Propane fill issue

[RovinOn]

Winterized my motorhome yesterday. When I put it away I Top everything up and it’s always ready to go.
Took it down to the local U-Haul and the manager refused to fill, first time this has happened. Always liked this place because it was easy in and out.
Seems she doesn’t know the difference between a propane cylinder and a propane tank? Cylinder is DOT regulated and an ACSME certified tank is not.
Seems that the DOT has changed their inspection from 12yr down to 10. she’s applying that to my coach?
Has anyone ever had their propane tank on their motorhome tested?

[burfurd]

My understanding is that it is not required on a permanent mounted tank such as on a motor home. I always get mine filled at a Tractor Supply, lower price and better service.
burfurd

[RovinOn]

That’s always been my understanding as well. Permanent mount is an ACSME rated tank and does not require inspection. I know of no one that does this?

[Winterbagoal]

It's ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), and some propane places will tell you that it's required, but it's not, unless that bit of legislation has changed, which is always possible. I've heard some places will charge you a fortune to re-certify an ASME permanently mounted tank, if they can get you to agree to it and pay them for it. It was a topic of discussion on some other forums, and the consensus was it was unnecessary.
Bottom line, pursue it up the ladder at U-Haul until you get a resolution, if you want, or just go elsewhere for your propane fill ups. Truck stops are usually not hindered by misinformation, if there's one near you. Or, an actual propane supply company like Blue Flame, Amerigas, Ferrell Gas, etc...

[Mizen]

Originally Posted by Winterbagoal

It's ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), and some propane places will tell you that it's required, but it's not, unless that bit of legislation has changed, which is always possible. I've heard some places will charge you a fortune to re-certify an ASME permanently mounted tank, if they can get you to agree to it and pay them for it. It was a topic of discussion on some other forums, and the consensus was it was unnecessary.

Bottom line, pursue it up the ladder at U-Haul until you get a resolution, if you want, or just go elsewhere for your propane fill ups. Truck stops are usually not hindered by misinformation, if there's one near you. Or, an actual propane supply company like Blue Flame, Amerigas, Ferrell Gas, etc...

I just went through that in Ontario Canada, most places will not fill unless certified every 5 years here. Almost $600.00 Canadian to do. Next time will be looking for portable tank.

[RovinOn]

Thanks for the correction, don’t know how that C got in there? Duh!

[Old-Biscuit]

NO...NO...NO
Permanent TANKS (mounted or not) are ASME/NFPA Jurisdiction and they have NO re-certification requirements. Only issue is damage form fire/accident or rusted



Cylinders are DOT Jurisdiction and have re-certification requirements
12 Yrs AFTER date of MFG Stamped on collar

(Inspection dates were changed to 10 yrs but then rescinded/not implemented after some disagreement over procedural matters ---although the info concerning the implementation did NOT get out to all vendors/or was not understood)
So 12 yrs or 10 yrs are correct per se.
Visual Inspection good for 5 yrs




TANKS.........NO
Cylinders......YES

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Mizen

I just went through that in Ontario Canada, most places will not fill unless certified every 5 years here. Almost $600.00 Canadian to do. Next time will be looking for portable tank.

Canada has different requirements....Tanks do require re-certification

[KanzKran]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Canada has different requirements....Tanks do require re-certification

How exactly do they do that? I can't imagine they're filling them with water and then pressurizing to some high proof pressure. Or are they?

[Winterbagoal]

Originally Posted by Mizen

I just went through that in Ontario Canada, most places will not fill unless certified every 5 years here. Almost $600.00 Canadian to do. Next time will be looking for portable tank.

That doesn't sound right. Where did you get that info? This was the same issue 10 years ago, local propane jockeys misinterpreting the difference between a propane powered vehicle tank, and a fixed tank in an RV.
I emailed TSSA a few years (10?) back, and they said the only permanently mounted tanks that required inspection/certification that often were in propane powered vehicles, like buses and taxis. RV permanently mounted tanks were only required to be visually inspected.
Here's a link to an old thread about it...Inspection of Chassis mounted propane tanks. - Class B Forums
As I said, times change, but this was the way it was, and I still think it might be closer to 15 years between inspections of fixed tanks, because some insurance companies require a 15 year old tank to be re-certified before they'll insure the vehicle.
TSSA are the folks to ask.

[edge68474]

I checked with Ferrell Gas, local, and all they do is a visual for leaks, $15.
There seems to be a little confusion with the 10 or 12 year time with a new tank, oh well.
When I was in Quartzite last February and I filled the tank at Loves, the guy said I was almost out dated, 10 years come March. I am going to get it inspected and move on.
Also, I though they inspected inside the tank and would need to be empty or close to it. No, they can see leaks with gas in it, the more the better.
Just repeating what they told me.

[Winterbagoal]

Originally Posted by edge68474

I checked with Ferrell Gas, local, and all they do is a visual for leaks, $15.
There seems to be a little confusion with the 10 or 12 year time with a new tank, oh well.
When I was in Quartzite last February and I filled the tank at Loves, the guy said I was almost out dated, 10 years come March. I am going to get it inspected and move on.
Also, I though they inspected inside the tank and would need to be empty or close to it. No, they can see leaks with gas in it, the more the better.
Just repeating what they told me.

I think Old Biscuit and edge68474 are closest to the truth on this one, for their locales.
To complicate matters, each province up here has it's own set of rules. There isn't a Canada-wide uniform code or rule on it. I've sent a note/question to TSSA (again) requesting clarification, and I'm expecting a completely different answer to everything already suggested in this thread. I'll post up the answer for my province. Again.
What did the Quartzsite Loves propane guy base his determination on? Is there a visible date stamped on the ASME tank somewhere? I've never seen one. They'll have to crawl underneath my Navion to do a visual inspection of my tank as time passes. It's buried in the bowels of the chassis.
In 10 years of travel, I've never been refused propane fill service anywhere. Not even a mention of re-certification, and I had an older RV for the first 8 years of it. Just lucky?

[Eez Moose]

Originally Posted by edge68474

I checked with Ferrell Gas, local, and all they do is a visual for leaks, $15.
There seems to be a little confusion with the 10 or 12 year time with a new tank, oh well.
When I was in Quartzite last February and I filled the tank at Loves, the guy said I was almost out dated, 10 years come March. I am going to get it inspected and move on.
Also, I though they inspected inside the tank and would need to be empty or close to it. No, they can see leaks with gas in it, the more the better.
Just repeating what they told me.

Same place about the same time and when he said my the 94 Winnebago would require re-certification before he could legally fill. I told him it was a Canadian unit and that we don't have to recertify. He shrugged and filled it.

[96Bounder1st]

Permanently mounted tanks in RV’s are in Manitoba and Saskatchewan still exempt. Many places with newly certified propane staff do not know the rules. Have run across it and just move down to next propane filling station.

Just my experience so far.

Good luck, Terry