Version No. 010
Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 1999
S.R. No. 6/1999
Version incorporating amendments as at 1 February 2002
table of provisions
RegulationPage
1
RegulationPage
part 1—preliminary
1.Objectives
2.Authorising provisions
3.Commencement
4.Definitions
5.Matters excluded from the operation of the regulations
6.Application for exemption
7.Application of adopted standards
8.Standard gas installation
part 2—appliances
9.Application for acceptance of new Type A appliance or class of new Type A appliances
10.Application for acceptance of second-hand Type A appliance or class of Type A appliances
11.Testing of appliances
12.Compliance plates for new Type A appliances
13.Compliance plates for second-hand Type A appliances
13A.Prescribed Type A appliances
part 3—gasfitting work
Division 1—Standards
14.Prescribed standard for Type B appliances
15.Standards for second-hand Type A appliances
16.Prescribed standards for gas installations
16A.Prescribed standard for gasfitting work
Division 2—General requirements in relation to gasfitting work
17.Purpose of Division
18.Safety of installation
19.Clearance of consumer piping
19A.Consumer piping installed outside allotment on which gas installation situated
20.Gas pressure raising devices in consumer piping
Division 3—Responsibilities of person carrying out gasfitting work
21.Reporting of gas incidents
22.Dangerous gas installations
Division 4—Standards and requirements in relation to special gasfitting work
23.Application
24.Notice of proposal to carry out special gasfitting work
25.Hot-tapping work
Division 5—Special requirements for high pressure consumer piping
26.Application
27.Standard for high pressure consumer piping
28.Approval of installation of high pressure consumer piping
part 4—Gas installations
29.Prescribed standard gas installations
30.Application for acceptance of gas installation
31.Inspection and testing of gas installations
31A.Acceptance of gas installations containing Type B appliances subject to conditions
32.Compliance plates for Type B appliances in Type B gas installations
33.Notice of LP Gas installations
34.Connection of gas to installation
part 5—general
35.Duty to keep Type B appliance in a proper state of repair
36.Duty to report gas incidents
37.Power of inspector to disconnect or order disconnection
38.Exception for supply of gas by gas company
39.Prescribed requirements for supply or sale of LPG
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SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1—Standards and codes
SCHEDULE 2—Application for exemption
SCHEDULE 3—Information to be supplied by persons seeking acceptance of a new TypeA appliance
SCHEDULE 4—Information to be supplied by persons seeking acceptance of a second-hand Type A appliance
SCHEDULE 5—New Type A appliance
SCHEDULE 6—Second-hand Type A appliance
SCHEDULE 7—Information to be supplied by persons seeking acceptance of a gas installation
SCHEDULE 8—Additional information to be supplied for a Type B appliance in a complex gas installation
SCHEDULE 8A—Statement of compliance in relation to gas installationscontaining TypeB appliances
SCHEDULE 9—Statement of compliance
SCHEDULE 10—Type B appliance
SCHEDULE 11—Information to be supplied in relation to standard gas installation to operate on LP Gas
SCHEDULE 12—Warning sign
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ENDNOTES
1. General Information
2. Table of Amendments
3. Explanatory Details
1
Version No. 010
Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 1999
S.R. No. 6/1999
Version incorporating amendments as at 1 February 2002
1
Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 1999
S.R. No. 6/1999
Part 1—Preliminary
1.Objectives
The objectives of these Regulations are—
(a)to provide for standards for gasfitting work;
(b)to provide for the procedures relating to the acceptance of appliances and gas installations;
(c)to make provision generally in relation to the safety of gasfitting work, gas installations and appliances.
2.Authorising provisions
These Regulations are made under sections 69, 72, 73 and 118 of the Gas Safety Act 1997.
3.Commencement
These Regulations come into operation on 1February 1999.
4.Definitions
In these Regulations—
"Act" means the Gas Safety Act 1997;
"AG" immediately followed by a group of numerals means the particular code published by The Australian Gas Association A.C.N.004 206 044 and listed in Schedule1;
"AS" immediately followed by a group of numerals or a group of one or more letters and one or more numerals means the particular standard or code published by Standards Australia and listed in Schedule 1;
Reg. 4 def. of "Autogas" inserted by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.5.
