gas safety certs in all areas 0800 289 654
by: Anonymous

Mobile Catering Trailer by: gas safe engineer i can provide gas safety certs in all areas 0800 289 654 gas safe no 125570

Mar 22, 2012
Rating

deep fat fryer
by: Anonymous

Save yourself some money, either way it would be a fail ticket. Deep fat fryer and folding tables do not go together, which you will soon find out should the table fold up on you or be pushed over of knocked, or if the table goes up in smoke.

If any thing at any time is going to go wrong with LPG vans, it will be the deep fat fryer that set it off.

I would think again my friend. Before someone has some very bad burns to live with, and if not you someone will be looking for someone to pay for that.

If you have van insurance you would find surprise surprise you would not be covered and no doubt end up in court. If it's connected with a rubber hose that would be a fail as well and if the fryer takes off their would be a good chance the bottle would as well, along with 5 galls of boiling fat, and that can go a very long way and involve a lot of people and alot of damage which would reflect the size of your fine or your time locked up.

From: A gas engineer that has seen it all to many times and has worked for insurance companies in such cases.

Bottom line, to nail people such as yourself, you would be breaking some many health and safety rules and LPG regs.it would be never worth the money you think your going to make off a set up like that. Fine in your back garden, then it's your problem, family and friends that get hurt, not when your earning money from it with the public involved.

Take care and be warned and leave it at home or build it into your van in a proper manner which any up together LPG comm. catering gas engineer will help you with. If you can find one.

Mar 22, 2012
Rating

fold up table
by: Anonymous

check the gas safe register for an engineer in your area who has cmc on his card also its a good idea to sit a propane gas fryer on a fold up table get a proper stand and be safe

Mar 22, 2012
Rating

Getting My LPG Safety Certificate - food stall
by: Anonymous

My LPG deep fryer will come with me to food events and sits on top of a fold up table. I live in Brighton - Does anyone know of an engineer who can carry out a safety check for me in my area?

Many thanks
Nick

Mar 14, 2012
Rating

Gas Safety Certs 0800 289 654
by: Anonymous

Mobile Catering Trailer by: gas safe engineer i can provide gas safety certs in all areas 0800 289 654 gas safe no 125570

Mar 10, 2012
Rating

Time.
by: Anonymous

Isn't about time to think as we all know that cheapess is not always the best. If your that stuck for money you can always go and buy your book of certificates for £58 and write your own, you can buy them on the net.

Make up your gassafe number, and bingo, your up and running, who ever you show it to won't know any difference, and he can always be the man from the pub how said he was gassafe registered.

Why even bother the Welshman to get out of bed, you could even save yourself his rather small fee for wasteing everyone's time, in not doing the job correctly in the first place, you could not do it correctly yourself for no money at all.

If something goes wrong, you will be going on holiday for abit,( the owner of the van) as mentioned for 10/15 years, may even give you time to train up at the queens expence.

I can do it for £400, no I will do it for £300, there,s I guy down to road that will do it for £100, now there's a guy in South Wales that will do it for £48+, well hip hip hooray, lets all do it for nothing, everyones happy then.

You sell your burgers etc etc for nothing, and us gas engineers sort you out for nothing, simple.
Because now in South Wales eveyones looking for someone to turn up for for less than £48+

Whose doing the time when it goes wrong???? when with gassafe help, the man with the white wig is looking for someone to lock up??

When are all you people going to wise up, if you don't pay the right money for the job, your not going to get anything like the correct job, which is all the white wig will be interested in, what your going to get is a piece of paper that won't stop anything going bang or someone getting hurt, (maybe if you stuffed in the neck of the outlet from to bottle it might).

Not to mention a change in direction for someone with a stripey suit on for 10/15 years and three square meals aday all for the same said nothing, not pork rolls, not beef burger, not bacon etc etc, proper meals all for nothing, starting to sound pretty good, no rates, no rent, and must of all you may get to met the Welshman.

Wise up for god's sake.

Captain Sensible (whose a LPG engineer himself)

Mar 09, 2012
Rating

Just a thought to the Welsh engineer.
by: Anonymous

If you go on the Web, put Bristol gas fitter in court you may learn abit. He has killed someone by not putting the self tapper in the flue connections, which adds up to about 6 self tappers. money wise adds up to no more than 10p

As a engineer you will understand that on any inspection these can easly be missed, in the real world, as must catering vans are put together by DIY people who try to cut corners and know very little about any gas regs.

Are you saying for 48 pound you go over any van 100% ( thats from the bottle down to the screws in the brackets) because I find that hard to believe. The case mentioned is a Nat Gas problem but could also happen on a LPG installation.

