I had an email from and subscriber this week asking about door locks for gas and cassette toilet doors - he writes

"We recently bought our first motor home and at the time I asked if locks could be fitted to the gas and toilet cassette doors on the van. The sales person said that it was illegal to lock the gas bottle door and that they had never had a toilet cassette stolen, so we didn't get locks."

He then goes on to ask
1. Is it illegal to lock the gas bottle door?

2. Is it illegal to not have a sign indicating that there is a gas bottle behind the door?

This is a question that comes up regularly in motorhoming circles so I thought I might answer this for all subscribers

To answer the first question in regard to the door - no it is not illegal to lock the gas bottle door with a key. The Australian Gas Installation Code AG601-2002 under point 6.2.3.2(d) states "the access door or opening shall be openable without the use of tools. Note a key is not regarded as a tool.

To answer the second question in regard to the signage necessary - yes it is. The same code under point 6.2.3.1 states that "A durable label, complying with (the image above), shall be attached in a prominent position adjacent to the cylinder compartment".

If you are a member of the CMCA the rest of the code is available on their website.

Also I do think it is a good idea to have a lock on the toilet cassette door. We are currently building a motorhome with an external cassette toilet door and the door comes with a lock on it. Although someone may never have heard of a cassette going missing there is always a first time. We have seen replacement cassettes for $130.00 so a lock is a good investment.