"Autogas" means liquefied petroleum gas which is intended to be used for automotive purposes;
"commercial butane" means a liquefied petroleum gas which consists of more than 90% butanes and butylenes;
"commercial propane" means a liquefied petroleum gas which consists of more than 90% propane and propylene;
"commissioning" does not include repair or maintenance;
Reg. 4 def. of "consumer piping" amended by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.16(1).
"consumer piping" has the same meaning as it has in AS5601/AG601;
"hot-tapping work" means the connecting of a branch to consumer piping whilst the pipe contains gas under pressure;
"licensed person" means a person who is licensed under Part 12A of the Building Act 1993 to perform gasfitting work;
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"LP Gas" means commercial butane or commercial propane which is intended for use in an appliance but which is not intended to be used for automotive purposes or as a pressure pack propellant;
Reg. 4 def. of "LPG" inserted by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.5.
"LPG" means liquefied petroleum gas.
Reg. 4 def. of "operating pressure" amended by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.16(1).
"operating pressure" has the same meaning as it has in AS5601/AG601;
Reg. 4 def. of "pressure" amended by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.16(1).
"pressure" has the same meaning as it has in AS5601/AG601;
Reg. 4 def. of "rated working pressure" amended by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.16(1).
"rated working pressure" has the same meaning as it has in AS5601/AG601;
"registered person" means a person who is registered under Part 12A of the Building Act 1993 to perform gasfitting work.
5.Matters excluded from the operation of the regulations
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These Regulations do not apply to—
(a)the construction, assembly or manufacture of—
(i)a brick or masonry flue; or
(ii)a metal flue exceeding 450 millimetres internal diameter; or
(iii)that part of a metal flue above a roof or other surface where the part exceeds 10metres in height above that roof or other surface; or
(iv)a Type A appliance; or
(b)the use of gas for automotive purposes.
6.Application for exemption
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An application to the Office under section 72(3) of the Act must be in the form of Schedule 2.
7.Application of adopted standards
(1)The adoption by these Regulations of a standard or code does not include a provision that—
(a)specifies or defines the respective rights, responsibilities or obligations between themselves of any employer, occupier, client, manufacturer, designer, supplier or any other person or body; or
(b)specifies the responsibilities of any tradesperson or other building worker, architect, engineer, authority or any other person or body; or
(c)permits a departure from the standard, code or specification at the sole discretion of any employer, occupier, client, manufacturer, designer, supplier or any other person or body.
(2)A standard or code adopted by these Regulations and listed in Schedule 1 is adopted as published from time to time.
8.Standard gas installation
Reg. 8(1) amended by S.R. No. 99/1999 reg.5.
(1)The following classes of residential premises are prescribed for the purpose of the definition of "standard gas installation" in the Act—
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(a)Class 1a buildings, Class 2 buildings and Class 4 buildings within the meaning of the Building Regulations 1994[1]; and
(b)caravans and mobile homes.
Reg. 8(2) amended by S.R. No. 99/1999 reg.5.
(2)The following classes of commercial premises are prescribed for the purpose of the definition of "standard gas installation" in the Act—
(a)Class 5 buildings not exceeding 3 storeys; and
(b)Class 6 buildings not exceeding 3 storeys—
within the meaning of the Building Regulations1994.
Reg. 8(3) amended by S.R. No. 99/1999 reg.5.
(3)For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of "standard gas installation" in the Act—
(a)the prescribed amount of gas consumption is 500 megajoules per hour; and
(b)the prescribed length is 50 metres.
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Part 2—Appliances
9.Application for acceptance of new Type A appliance or class of new Type A appliances
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An application under section 69 of the Act for acceptance of a new Type A appliance or class of new Type A appliances must contain or be accompanied by the information listed in Schedule3.
10.Application for acceptance of second-hand Type A appliance or class of Type A appliances
An application under section 69 of the Act for acceptance of a second-hand Type A appliance or class of second-hand Type A appliances must contain or be accompanied by the information listed in Schedule 4.
11.Testing of appliances
(1)Before a Type A appliance is accepted by the Office under section 69 of the Act, the Office may require the appliance to be tested to determine the safety of the appliance for its intended use.
(2)If the Office is not satisfied with results of tests carried out under this regulation, it may require the applicant to arrange for further tests to be carried out.
(3)All tests required under this regulation or under a condition imposed under section 69(4) of the Act must be carried out by a testing authority accepted by the Office.