The guy involved is known in the trade as a 110% gas fitter whom seems to have had avery bad day,as we can all do, he is looking at 10/15 years inside on a manslaughter charge, and your going to maybe put yourself in that situation for 48 pound + Vat. you must be mad, because for that sort of money there is no way in this world you are doing a correct gas safety check.

You are trusted with peoples lives, not how many vans you can clear in a day, and I can't be arsed to take that apart, you pay the price if it goes wrong and thats worth £48 + Vat to you, you need to rethink what your saying and doing mate.

Put that in the correct place and try and find the man with the knife in an hospital opertion also in charge of someones life, working for 48 pounds a hit!! you may find one with a rusty kit but I doubt it.

It's peoples lives not a 15 minute hit for 48 pound were talking about. I will keep my eye open for when you make the news, welcome to the real world when the plastic means nothing or the 48 pounds to get you on the job in the first place "you state" is a joke and misleading the public.

A not so stupid 40 years in gas fitter.

Mar 08, 2012
Rating

£48+VAT man
by: Anonymous

Thats got to be one big "IF" the van passes! which of course you will make sure it dosen't. Do you think we are (as the other comment mentions) all as green as Welsh grass.
Start price £48 + VAT inc the time getting there and fuel, sorry mate your not on, you either need reporting or re training or both as to what you should be doing for £48, but then you would not be doing it for that long, earn more on the buses.
Why don't you say where you do your training, looks like gassafe needs to pay a visit, just to take a look at you both.
If any of you public are reading this! as said it's just an intro to make you believe this guy is cheap, and I must agree he is in more ways than one, be warned!!!!

Another gassafe engineer

Mar 08, 2012
Rating

The green green grass of home guy.
by: Anonymous

48 guid? thats lot of money! I can do em for 25 and a couple of handstands for them as well.
Now maybe you would like to tell us just how many vans you get involved with just pay you the 48 + Vat or are they all in your street. Do you give a discount for OAP's as well?

It's people like you that are bringing this game to it's knee's and making us all including yourself look a little bit stupid in the public eye. I know, you have a second income, a garage, where you do MOT's for a fiver when your not doing gas work.

As the man said, get real, and if your going to post anything on here don't make it rubbish, the public use this as well, no doubt they will be all moving to South Wales, cost of living looks like it's for nothing over there. Which of course is not true, bit like yourself.

Wonder what your price would be on a van with 6 appliances and a 4 bottle set up? £55 maybe?
You mentioned start from 48 quid, whats that? 1 bottle and 1 appliance? do your strip any or all of the appliance in your test? or is it then you hit them for a £60 service per appliance.

Or is it just a manometer gas leak test? which is not a gas safty check, of couse they would all have a test point on the end of each or any pipe run so you could prove the pressure drop ( I have'nt seen many that have) to enable you to do that test correctly or is fitting one on the end of each pipe run in that £48 as well.

As you should know you cannot use any test point on a appliance as a end of run test point, along with lock up, standing, working, strengh tests, pipe sizing, pipe brackets, conbustion ventilation, pilot checks, thermocouple checks, each appliance gas valve checks?

Internal condition of the pipework on each appliance and of course the internal condition of each appliance plus it's burners, all for £48 + VAT + traveling time, plus 10 minutes to write it up, what absolute rubbish you talk, interesting to know how you play your game.

Why not be honest and post the truth £48 is just an intro and you will always find something wrong, and not many, if any pass for that sort of money if your doing, which I doubt, all the above, or better still don't post anything anyway.

A LPG Engineer.

Mar 07, 2012
Rating

South Wales Gas Safe Engineers
by: Anonymous

We supply Gas Safety checks and certificates for Catering trailers, starting locally at £48 + Vat which includes safety check and ticket issue if trailer passes.

I think we'll up our prices though as some on here seem astronomical!!

07825 438822 Call for a quote also any commercial equipment repaired serviced supplied very competitively.

Cheers All

Dec 03, 2011
Rating

LPG Safety Certificate - Mobile Catering Trailer
by: gas safe engineer

i can provide gas safety certs in all areas

0800 289 654 gas safe no 125570

Oct 31, 2011
Rating

To Cornishmike
by: Anonymous

You need to ask for a gassafe inspectors visit with this engineer on site in your van, (which will cost you zero) It is only you as a member of the public than can do this, although other engineers can pass on and point out your comments to gassafe they will do nothing about it until you contact them yourself.

If they find the engineer has not tested your van correctly they will help you take him to court and you will by the court get all your money back plus costs and no doubt the engineer will get a heavy fine.

In the trade we get fed up with hearing this, as engineers you pay us to do the job properly and engineers how don,t are a big pain in the arse, and give the game and other engineers a very bad name.

Anyone from the public can ask for a gassafe inspector to inspect an engineers work,thats what their there for, and as you say he took 10 minutes on the second visit.

