For the benefit of BeeClean & new members, I'll try to explain my understanding of this issue (from what I have gleaned from the other posts) in as objective way possible.
Reuban, Dom, Carl, Anyone else, please feel free to correct me if I get anything wrong:
Because van mounted Pure water systems are extremely heavy, sometimes more than 1000kg, there is a potential risk that if the vehicle crashes, the system could break free of its mountings and cause injury to the driver and passengers of the vehicle.
In response to this risk
Ionic Systems have, at their expense, conducted crash tests of their system at Thatcham (which is an independent crash-test centre). Their crash test was successful in that their system did not break free. As
Pure20 (an
Ionic company) uses the the same system and mountings, I think they too can claim to have a successful test. These tests now make a good selling point for these companies, and some have speculated that in future such tests may become mandatory.
However, some have raised objections as to the validity of this test. A point Dom raised, was that since Ionic paid for the test, there is a conflict of interest, and such a test paid for by the manufacturer would not be impartial. (This same point is also a subject of hot debate about safety certification for new cars) Though this is a valid point, and since no government body exists to do these tests, Ionic argue that there is simply no alternative. Reuban raised the point that, by this reasoning the fact that you pay for your driving test or MOT would not make it impartial.
Dom also raises the point that the system in test was only 75% full. I'm not certain from where Dom has got this information (feel free to message me Dom and I'll include it), but Reuban assures me that this is not true, and the system was tested 100% full.
Ionic have voluntarily agreed to present the result of their tests to interested parties (Mike Boxall being one), and to explain them in detail.
http://www.thatcham.org Thatcham's website
http://www.brodexbms.co.uk Dom's company website (Brodex Machine Services)
http://www.pure2o.co.uk Pure20 website
http://www.ionicsystems.com Ionic Systems website
Revised 27/1/04
If I have any of this incorrect, please tell me and I'll edit this post.
Silly