curdle Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 My MH has to go in for some warranty work, so it is booked into the dealer who sold it to me. I took the opportunity to query why there was no fire extinguisher supplied with the vehicle, since my previous Hymer had been supplied with one. The answer received is that they do not supply extinguishers with British motorhomes. I must say I am surprised, since it is a mandatory requirement that you carry one in several European countries. Do other marques have a similar policy or is it just Hymer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeco Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 My Auto-trail made in UK and delivered in AU came with a fire extinguisher, a smoke alarm and a gas alarm. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted November 1, 2019 Author Share Posted November 1, 2019 Is it a mandatory requirement in Australia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 curdle - 2019-11-01 3:07 AM Is it a mandatory requirement in Australia? Yes. Extract from Australian Design Rule 44/01 44.2.8.3. Fire Extinguisher Motorhomes and ‘Caravans’ shall be provided with a fire extinguisher(s) selected and located in accordance with the Australian Standard referred to in clause 44.2.2.5. (My Hymer came without, but I have fitted one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 James, Check the small print of your insurance policy! Without double checking but I am certain mine requires a serviceable extinguisher to be fitted. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinM50 Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Having had a kitchen fire in a previous home, I'm an avid fan of extinguishers and have them at home (Halon, best but now banned but don't tell anyone I've still got it) and on various boats caravans and motorhomes have always fitted one. For the fifteen or twenty pounds it costs, hardly worth bothering the dealer is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 My New Elddis sunseeker 2015 didn't come with an extinguisher however in the Elddis handbook it says that if you don't have one the three warranty is void . I don't think that this would hold up in law however Yes, I got one but who wouldn't Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 I use one of these both in the van and another in the home. It comes with a mounting cradle. Can be purchased cheaper elsewhere. http://www.firetool.co.uk/je-50.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 If you do fit a fire extinguisher I’d suggest that you ensure it doesn’t become a dangerous projectile should you crash. Ours is fitted at floor level next to the driver’s seat so that it can be reached both by the driver/passenger and anyone in the habitation area. Often these small fire extinguishers just clip into their mounting bracket so ours is also enhanced with a Velcro strap to hold it securely should there be a ‘bump’. A fire blanket mounted by the hob is also a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverback Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Our new Autotrail came with one, i also put one in the rear bedroom as well and a fire blanket by the cooker Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted November 1, 2019 Author Share Posted November 1, 2019 Robinhood - 2019-11-01 3:47 PM curdle - 2019-11-01 3:07 AM Is it a mandatory requirement in Australia? Yes. Extract from Australian Design Rule 44/01 44.2.8.3. Fire Extinguisher Motorhomes and ‘Caravans’ shall be provided with a fire extinguisher(s) selected and located in accordance with the Australian Standard referred to in clause 44.2.2.5. (My Hymer came without, but I have fitted one) That is very interesting in my opinion. A seatbelt would probably have a similar requirement, so how can the manufacturer get away with not making the supply, standard equipment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted November 1, 2019 Author Share Posted November 1, 2019 Keithl - 2019-11-01 4:17 PM James, Check the small print of your insurance policy! Without double checking but I am certain mine requires a serviceable extinguisher to be fitted. Keith. Keith I already checked my quote before questioning the dealer. You are quite correct, that the insurance company require an annually serviced (in my case) extinguisher. I cannot imagine any other insurance companies missing such small print. So how do manufacturers justify the absence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted November 1, 2019 Author Share Posted November 1, 2019 ColinM50 - 2019-11-01 4:24 PM Having had a kitchen fire in a previous home, I'm an avid fan of extinguishers and have them at home (Halon, best but now banned but don't tell anyone I've still got it) and on various boats caravans and motorhomes have always fitted one. For the fifteen or twenty pounds it costs, hardly worth bothering the dealer is it? Agreed the after market cost is not relevant, but surely the principal is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 curdle - 2019-11-01 3:11 PM Keithl - 2019-11-01 4:17 PM James, Check the small print of your insurance policy! Without double checking but I am certain mine requires a serviceable extinguisher to be fitted. Keith. Keith I already checked my quote before questioning the dealer. You are quite correct, that the insurance company require an annually serviced (in my case) extinguisher. I cannot imagine any other insurance companies missing such small print. So how do manufacturers justify the absence? The manufacturer will be selling what is legally required, not what insurers might ask for, take trackers as an example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g7eor Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 My Autotrail 635 came with an extinguisher. It was fitted INSIDE the cupboard under the sink. It has now been moved to a more accessible position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Keithl - 2019-11-01 9:17 AM James, Check the small print of your insurance policy! Without double checking but I am certain mine requires a serviceable