Unless he did all his tests on the first visit, which you would have noticed, like a few spanners here and there and a manometer hanging on the pipework maybe, there is no way this is correct.

Report him mate and do us all a favour,(and get your money back). To put you right it's like a bent car MOT inspector and they are answerable for their actions by LAW.

So their is no need to feel ripped off, go the next step and have it looked at by a gassafe inspector, tell him what you witnessed going on.

Which as said will cost you nothing, just phone gassafe and arrange it and they have to attend by LAW, ask for a Mr. Philip Mason in gassafe to take it up, he is the S/W area manager of gas inspectors, knows his job and will point you in the correct direction.

Good luck with it, post anything you want to know on here and if I can I will help you, as well as talk to Mr. Mason on your behalf, if needed.
Regards.

Oct 31, 2011
Rating

safety certs
by: j.d.weddell

well said cornishmike i totaly agree your one of the few who takes the time to do it properly

Oct 30, 2011
Rating

cornishmike
by: Anonymous

Do all us proper LPG engineers a favour, report this guy to gassafe. Just say what you have said to them and give them his number that is on your certificate and ask them to set up a meet with this engineer at your van to explain himself to them.

Don't run away with they idea that a certificate is only about leaks, because it is not.

There are tests you must do that can only be done with all the gas appliances working at maximum rate. He may well be one of the flash the plastic boys for a quick few guid and I'm sure that gassafe will be well interested in what you have to say.

You have to work with the appliances lite to enable you to do a working pressure test so you can check the pressure drop across the carcase, you also have to look at flame pictures which can't be done if the appliances are not lite.

If you were there all the time and he did not light or test your appliances then he hasn't done it properly and your certificate is not worth the paper that it's on and should not be taken that your wife is going to be safe.

Report it, you could be doing yourself alot of good and for your own peace of mind.

Oct 30, 2011
Rating

gas safe in cornwall
by: cornishmike

Well we managed to find a gas asfe engineer in fraddan just out side newquay in the end what a load of bollocks and cost.

The first time he came at a cost of £60 + vat and 2 mins later you need to enclose the gas bottles and put a vent in.

Got all that done within a couple of days he came back got out of his van and while walking to our van said I can see that you have got the work done then stepped in side filled out all the paper working that will £75.00 + vat please heres your cert must have taken all of 10 mins bye then until the next time.

I would have thought that he would have switched the gas on and lite everything and checked for leaks, no nothing, we bought the van and it needed totally re doing.

I'm not a gas person just some one with common sense i checked that their was no leaks and double checked everything in there as my wife was doing it just thought it was a waste of money just for a cert.

Oct 17, 2011
Rating

safety certificates
by: J.D.Weddell

catering trailer gas & electrical certificates scotland only 07831 364496

Oct 17, 2011
Rating

As said Stewart
by: Anonymous

As for some of the people how moan on here. No engineer likes to keep on about cost, or likes to be part of ripping people off.

But as you can see from below the cost of the exams and the time taken to sit them can add up to £5000 or more.

All of which has to be put out by an engineer in hope the phone goes to earn off of it. Then you run into the tenner brigade to which you can only smile at and walk away.

The people who have now made it law should be asked by guys like yourself where the answer is, no point in making the laws if their are no engineers out there.

As a engineer I've tried Gassafe/CITB and the HSE whom make these laws but as said they don't want to know.

Ring them yourself and put your point of view over because from my end as a engineer it is all a bit of a nonsence.

Which cost far to much or everyone involved, but at the end of the day would you put £5000 out every 5 years on a wing and a prayer and then use a dirty word called profit.

Thats what engineers most do, which makes them hard to find. Which as said makes a nonsence of all their laws in the first place.

Phone them up and asked how you resolve it mate, because as a long term engineer I don't know, be nice to find someone who does.

Oct 17, 2011
Rating

Stewart
by: Anonymous

Hi, looks like you may have a problem, there are alot of guys who think they can pass off catering vans, but can't, could be gassafe has no engineers listed in your area. their is a element you have to hold that is just for catering vans which I expect gassafe told you about. Also as well as that element you have to hold, commercail gas, commercail catering,LPG changeover and of course LPG catering vans, all of those would cost about £2000-00 to take every 5 years, plus the time off to take them which would be about 2/3 weeks, which is why alot of guys don't bother with it, and why guys have to charge it up to make it worth doing. Not to sure where that fits in with " you most get your van certificated" boys and the owners who want it done for a tenner, but no doubt they are on a salary sat in a office somewhere. If the guys arn't out there, then you and they have a problem, which none of us engineers understand either. There is alot wrong with the set up as it is and I have tried to make the correct noises to the correct people but they don't want to know. You can only keep looking. Good luck.