12.Compliance plates for new Type A appliances
If the Office requires a compliance plate to be affixed to a new Type A appliance in accordance with a condition of an acceptance under section 69 of the Act, the compliance plate—
(a)must be a compliance plate issued by the Office; and
(b)must be securely affixed to the appliance—
(i)by a person approved by the Director; and
(ii)in a place that is readily accessible by any person inspecting the appliance; and
(c)must be in the form of Schedule 5 and meet the requirements of Schedule 5.
13.Compliance plates for second-hand Type A appliances
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If the Office requires a compliance plate to be affixed to a second-hand Type A appliance in accordance with a condition of an acceptance under section 69 of the Act, the compliance plate—
(a)must be a compliance plate issued by the Office; and
(b)must be securely affixed to the appliance—
(i)by a person approved by the Director; and
(ii)in a place that is readily accessible by any person inspecting the appliance; and
(c)must be in the form of Schedule 6 and meet the requirements of Schedule 6.
Reg. 13A inserted by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.6.
13A.Prescribed Type A appliances
(1)For the purposes of section 70(2) of the Act, a Type A appliance that is labelled in accordance with sub-regulation (2) is an appliance of a prescribed class.
(2)For the purposes of sub-regulation (1), the label must—
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(a)be in a form approved by the Office; and
(b)indicate that the appliance—
(i)is subject to testing; and
(ii)is not accepted for use.
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Part 3—Gasfitting Work
Division 1—Standards
14.Prescribed standard for Type B appliances
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For the purposes of section 72(2) of the Act the prescribed standard in relation to Type B appliances is AS 3814/ AG 501.
15.Standards for second-hand Type A appliances
(1)For the purposes of section 72(2) of the Act, the Office may determine standards for Type A second-hand appliances.
(2)The Office must take into account any relevant standard or code listed in Schedule 1 in determining that standard.
16.Prescribed standards for gas installations
Reg. 16(1) amended by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.16(2).
(1)Subject to sub-regulation (2), for the purposes of section 72(2) of the Act the prescribed standard in relation to gas installations is AS 5601/AG 601.
Reg. 16(2) amended by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.16(2).
(2)AS 5601/AG 601 applies under sub-regulation (1) as if the special local requirements in Appendix L of AS 5601/AG 601 in relation to common (combined) flues applied to all gases.
Reg. 16A inserted by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.7.
16A.Prescribed standard for gasfitting work
For the purposes of section 72(1) of the Act, the prescribed standard in relation to gasfitting work is AS 5601/AG 601.
Division 2—General requirements in relation to gasfitting work
17.Purpose of Division
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This Division prescribes requirements for the purposes of section 72 of the Act.
18.Safety of installation
(1)A person carrying out gasfitting work on a gas installation must ensure that the gas installation is not made unsafe during the gasfitting work.
(2)A person carrying out gasfitting work on a gas installation must ensure that the gas installation is safe for use on the completion of the gasfitting work.
19.Clearance of consumer piping
A person carrying out gasfitting work must ensure that the consumer piping connected to a gas company's meter assembly has a clearance of at least 30 millimetres from the meter or any device, component or pipe connected to the meter inlet.
Reg. 19A inserted by S.R.No. 5/2002 reg.8.
19A.Consumer piping installed outside allotment on which gas installation situated
(1)A person must not install consumer piping on land, other than the allotment on which the gas installation associated with that consumer piping is situated, unless—
(a)the person has given the Office at least 48hours notice before installing that consumer piping; and
(b)that consumer piping complies with standards determined by the Office.
(2)The Office may determine 2 or more contiguous allotments to be an allotment for the purposes of sub-regulation (1).
(3)In this regulation, "allotment" means land which can be disposed of separately under section 8A of the Sale of Land Act 1962 without being subdivided.
20.Gas pressure raising devices in consumer piping
r. 20
A person who installs a gas pressure raising device in consumer piping must ensure that the meter and gas installation are protected from over-pressurisation, pulsation, reverse flow or vacuum.
Division 3—Responsibilities of person carrying out gasfitting work
Reg. 21 substituted by S.R.No. 5/2002 reg.9.
21.Reporting of gas incidents
(1)A person carrying out gasfitting work on a gas installation must report, without delay, any gas incident which occurs during the carrying out of that gasfitting work to the Office and—
(a)if the gas installation uses natural gas, the gas distribution company which supplies that gas to the gas installation; or
(b)if the gas installation uses LPG, the gas retailer which supplies that gas to the gas installation.
