We still have a lot to discuss about completing our monocoque stealth trailer build, but before we move on, I want to spend a minute discussing propane safety.
This past week, a lot of you probably read about the bikini barista who died in a tiny trailer propane fire in Washington. The primary cause was reported to be storing her propane tank inside the trailer.
According to the US gov statistics, there is at least one trailer fire involving propane every single day. Most of these are fatal, because they are intense and in a very closed space. The heat, flame, and toxic gasses involved in a propane fire in such close quarters are extremely lethal. Many of them involve improper storage of the propane bottle, like that of the barista we were discussing above. Obviously, a girl in a bikini didn't want to go outside in winter to deal with changing a propane tank- it's frikkin' cold, right? This same situation happens in duck blinds, ice-fishing trailers, and many other enclosed spaces that people live in, like a tiny house or stealth trailer situation. The tank's more secure inside, it's less noticeable, it's cold as hell outside...surely those are the biggest concerns when you are ninja camping....
Actually, federal law prohibits storing propane cylinders above 1 pound in any living space, and the main reason is fire safety and explosion risk. A police officer or trooper stopping you and glancing inside such a trailer can and will cite you on the spot and refuse to allow you to even move the trailer until that cylinder is removed from inside the trailer box.
No doubt, our deceased barista thought she was being safer (and warmer!) keeping her tanks indoors, but the fact is, enclosed spaces allow explosive gasses to build up quickly when changing tanks or lighting a burner. Small leaks (especially in rubber hoses like the Little/Big Buddy's lines) are all too common. An explosion can result. And if a tank or gas line catches on fire, the blowtorch-like jet of flame is all too likely to block your immediate exit from the trailer, even as it ignites everything in the box.
The tanks are far safer stored outside, no matter how annoying it is to swap them. If security is a concern, lock them up or chain them. A pass-through panel in a wall may allow you to turn on the exterior tank from inside or to reach the tank with a wrench, enhancing your safety. Be sure that your propane tank storage position is correct in terms of venting gas in an emergency.
But no matter how tempting it is to keep storing the tanks inside, rethink your design at the first opportunity and move them out.
Your life depends on it.
Tags: Propane safety, Propane tank, Heater safety, Tiny trailer safety, Tiny house safety, Stealth trailer safety, Boondocking trailer safety.
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