Oct 17, 2011
Rating

Gassafe a bit useless
by: Stewart

Just an update really, I contacted 18 engineers through Gassafe and only one even got back. They said they checked with Gassafe but can't issue safety certificates because they don't hold some certificate themselves.
Gassafe site doesn't even have caterIng trailer as an option to choose when searching!

Oct 06, 2011
Rating

Stewart
by: Anonymous

Hi Stewart, bring it to Bristol and I can help you out with both. If you ring gassafe to find a engineer a bit nearer, they as I would know someone who can do the electric bit for you. Most of us travel in pairs so you should'nt have a problem. Gassafe are on the web, put them up and follow the site, put in your area and their should be someone that can help you.
Good luck with it.

Oct 06, 2011
Rating

Help! LPG and Electric testing required in Essex!
by: Stewart

Hi all,
Some good discussions. I have a catering trailer and need to have LPG gas installed to run two piece of equipment. Looking for someone qualified and local (Southend, Essex) who can do this and issue safety certificate.
Am also looking for electrician who can inspect and issue electrical certificate too?
Hope someone can help s-ford at uku dot co dot uk

Sep 29, 2011
Rating

gas safety certificates
by: Tom in Blackburn Lancs

Hi all I have just picked up my second hhand catering trailer and like the rest of the gang on here I can't find a local lpg gas tester to check my Two appliances namely a gas griddle and a boiler (Burco I believe) need to get it done asap can anyone in my area help me ??? Yours Patiently Tom in Blackburn Lancs.

Sep 29, 2011
Rating

Anonymous about Irish Kieron
by: Anonymous

You say "arduous test" and "experience". What test are you taking? I've been in the game a very long time as a gas engineer, not a plumber or a heating engineer, and all the tests I have taken to comply with gassafe are not in the true word LPG gas tests.

You show someone you can find and hold knowledge for a couple of days and thats about it.

Experience, key word! is that why the game is now full of bus drivers and alike? Think your talking along time back maybe when creme eggs were 6d.

When are you guys going to understand that plumbing is a small part of a heating engineers work and gas work is a small part of a heating engineers work, none of it makes you a gas engineer.

It makes you a person that holds a plastic card that shows you have passed this "arduous test" haha! but your still not a gas engineer, any more than I'm a painter because I can paint a door.

If you were "gas engineers" none of the "arduous tests" in dom/comm/catering/meters/LPG etc. etc, as laid down by the hse/citb/gassafe or really that hard to pass and is more a case of being able to read and find information as most of them are open book anyway.

This is what the public needs to know, open book, what sort of test is that? and what experience do you need to read?

When are you guys going to stop pumping up on a piece of plastic and thinking your something that your not, even with your new plastic! Your all playing the gassafe game which at best is a joke and if you know the game you have to agree.

From what I see and correct your better off without all the side step corgi management and gassafe rubbish, their only after your money!!!! not making gas engineers!!! another one for the public to know.

Gassafe don't make! they are there for when you screw up, and thats the bottom line, not help you but coming at you.

Lets hope your never in that position holding your plastic up in hope to stop abit of queens service.

Then you will find how good a gas engineer you are because these are the guys that write these "arduious" exams and can blow holes in you a mile wide with closed book questions.

Think on and be warned!!!

Sep 29, 2011
Rating

Wrong info
by: Anonymous

Irish kieron you do not have a clue what u are talking about please keep your rubbish comments to yourself for starters you wouldn't call a plumber to look at gas you would call a heating engineer who has passed an arduous test and has plenty of experience!

Sep 20, 2011
Rating

Gas Safety check for mobile caterers
by: chubby

Hello there, I have a small coffee van which I have to get checked every six months for gas safety.

The law now states mobile units require a gas safe check every six months, although the majority of event organisers and councils never ask for it which I find amazing.

However, I just feel safer doing it, just in case.I use a guy in Stockwell, London who is truly brilliant and also states that regulations around LPG safety checks are very fuzzy.

Nonetheless the certificates now clearly say a check needs to be done every six months, as opposed to the annnual check it used to be.

His name is Mark Saunders, you can google him to get his address and phone humber. Key words: Saunders gas stockwell and he will come up.

He is good at giving advice and may be able to help you with your search for other similar engineers in your area.

However, they are really, really hard to find. Hope this might help someone.

Sep 18, 2011
Rating

cornishmike
by: Anonymous

Go on the gassafe site, put your area in and see whose the nearest to you.
It may be that you have to take your van to them to keep the cost down.
Their should be someone in Exeter, think thats the nearest biggest town near you (I think).
Gassafe should be able to help you.

Regards.

