TankBlanket: Winterisation that Works
TankBlanket: The Water Heater presents:
Motorhome & Caravan Winterisation: Grade 3 Explained!
motorhometrips.blogspot.com |
As I write, the October NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show is
a matter of days away and with the economy showing signs of strengthening, expectations
are high for a good Show.
At this point it seems 2014 will be defined by models
that are marketed as energy efficient and winterised. This blog will
discuss Grade 3 and winterisation.
The Consumer will be bombarded during the October show with
stickers displayed on product and brochures that declare 'this motorhome is
Grade 3 accredited' and is a ‘winterised’ vehicle that can be used ‘all year
round’. So what is Grade 3 and what does ‘winterisation’ mean?
Simply, Grade 3 is a British standard for heating and
insulation while ‘winterisation’ is a term open to a plethora of
interpretation, but for this blog, it is taken to mean a motorhome that can be
used in freezing conditions with free flowing fresh and waste water.
Grade 3 emanates from the British standard BS EN
1646-1:2012 titled ‘Leisure accommodation vehicles – Motor caravans part 1:
Habitation requirements relating to health and safety’. Within section 9 of this standard is the
detail relating to three levels of motor caravan heating. These are:
motorhometrips.blogspot.com |
Grade 1: No
heating.
Grade 2: When the outside temperature is 0°C the
internal temperature must be held at an average of at least 20 °C for a defined
period of time.
Grade 3: When the
outside temperature is -15°C the internal temperature must be held at an
average of at least 20 °C for a defined period of time.
The test has to be performed under controlled conditions
and is subject to certain criteria so results can be reproduced and compared
with statistical integrity. The standard states that the test should be
performed in a cold chamber with temperature probes located at specific points.
The test is subject to four time based criteria. These are:
Phase 1: The
vehicle is soaked a in cold chamber for at least 10 hours to achieve a
temperature of 0 °C or -15 °C throughout, depending whether it is a grade 2 or 3
test.
Phase 2: Upon reaching its soak temperature the habitation heating
system is switched on and the vehicle is given up to 2 hours or 4 hours to achieve
an internal temperature of 20 °C, again, depending whether it is a grade 2 or 3
test.
Phases 3 & 4: Once the internal temperature of 20 °C has been achieved a 1 hour
stabilizing period commences before monitoring of the thermal energy
consumption takes place.
This is the important statement for those wishing to use their vehicle throughout the year:
The standard states that ‘precautions’ should be taken to ensure that the
fresh water system can be charged at the end of the 1 hour stabilising period (phase
3) and operate while the external temperature is at -15 °C.
This means the business end of the test is performed with a dry vehicle and water is only added at the end of the one hour stabilising period, that is, when the vehicle's internal temperature is at 20°C.
This means the business end of the test is performed with a dry vehicle and water is only added at the end of the one hour stabilising period, that is, when the vehicle's internal temperature is at 20°C.
If the vehicle under test achieves all of the above
criteria then it is accredited as a Grade 3 Motorhome.
So, Grade 3 is a
thermal insulation and heating standard. A motorhome with Grade 3 will keep
you warm in freezing conditions but it will not provide you with free flowing fresh and
waste water during sub zero temperatures.
So, who in the UK manufactures a genuinely ‘winterised’
motorhome, one that can be used all year round with confidence that the water
system is not going to freeze up? Let's see what 2014 brings!
In our next blog, insights gained from cold chamber testing of TankBlanket, the water tank heater, will be discussed. So, why not follow us?
TankBlanket : The water tank heater |
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