When is a campervan winterproof (Grade II)?
During the cooling process, all windows and doors of the campervan are left open for 10 hours. This brings down the temperature of the campervan to 0°C. All openings are closed once the cooling is complete and the standard heating is activated. If the temperature inside the campervan reaches 20°C within 2 hours, it is considered suitable for winter.
Phase 1 – cooling down:
The test vehicle is cooled down to 0°C over a period of at least ten hours. For this, all doors and windows are opened to cool down the vehicle completely.
Phase 2 – heating up:
The aim is to heat up the interior of the test vehicle as quickly as possible from a starting temperature of 0°C. The centrally located measuring point, one metre above the interior floor in the middle of the living area, must heat up to +20°C within two hours, whereby the temperature difference at five other measuring points inside the vehicle must not exceed 7°C.
If the vehicle passes the grade II test procedure, is qualifies as “winterproof”.
When is a campervan winterised (Grade III)?
All windows and doors of the campervan are opened for 10 hours to cool it down completely at a temperature of minus 15°C. After that, all the openings are closed and the standard heating is activated. The interior of the campervan must reach a temperature of 20°C within 4 hours, and the temperature is recorded at 5 additional measuring points to ensure that the deviation does not exceed 7°C. Additionally, the water system is completely filled up one hour after the heating test. After another hour, it is checked whether the water can run smoothly everywhere. It is essential to ensure that frost does not form in the entire water system, including the waste water tank. The vehicle is considered winterproof only when the above tests are successfully completed.
Phase 1 – cooling down:
The test vehicle is cooled down to -15°C over at least ten hours. For this, all doors and windows are opened to cool down the vehicle completely.
Phase 2 – heating up:
The aim is to heat the interior of the test vehicle as quickly as possible from a starting temperature of -15°C. The centrally located measuring point, one meter above the interior floor in the middle of the living area, must heat up to +20°C within four hours, whereby the temperature difference at five other measuring points inside the vehicle must not exceed 7°C.
Phase 3 – stabilisation time:
After a one-hour stabilization period, during which the test vehicle is kept at an interior temperature of +20°C by the heater, the water tanks are filled.
Phase 4 – plumbing test:
After a further hour, all the plumbing and taps are tested to make sure they are clear and functional, i.e. the water inside them hasn’t frozen.
If the vehicle passes the grade III test procedure, it qualifies as “winterized”.