Sep 17, 2011
Rating

gas safe in cornwall
by: cornishmike

Does anyone know who does gas safe certs in cornwall(St Austell area) for a catering van they seem to be like rocking horse teeth down here how the hell am i supose to get the business up and running without a cert.

Sep 12, 2011
Rating

Irish Kieron
by: Anonymous

Hi mate,Just found your comment and although agree with most of it their is one part I don,t and think it should be mentioned.

I spend alot of my time looking at what you would term "plumbers" work, which means they can solder joints and tighten conpression fittings "sometimes" and is no doubt where the public thinks that a true gas enginneer is a jumped up plumber as you seem to.

Most plumbers I know have not a clue about gas or LPG and if they were to take a proper gas test instead of the CITB simple laid down one that they take now, which they think would make them a gas engineer would not have a clue and would no doubt fail.

I think what the public should know there or ex bus drivers, carpenters, bricklayers, lawyers, B&Q staff, etc. taking the CITB exam, a lot fail but some don't and that is more a case of the training houses getting them through because they want their fee, and to many fails would mean a CITB visit to see what was up with their training.

A plumber/heating engineer would have a head start, but still does not mean he like the others know much about the gas game, LPG or otherwise.

Most think they can earn a fortune, and most think wrongly that they are something to do with the law as in regards to the gas regs.

As with catering vans, some think the must have and must does and you need us, to get a safety ticket is not far under a solicitors role.

To round up plumbers and like are not gas engineers, and never will be, and a simple pass on LPG exam will not make them that either.

Apart from misleading themselves they are also misleading the public, like Mr Angry, who said for what ever reason it took 30 minutes to examing his van for a pass, it takes 10 minute to do the paperwork, was it just a gas tightness test done? who knows, but this is only a small part of what needs to be done as you may well know.

"Message to the public" you may have a man with a exam pass what you need to understand is that he may know very little or understand what he needs to do or why he needs to do it.

There is a big difference.

I have never done plumbing and never wanted to and I am a gas engineer also I have never been a bus driver either.
"Public" check what you get!!!and remember it cost to do it right I'm afraid, like you we have to earn.

A gas engineer (not a plumber)

Sep 11, 2011
Rating

Mr Angry
by: Anonymous

Would.nt it be nice if you also put in what was done for this money and what was involved.Ask Mr Herbert for a breakdown of the invoice.
If you don,t agree that it is a fair charge between you then a court will help both of you when you refuse to pay it.
£250-00 dose,nt sound out of the way, but as it is only you and him that know what work was involved, no one can give you an answer until you print the whole story.
Travel time and cost all add up, and did you not get a quote off of him before he started the work.

A LPG gas engineer with 42 years at it.

Sep 11, 2011
Rating

Gas safe check
by: mr angry

After the local EHO recommended a registered local company an appointment was made for an engineer to visit for my annual cert : gas safe cert was issued along with an invoice for £250 . This work took 30 mins and involved 2 appliances ...
Can this possibly be the most charged ?
Thanks to Seaforth heating and coolings director Peter Herbert from Poole for making this email possible.

Sep 07, 2011
Rating

your problem
by: Anonymous

Hi Lindi,it could be one of five problems you have:

1 Gas pressure.( faulty regulator or pipe sizing problem)

2 Pilot blocked so your not getting a full pilot.

3 Thermocouple needs changing.

4 Gas valve playing up.

5 Getting someone in your area who is registered to fix it, which may well be the hardest part, the rest is very easy.

Newcastle is along way from me, but gassafe should be able to give you someone near to you, phone them and find out.

If you find someone don't forget to get a rough price off of them first otherwise you will be on here saying you got riped off.
He will no doubt want to look at it first before he can give you a price.

He will give you a time and travelling price to come and see what the problems are and then it will fall apart, which is why many engineers are not bothering with it anymore.

I'm still waiting for the rocket man to get in touch, I could send him up, he would travel 100 miles there and back and have you going in 2 minutes and it would only cost you £20.
Good luck

A LPG Gas engineer.

Sep 07, 2011
Rating

lindi lous
by: Anonymous

i have a catering trailer in newcastle and im finding it really hard to find someone to look at one griddle,the problem being it does not stay alight when ignited it just simply goes out , i have tried switching over controls but to no avail ,can someone please help me thank you so very much

Aug 10, 2011
Rating

the new rocket man
by: Anonymous

Hi Daniel, you have a problem mate all I can suggest is that engineers will travel to you but it all costs.
I,m in Bristol S/W area and you would,nt want to pay me to come that far.
If and when the under a hour rocket man gets back to me, I could send him, be there in two minutes and have you sorted in five.
Get some prices Daniel their must be someone whom can get to you.
Good luck

A gas engineer ( waiting for the rocketman to offer him a job )

Aug 10, 2011
Rating

Northwest
by: Daniel

I am looking for information on how to get a gas safety certificatefor my mobile catering van. I have been on gassaferegister but can not find anything even close to my area (Liverpool) any information would be much apreciated

Aug 06, 2011
Rating

To the under an hour man.
by: Anonymous

You don,t want a job do you!
You must travel by rocket to the job and back home again.

