Most people remember the cave party in Oslo which had very serious consequences. Several of the participants received carbon monoxide poisoning from the units that supplied power to the music system.
During this year’s rush hour, many buses roll around with petrol-powered units in the cargo space under the bus. This is now creating reactions.
See more in TV 2 helps you episode “Dangerous russetid” on TV 2 Play.
Arne Amdahl Bakkevig, senior engineer at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, is very clear:
– There is both a fire hazard, and then there is this with exhaust and carbon monoxide poisoning. There is a danger to life, health and in the worst case death, says Bakkevig.
Several sources inform TV 2 helps you that it is quite common to have such power supplies running even when the buses are running. Although it is known that it is not law.
– The bus driver has a remote control and can turn off when they see there is control along the road, a Russian tells TV 2 to help you.
A driver confirms that this is true.
The units have become common to install with pipes that conduct exhaust and heat out of the buses. But TV 2 helps you can reveal that a large player has rented out units that are life-threateningly installed.
Driver uncovered “death bomb” on Russian bus
It was the first rolling day for a group of russ, they started rolling and the music thundered with the help of two power supplies. The driver stopped the bus and discovered something that scared him.
– It is as dangerous as you get it, says the driver, who wishes to remain anonymous.
See more in the video at the top of the case.
He talks about a rotten industry, and believes it is very important that it emerges how profit trumps security.
– DANGEROUS: The exhaust and heat go straight out into the cargo hold under the lounge where the Russians dance. Photo: Private
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– I have professional pride in the driver industry, and I care about what happens. Therefore, I drove a bit, before I stopped and checked.
The driver says that he wanted to make sure that everything was fine with the units.
– It was not in order, I told the girls that this does not hold, I am not happy, I will turn off the unit, says the driver, who is shaken by how the units were rigged.
The units that supply power to the music system had been strapped into the cargo hold under the bus without pipes being installed that could conduct exhaust and heat out. The driver feared that the exhaust would seep into the bus where the girls danced and have fatal consequences.
By the time the units, of the type Honda EU 70is, had been running, the temperature had become so high that a small fan mounted in the cargo hold had melted inside and stopped spinning.
– MELTED: The driver shows that it is difficult to spin the fan, it has melted inside from the heat. Photo: TV 2 helps you / Sven-Erling Brusletto
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– I do not want anyone to die, simply. When there is no proper drain for either exhaust or heat then it is a death bomb! It is really the right word for it, it is life threatening, says the driver, who immediately refused the Russian group to roll on.
The Russian group has had the units installed strapped to the bus, together with the music system, by a professional sound company called Smeller-RT, and has paid over 150,000 kroner for this.
Smeller-RT says that they had informed the Russian group that they themselves were responsible for installing such pipes, but the Russian group had not understood what they were actually going to install. Therefore, they started rolling with units that sent exhaust and heat straight into the bus.
Smeller-RT sent a mechanic who fitted pipes to the units the very next day, and the girls continued to roll. They too will be anonymous for fear of being deprived of the units.
Applies to several buses
Another shuttle bus that has also rented facilities from Smeller-RT broadcasts TV 2 helps you with pictures of the same type of unit mounted in a small cargo hold. They are clear that Smeller-RT never gave them information that they had to make sure to install pipes that could conduct the exhaust and the heat out.
– We have reviewed all the dialogue with Smeller-RT and it is not mentioned. We have also not been told orally about this, says one of the boys on the bus, who does not want to appear.
– Very serious
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration will see pictures of how the units had been installed in the two buses.
– In this specific case, a unit of a type that is not to be used in closed rooms, or placed indoors, for example in the back of a coach, has been installed, says Arne Amdahl Bakkevig.
He states that it is also not allowed even if you install drains for exhaust and heat, and adds that the instructions for use on the units are very clear on this.
The importer of Honda units to Norway supports the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in that the units should not be mounted in cargo holds on Russian buses. They add that the units can only be used indoors in specific cases.
– If you encounter the bus outside and drive with the unit running, there will be a driving ban. Then you have to stop the unit, and ensure that there is clean air in the bus, and that the unit is cooled down before you can continue driving, says Bakkevig.
He believes that those who supply units to the Russians have a responsibility:
– It is discouraging that the company installs the units in the buses, they should be aware of the limitations of this unit. It is very serious if this is mounted in several buses, and it is not informed to the Russian that the unit can not be used inside this closed room.
Smeller-RT claims they have informed the Russians
Although one of the coaches is very clear that they were never told that they were responsible for the installation of pipes for the units, or that they could not be used in the cargo hold, Smeller-RT believes that it is not true:
“The equipment has been placed where the customer wants it, and it has been announced that there is an imminent danger of using units when they are in the hold.” writes Lars Aaron Van Veen, from the company Smeller-RT.
Smeller-RT will also emphasize that it is stated in the contract that equipment must be installed with the customer’s help.
“We are now sending a letter to all customers who have placed their units in cargo holds where we repeat the danger of using units in rooms adjacent to living rooms, and point out the importance of lifting units out of the cargo holds during use.” writes the company, which has supplied units and sound systems for many coaches this year.
Want a change in the industry
The anonymous driver hopes the industry will move completely away from using the unit.
– If we can drive with inverters that produce sound via battery, we avoid the whole problem of heat and exhaust, he says.
Quite common to use
TV 2 helps you has been in contact with several buses that have such units with pipes mounted in small cargo holds. Also buses that have received equipment delivered from other players. Companies even recommend these units for such use on their websites.
One Russian bus is clear that they do not want to be part of the case for fear of losing power to the facility and thus the music.
They continue to roll despite the warnings.
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