extinguisher to be fitted. Keith. It would be interesting to know which insurance company(ies) this applies to. It isn't a condition of my insurance, but there may be others out there insured under such a policy that haven't noted the condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 The following AA website https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/what-do-i-need includes a link to a downloadable .pdf file that tabulates the compulsory equipment that a UK-registered vehicle should carry when it is being driven in European countries. (I’ve copied the table below.) Where a fire extinguisher is concerned the AA recommends that this be carried in Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and - for Belgium - there’s a footnote on the full .pdf file (16) Recommended as their carriage is compulsory for vehicles registered in that country But (apparently) no European country mandates that a ‘foreign registered’ vehicle MUST carry a fire extinguisher. Some items (warning triangle, high-viz jacket, first aid kit) are compulsory in certain European countries, but a motorcaravan (whatever its registration status) being driven in the UK need not carry any of those items, nor a fire extinguisher. The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s guidance on fire-safety is here https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/advice-for-beginners/fires/ and, although this advises that All National Caravan Council (NCC) approved dealers and manufacturers must fit a smoke detector in all new and second-hand caravans there is no mention that it is compulsory for a fire extinguisher to be carried in a motorhome/caravan in the UK, or even that NCC approved dealers and manufacturers should provide one. This doesn’t mean that a motorhome sold new in the UK will never be provided with a fire extinguisher. On delivery my Rapido had an extinguisher (a 1kg dry-powder) as the French manufacturer factory-fits this as part of the standard specification. There was also a smoke detector that would have been added by the UK Rapido dealership that sold me the vehicle. Regarding insurance, my motorhome policy (Comfort Insurance/AVIVA) makes no mention of a fire extinguisher. As Robinhood says, it would be interesting to know which insurance providers demand that an extinguisher be fitted and exactly how that condition is worded. Similarly, it would be odd if the warranty of a motorhome marketed in the UK would become void if the vehicle did not carry an extinguisher, particularly if an extinguisher was not provided as part of the motorhome’s standard UK specification. (I looked at the Elddis warranty and a 2015 owner handbook (mentioned by Pete above) and, although the latter recommends that the owner fit an extinguisher, I couldn't find anything to suggest this was compulsory.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Hi just looked through the owner manual and can't find the reference to having to have an extinguisher either but, I know that I have read it in the paperwork somewhere and On the Habitation forms there is a tick box asking if there is a fire extinguisher fitted. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 So where does the idea come from that the Elddis 3-year warranty would become void if the motorhome has no fire extinguisher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive_Adams Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Dereks table at the bottom is the clue to it all, “compulsory and recommended” so why should any manufacturer install anything other than compulsory, not cost effective?. Certain manufacturers may go that extra mile to kid you on that they care, others don’t My Carthago has neither a fire alarm or extinguisher as standard and I don’t even think they offer them as an option, I do of course have both, at my discretion and cost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 Robinhood - 2019-11-02 1:52 AM Keithl - 2019-11-01 9:17 AM James, Check the small print of your insurance policy! Without double checking but I am certain mine requires a serviceable extinguisher to be fitted. Keith. It would be interesting to know which insurance company(ies) this applies to. It isn't a condition of my insurance, but there may be others out there insured under such a policy that haven't noted the condition. My policy is probably more stringent since it is part of my business cover and very expensive at 1600.00 plus for the MH section alone. It was tremendously difficult to place business use cover and only a very tenacious broker could achieve it with a specialist unit within Lloyd’s. I had the same problem with my timber commercial buildings where despite having a Swiss roofing system with a 15 year warranty, am required to have an annual inspection (expensive) report of the same. The idea that Britain is open for seamless business is Brexit delusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 Clive_Adams - 2019-11-03 1:01 AM Dereks table at the bottom is the clue to it all, “compulsory and recommended” so why should any manufacturer install anything other than compulsory, not cost effective?. Certain manufacturers may go that extra mile to kid you on that they care, others don’t My Carthago has neither a fire alarm or extinguisher as standard and I don’t even think they offer them as an option, I do of course have both, at my discretion and cost I suppose until Derek posted the clarification about “foreign registered” vehicles having to meet national regs, but not UK registered vehicles, I suspect most of us would attempt to conform. By default, MH owners travel in Europe and do you fancy arguing the small print with a European cop similarly unaware of the distinction (see toll charges for similar confusion). In South Africa MH owners driving rigs over 3500kg do not require a public driving permit (PDP) as private users. The cops do not know the legislation however and to avoid inconvenience or worse, vehicle seizure, it is less hassle to do the medical and get the PDP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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