Penalty:20 penalty units.
(2)If a person carries out gasfitting work on a Type B appliance and the person is aware that the work is required because of a gas incident which had occurred in relation to that appliance, the person must, without delay after becoming so aware, report the gas incident to the Office and—
(a)if the gas installation of which the appliance forms part uses natural gas, to the gas distribution company which supplies that gas to the gas installation; or
(b)if the gas installation of which the appliance forms part uses LPG, to the gas retailer which supplies that gas to the gas installation.
Penalty:20 penalty units.
22.Dangerous gas installations
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(1)If a person carrying out gasfitting work on a gas installation becomes aware of a danger arising from a defect in the gas installation, the person must immediately—
(a)take such steps as are necessary to make the installation safe; and
(b)notify the owner of the gas installation and the occupier of the premises in which the installation is situated of the defect.
Penalty:20 penalty units.
Reg. 22(2) substituted by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.10.
(2)If the person carrying out the gasfitting work is unable to make the gas installation safe, he or she must notify—
(a)if the gas installation uses natural gas, the gas distribution company which supplies that gas to the gas installation of the defect; or
(b)if the gas installation uses LPG, the gas retailer which supplies that gas to the gas installation of the defect.
Penalty:20 penalty units.
Division 4—Standards and requirements in relation to special gasfitting work
23.Application
This Division prescribes requirements for the purposes of section 72 of the Act and applies despite anything to the contrary in Division 1.
24.Notice of proposal to carry out special gasfitting work
A person proposing to carry out or who is responsible for the carrying out of any of the following classes of gasfitting work must give at least 48 hours notice to the Office before carrying out that work—
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(a)welding of steel pipe;
(b)fusion jointing of polyethylene pipe;
(c)hot-tapping work.
25.Hot-tapping work
(1)A person must not carry out hot-tapping work unless that work has been authorised by the Office.
(2)Hot-tapping work must comply with the standards determined by the Office for that work.
Division 5—Special requirements for high pressure consumer piping
Reg. 26 amended by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.16(2).
26.Application
This Division prescribes requirements for the purposes of section 72 of the Act but does not apply to consumer piping to which
AS5601/AG 601 applies.
27.Standard for high pressure consumer piping
Consumer piping which is to have an operating pressure in excess of 200 kilopascals must comply with the standards determined by the Office in respect of that piping.
28.Approval of installation of high pressure consumer piping
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(1)A person must not install consumer piping which is to have an operating pressure in excess of 200kilopascals unless the Office has accepted a proposal for the installation of the consumer piping.
(2)An application for acceptance must—
(a)be made in writing; and
(b)contain or be accompanied by details of the proposed design and construction of the consumer piping.
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Part 4—Gas Installations
Reg. 29 amended by S.R. No. 99/1999 reg.6.
29.Prescribed standard gas installations
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The following classes of standard gas installation are prescribed for the purposes of section 73 of the Act—
(a)a gas installation for residential premises within a Class 2 or Class 4 building (within the meaning of the Building Regulations 1994) exceeding 3 storeys;
(b)a gas installation in a building with more than one meter where the meters are located in a common area.
30.Application for acceptance of gas installation
(1)An application under section 73 of the Act for acceptance of a gas installation must contain or be accompanied by the information listed in Schedule7.
(2)If a gas installation contains a Type B appliance, an application under section 73 of the Act for acceptance of the gas installation must also contain or be accompanied by the information listed in Schedule 8.
(3)In addition to the information required under sub-regulation (1), the Office in order to determine the safety of the gas installation may require the applicant—
(a)to provide a copy of any design, analysis, logic flow chart, program, calculation, drawing or specification for the gas installation;
(b)to provide a sample of a material, component or other item to be used in the gas installation;
(c)to remove and submit joints made in a pipe;
(d)to have a non-destructive test carried out on a pipe and its joints.
Reg. 30(3A) inserted by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.11(1).
(3A)For the purposes of section 73(2)(c) of the Act, a statement of compliance relating to an application for acceptance of a gas installation that contains a Type B appliance must be—
(a)in the Form of Schedule 8A; and
(b)signed by a person who is licensed under Part 12A of the Building Act 1993 to carry out specialised plumbing work in respect of Type B appliances.
Reg. 30(4) substituted by S.R. No. 5/2002 reg.11(2).