If you can clear a van travelling to it and back with say 2 chippers in it, 4 burner grill plate, hot water boiler, bia marie and high level grill your the man I,ve been looking for for a few years.

Of course you would have also sorted out the ventilation along with reg tests, soundness test,lock up test and working pressure test as well as sorted anything that was wrong with the pipe sizing as well as striping all the above checking for rust and other faults and of course fill out the paperwork.

Whom ever you are, your either very good or you are talking total rubbish and have very little knowledge of what is required, each job stands it's own time to be sorted in the correct manner.

I agree that £80 / appliance seems alot of money, but not being there and knowing what's involved your out of order for not telling what was being done for that £80.

Do try and tell me I,m all ear's
Before you do please put yourself in todays world of costs.
A gas engineer.

Aug 06, 2011
Rating

comment below marked J.D.Weddal
by: Anonymous

Its unclear who is making this comment, is it J.D.Weddel or someone who he has given a price too or done work for?

In my neck of the woods you would never get £80-00 per appliance and I would never quote a job at that price, I think that to be on the very high side, but not knowing the whole of the story it would be a bit unfare to make a comment.

As a another engineer has said prices are not written in stone, which is true, shop around for the best deal.

I have alot of vans on my books and I charge £85-00 for the first test, this includes one appliance ( or two if their small ) and £15/ £25 per appliance according to size after that.

Once I know the van and its contents apart from servicing any appliance I charged £50-00 for the retest once the 6 mouths are up, thats if the vans local, if not fuel would go on that again but thats never more than £20-00.

All my van owners think that is OK and they seem to keep coming back, when they have a breakdown on site and you go and sort that out for them they are more than happy then, which is also part of the service I offer.

Find yourself an engineer you are happy with and he will explain what needs to be done and why, instead of the gun to your head routine, but it is not the case that engineers are charging or getting that sort of money for every ticket they do.

#I always go to see a new van before I give them a price, thats the only way you can do it, we need you and you need us and we both need to know that the vans are up to it.

I,ve heard stories of engineers thinking they are going to earn doctors money after they have taken the correct exams to do it and I would leave them well alone, but if you do it for a living you have to supply an affordable service, which many do.

But as said you can always talk to your engineer and after the first ticket their should be not alot of work to do, hence making it cheaper if you look at the whole story and service's on offer.

Shop around, but remember that cheapest is not always any good, even in this game, I have had brand new vans fitted out by so called catering firms that do not comply to safety regs, and their are still many thousands of them out there.

It's not about a sheet of paper saying you have no leaks, it's a bit more involved, and may be the term gas safety check is a bit misleading to the public, and as they will tell you, and think that if it was leaking they would smell it! Not always true but it's the first sign that something is wrong.

As said shop around your both going to need another.

Jun 07, 2011
Rating

lpg gas certificate needed west yorkshire
by: Kofikart

Hi
I am looking for someone in the west yorkshire area to provide a lpg gas certificate for a mobile espresso unit, is there anyone out there???
many thanks lorraine

May 20, 2011
Rating

A gas engineer.
by: Anonymous

Just to help you, if you go on to the gassafe register site under looking for a engineer, put Mr. Weddells registration number in and that should give you all his contact details.
If not, phone gassafe register and give them his registration number and they will be able to give you his contact numbers.
Hope you find him.
Kind regards.

May 20, 2011
Rating

Catering Unit Scotland Urgent
by: Anonymous

Hi I need a gas certificate for our unit. We are about to start touring in Scotland - Mr Weddell can you help, I can't find your contact details. My Mobile is 07841 838369.

May 13, 2011
Rating

catering trailer certificates scotland
by: j.d.weddell

I carry out gas safety inspections on catering trailers in scotland central area gas safe reg 16009 note to all other catering/lpg engineers com cat123 & lpg is not enough you also need cmc to certfy catering trailers

Apr 25, 2011
Rating

Point of nat. gas/ lpg law.
by: Anonymous

I had one of those, just like my fellow engineer has written about and you do see a lot of it or them, around.

A guy was doing his own gas work to his van, when he had finished he phoned me for a gas safety certificate.

He opened the door of his van all very proud with his chest stuck out,and stood back when I said there were loads of things wrong with the installation so I had to fail it.

