NCC warns campervan users not to use portable gas heaters indoors

The NCC is reminding campervan owners and users of the serious dangers of using portable gas heaters inside vehicles, following the deaths of two people from carbon monoxide poisoning at the New Forest Cider Festival last autumn.

At an inquest in Winchester, the Hampshire Coroner recorded conclusions of death by misadventure after hearing that the couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning linked to the use of a gas cylinder-powered heater inside a campervan.

The Coroner said she would contact the heater manufacturer to check whether warnings against indoor use were displayed on the device itself, adding that such a warning may help prevent a future death.

While the circumstances of the vehicle conversion are not yet clear, the tragic case highlights the potentially fatal risk of using portable gas appliances in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.

Portable gas heaters designed for outdoor use must never be used inside a campervan or any other enclosed space. Ventilation provided as part of a campervan conversion is not designed to make portable outdoor heaters safe for indoor use or to account for the products of combustion they can create.

Campervans with the NCC Approved Manufacturer badge have been built to comply with European safety standard EN 721 for safety ventilation. Any manufacturer-fitted heating system should only be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

The NCC recommends consumers choose campervans carrying the NCC Approved Manufacturer badge, follow all manufacturer guidance when using heating, cooking or gas-powered equipment, and regularly test and maintain their carbon monoxide alarm.