;
Energy type: 
LPG
 
Event summary: 
Energy Safety was notified by a gasfitter of a fire located in a campervan.
The driver’s side of the campervan body was fire damaged, vent grills melted, the internal cabinetry was fire damaged and the rear of the fridge and wiring was damaged.
 
Accident ID: 
170803-03
 
Accident date: 
6 July 2017
 
Site: 
Domestic
 
Environment: 
Caravan/mobile home
 
Voltage: 
N/A
 
Equipment: 
Installation Pipework; Refrigerators
 
Accident type: 
Fire and explosion
 
Casualty: 
Non-fatality
 
Injury: 
No injury
 
Property damage level: 
Restricted to the room containing the equipment
 
Outcome of investigation: 

Energy Safety was alerted to this incident through a notification from a gasfitter who was engaged to repair a caravan.

Following investigation, Energy Safety believes the fire was caused by a gas pipe being left open ended when the campervan was handed back to the owner.

The Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations deem an installation unsafe if a pipe is not capped or securely closed to prevent leakage or flow of gas.

It appears that insufficient supervision was undertaken by the certifying gas fitter, evidenced by him admitting that he left his workers to finish the job, and the instruction was not given to plug the gas pipe.

Energy Safety has made a complaint to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board about this incident.