He then told me he had done it all himself and could not see much wrong with it. Apart from having a laugh with him or at him, not to sure which, I pointed out to him that it looked like it had been put in by a five year old, had the wrong hoses on (you can only use commercial catering hoses marked for LPG and they only come in 1/2" and 3/4" and above), clipped on orange LPG hoses will not pass in a catering van.

He also had the wrong appliances, not one had a flame safe, and all had orange LPG hose connections with screw up clips fitted, and many more faults.

By now his wife was stood by him doing the "I told you so bit", and the smile had gone from them both.

I made him aware that to install any gas pipework or appliances that would lead to making money in the public domain the installer should be registered with Gassafe and hold on his card qualifications to do such work.

He then told me that he had put in his own central heating with not one leak, gas as well, and he was known as a plumber around his area, I explained to him you can do as you wish anywhere alse so long as it is not for hire or reward.

Hire and reward is the cut off line from Harry down the pub can bend a bit of copper, lets ask him!

I think, by what I heard the guy tried it on with another engineer, as I did'nt give him a certificate, then some how the HSE got to hear about it, I dont know the out come but I do pass the van once in a while and it has'nt moved for a long time, it's going green.

May be the guy is off getting some training, which he won't get without proof that he has been in the gas game for many years, who knows!!.

Point is that to install gas pipework or appliances for hire and reward you must be registered to do so, not a DIY,er with a trade card at B&Q.

I would have liked to have seen his face when another engineer told him much the same as myself, it's like you have stood on there best lego model, can be very funny sometimes.

Keep doing it men, it,s £95-00 pass or fail and it's easier to fail then than pass them.

Apr 20, 2011
Rating

LPG
by: ken

I have had the same probs finding a LPG fitter you meet to many that talk about how much their course cost. and all you do is cook for a living.... what a knob.........

Apr 10, 2011
Rating

Catering trailers
by: Anonymous

Hi I am a Gas engineer and can test catering trailers and charge £100 to £150 depending on location, size of trailer, this is a far price with the training involved, five yearly tests and responsibility that we take trusting the owner of the trailer going down the motorway with gas on four wheels.

Mar 03, 2011
Rating

CHRIS
by: Anonymous

Would you please just remind me what tests and written exams you need to take for cooking a burger? master chef or something? and did it take the best part of £3000 and a week and a couple of days of time, with no pay to get it. Most vans I do or all run on shoestring, and you have a problem most of the time getting £85 out of them, till they raid the kids money box or the bottom of the wife's purse. Nice to hear your doing so well, hope it stays that way for you. Pitch money is pitch money but that's no reason to make about a 500% mark up on the contents of your burgers, good or bad, to be honest they all taste crap to me, but then I look at what their cooked on, most hanging in green fat, when was the last time your van was steamed cleaned? I know!! your the best of the rest. Another real gas engineer, not plumber.

Feb 27, 2011
Rating

Red tape Mick
by: ACL MECH.SERVICES

Don,t get dissapointed Mick, phone gassafe reg. and you will find a engineer in your area I,m sure. It not the point that all your gears is new, of course that helps, it's if it is installed correctly and it meets with the given pressure loss that we have to work too. Some of the DIYer's think you can do alot with 6mm & 8mm tubing, which of course you can't.
You will get gas out of it and it will light and no doubt you can cook on it, but that's not the correct way of looking at it. you are allowed a max. of 34.5 m/bar on the end of the pipe run with every thing on at full rate, if you have this your OK, if not a simple pipe change will do it, once done your sorted and any test will be cheaper. but that not taking any maintanence that needs to be done.
Where are you? Good luck with it. ACL

Feb 26, 2011
Rating

Chris
by: Anonymous

When you get off your bad hair day, I,d be more worried about the £35 gas check on your house.
Like your buggers mate! don,t like the price! then don,t have em.
Put another 20K to your 30 and your about what it cost to be on the road as a gas engineer, and it don,t take much brain to cook a burger.
£1000 a day? you don,t sale porkie pies as well do you.

Feb 25, 2011
Rating

moaning plumbers
by: chris chef notts.

35 quid to check a house 180 quid to check a van????? gas engineers are robbing b******* yes you pay 3000 grand for exam.

I paid 30k for trailor and i dont sell shite burgers pay 1000 pound a day for pitch and get shafted by twats moaning and groaning driving around in shagged out transits.

Reading some of the up their own arses plumbers on here get a life and stop charging what you feel like standard rates should apply .

