Operations, infrastructure and installations within the gas industry are governed and regulated by a number of acts, regulations and standards outlined on this page.
On this page:
Gas Act 1997 Gas Regulations 1997
Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 Australian Standards for gas Gas Act 1997
The
Gas Act 1997 regulates the gas supply industry and makes provisions for safety and technical standards for gas supply, infrastructure, installations and appliances.
The
Gas Act 1997:
- promotes efficiency and competition in the gas supply industry
- promotes the establishment and maintenance of a safe and efficient system for distribution and supply of gas
- establishes and enforces proper standards of safety, reliability and quality in the gas supply industry
- establishes and enforces proper safety and technical standards for gas infrastructure, installations and appliances
- protects the interests of gas consumers
- provides the authority to introduce temporary gas rationing in the event of a shortage.
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Gas Regulations 1997
The Gas Regulations 1997 regulate aspects of the gas industry under the Gas Act 1997.
The Gas Regulations 1997 regulate:
- safety and technical requirements for gas infrastructure, quality of gas supply, obligations of distribution system operators and retailers as well as the quality of LPG supplied in cylinders
- gas fitting work and installing or commissioning gas appliances
- reporting of gas related accidents
- licensing of gas entities covering areas such as exemptions, licensing fees and license conditions for gas retailers outlining requirements such as pricing information for small customers and matching available gas to aggregated demand
- Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme – the scheme outlines areas such as energy efficiency activities, energy audits, energy efficiency arrangements for retailers and energy efficiency shortfalls
- price regulations and gas entity’s powers and duties in terms of carrying out work on public land
- safety, reliability, maintenance and technical management plans and reports.
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Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995
The Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 regulates:
- licensing of contractors including classes of licenses, application processes and licensing entitlements
- registration of workers including obligation of workers to be registered, classes of registration and registration entitlements
- suspension of licenses, disciplinary actions, complaints court hearings and contravention of court orders
- investigations, exemptions, body corporate offences, prosecutions and evidentiary procedures.
The Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 is administered by Consumer and Business Services.
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Australian Standards for gas
Australian Standards under the Gas Act 1997 include:
Gas installation standard AS/NZS 5601
Gas appliances standard AS 45XX Series
Gas infrastructure standards AS/NZS 4645
Gas supply standard AS 4564 (natural gas)
All of these standards can be purchased in full from Standards Australia International.
Gas installation standard AS/NZS 5601
The standard has been comprehensively reviewed and the revised edition was published in December 2010. For a summary of the changes see Changes to AS/NZS 5601.
AS/NZ 5601 addresses a range of issues in two parts.
- The first part of the standard contains information for gas installations in premises for both natural gas and LPG. All references to caravan and boat installations have been removed.
- Part 2 of the standard prescribes requirements for the design and installation of LPG installations in caravans, boats, mobile holiday homes and other mobile or floating vehicles for non-propulsive purposes.
Gas appliances standard AS 45XX Series
The AS 45XX series of standards cover type A gas appliances. The Australian Standard AS 3814 is a generic standard and applies to industrial and commercial gas-fired appliances (type B).
Gas infrastructure standards AS/NZS 4645
The intent of this standard is to provide for the protection of the general public, the personnel operating gas distribution networks and the environment. The standard is also to ensure reliable operation of gas distribution networks that reticulate gas to consumers.
Gas supply standard AS 4564 (natural gas)
AS 4564 specifies gas quality requirements necessary to ensure the safety of general-purpose natural gas transported and supplied for use in natural gas appliances and equipment and for use as fuel in natural gas vehicles.
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