Sep 10, 2010
Rating

how to find
by: Lina

Hi, i had the same problem with finding engineer for catering trailer safety gas check. After loads of calls i find out how to look for them properly. So.. go on www.gassaferegister.co.uk, click on advanced search, type in your post code, choose non-domestic services,LPG gas type, catering as area of work and click find. When you have list of yours nearest business doing this, click on little black cross by catering and look for mobile catering. good luck, hope my info was usefull ;)

Aug 29, 2010
Rating

LPG/Catering Vans Gas safety cert.
by: A C LOVELL Mech Services

Hi Cat.I do vans but I,m in Bristol, £80/85 is about right for a gas safety cert. this includes one appliance, after that its around £25/30 for every one you want tested.
Your man is not far away on price, have a word with him, he can always say no.
Bring it to Bristol and I,ll do it for you.
All the best.

Aug 29, 2010
Rating

to stuff it man
by: Anonymous

Just a quick message to stuff it man.If he cares so little about safety for himself and the great British public who buy his £2.50 burgers,then im wondering where he gets his meat from as this can also be exspensive having to throw stock away that hasnt been used but hang on a min maybe HE DOESNT and sells out of date burgers anyway.
P.s Maybe he should be checked if his catering van has a valid tax disc to .

Aug 18, 2010
Rating

mobile catering engineers
by: graham

Hi ive done al my Lpg gas engineering training at the moment i dont work in the industry but trying to get back into it.I got told by Gas SAfe that there is a short fall of trained engineers in the north west for mobile catering engineers is this true?

Aug 12, 2010
Rating

LPG GASAFE CERTS, CATERING VANS.
by: ACL Mech.Services.

A few more comments I would make to the stuff it man, I wonder if his car/van has a MOT to be in the road? or does he not do this either.
If catering van owners were to look at the safety check as a MOT they would have no problem with it,(you don,t have one!!! your in trouble).
Don,t forget as with a MOT, no safety cert. your insurance is void, if a member of the public gets hurt ( as the stuff it man goes for a hairless ride, upwards) he could be well looking at a holiday doing some queens service when he hits the ground.
Just as that applies to LPG/ Nat Gas engineers if they get it wrong, (which is why we are trained)
Whilst on his holiday which could be as much as 15 years, he will have more than enough time to think of his actions.

Aug 09, 2010
Rating

LPG GASAFE CERTS.CATERING VANS.
by: ACL MECH.SERVICES

Interesting reading,lets hope the HSE reads some of them. As for the stuff it man,lets hope he is stood in it when it goes up, he may then see it different.
Whilst he is selling his £2-50 burgers I would inform him that for a gassafe engineer to hold his LPG tickets he would have to have spent somewhere around about £3000-00 to do the exams that are needed and spent a week of his time (unpaid) to sit them.
Now thats alot of burgers, gone are the days where people work for nothing, put the above with his fuel and van cost to get there as well, he maybe better off selling burgers next door to the stuff it man, who dosen,t want to spend out to keep his catering van and the public safe, as a gassafe LPG engineer, safety is what we,re all about, not £2-50 burgers.

Jul 31, 2010
Rating

the worlds gone mad
by: Anonymous

I believe the worlds gone mad, soon we will be tested to breathe .... I have catering equipment i.e gas BBQ that needs testing and no one can tell me what certificate I need please help

May 17, 2010
Rating

Hi Steve -LPG Certificate
by: Anonymous

Hi Steve, if you can supply us with your telephone number or a website address so that we/readers can contact you - this would be a great help.

Thanks
David

May 17, 2010
Rating

Getting My LPG Safety Certificate in South Wales
by: Steve T.

My company does LPG and associated gas catering safety inspection/certificates (COMCAT 1,2,3,5) in South Wales & Herefordshire, post code areas CF,HR, LD, NP and SA.LPG/Commercial catering certs start from AROUND £100.00 + VAT per job but it does sometime depend upon on numbers of units tested.

Mar 19, 2010
Rating

Campervan conversions LPG
by: MT

Does anyone know of an LPG Gas person for Campervan conversions all new kit. Outside of london if need be, the gas safety register is out of date an poorly managed.

Mar 04, 2010
Rating

red tape
by: mick

ive been trying to find a gas man to do my trailer its just impossible to find one , its just a con all my stuff is brand new , im so dissapointed ,

Mar 04, 2010
Rating

red tape
by: mick

ive been trying to find a gas man to do my trailer its just impossible to find one , its just a con all my stuff is brand new , im so dissapointed ,

Jan 28, 2010
Rating

gas tester
by: len

I got the same problem,only i cant get anyone to test it,Anyone know of a tester in newport south wales??

Jan 28, 2010
Rating

not as expensive as you think
by: Anonymous

i needed a gas LPG engineer for a landlord safety cert that cost me £45, it goes up on the amount of items that need testing, so £180 is alot even for London

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to LPG Gas Equipment Certificates.

Follow @MobCater

Share this page:

What’s this?

Facebook X Pinterest Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

Click on the HTML link code below.
Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.