Gas fitters must issue a gas certificate of compliance to the consumer on completion of any gas installation work in any location including homes, rental and commercial premises, caravans and boats.
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Issuing gas certificates of complianceGas certificates of compliance – what to do with the three copiesPenalties for non-issue of a gas certificate of complianceWhere to get gas certificates of compliance booksRegistering your certificate of compliance bookGuide to filling out a gas certificate of compliance Issuing gas certificates of compliance
Gas certificates of compliance should be issued to consumers on completion of gas installation work.
The certificates are legal documents required under section 56 of the Gas Act 1997.
Certificates of compliance benefit gas workers by allowing you to:
- certify the work that you have done
- specify exactly what work you did and exclude the work of others. This is invaluable if you are called on to account for your work if there is a subsequent incident or claim. Work that complies with AS/NZS 5601 or AS 3814 is an appropriate legal defence.
- bring existing faults to the customer’s attention
- assure the customer that they are qualified and the work performed complies with the appropriate Australian Standards.
Only people with an appropriate license can legally fill out a gas certificate of compliance and certify work. Refer to the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 for a definition of plumbing, gas and electrical work and the requirements for a person to hold an appropriate license.
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Gas certificates of compliance - what to do with the three copies
Certificates of compliance books contain 50 certificates in triplicate.
Copy 1 - Original – owner/occupiers copy
This should be provided to the customer within 30 days of completion of the work.
Copy 2 – Gas supply company/SA water copy
The second copy should be provided to the gas supply company when gas is connected for the first time, or reconnected to a property following a period of disconnection, or when a replacement hot water heater has been installed the copy should be provided to SA Water in place of a hot water notice.
In all other circumstances the second copy can stay in the certificate of compliance book.
For natural gas installations supplied by the Envestra Distribution Network tear out and post the certificate of compliance to the network operator, (APA certificate collections officer PO Box 171, Findon, SA5023).
For LPG installations it is advisable to provide the gas supplier copy to the customer with instructions for them to pass it on to their gas supplier once they have selected them in order for the customer to obtain deliveries of LPG.
Copy 3 – Contractors copy
The third copy must be kept at the business premises of the person to whom section 56 of the Gas Act 1997 applies for at least five years after the installation or appliance conversion was completed.
Contractors may be requested to show this copy as part of an annual safety audit by the OTR.
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Penalties for non-issue of a gas certificate of compliance
Penalties for the non-issue of gas certificate of compliance include warnings, expiation notices, disciplinary interviews, and potential legal action under Section 56 of the Gas Act 1997.
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Where to get gas certificates of compliance books
Books of gas certificates of compliance are available free of charge to licensed gas fitters and contractors and can be obtained in person from the following outlets:
| Outlet | Location |
|---|
| Office of the Technical Regulator | Level 8
11 Waymouth Street
Adelaide SA 5000 |
| Service SA Customer Service Centres | All locations |
| Plumbing Industry Association | 12-22 Richmond Road
Keswick
For phone orders: (08) 8292 4000
For fax order: (08) 8292 4040 |
| SA Water | 250 Victoria Square
Adelaide |
| Gas Works | All stores |
| Gas Appliances Plus | Unley |
| Norm’s Plumbing Supplies | John Street
Mt Gambier |
| Scott’s Plumbing | 66 OG Road
Klemzig |
| Tradelink | All stores |
| Reece Plumbing | All stores |
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Registering your certificate of compliance book
Certificate of compliance books need to be registered with the Office of the Technical Regulator. You can use the form in the front of the book, then return it by post, fax or email.
To register now online, see Register your certificate of compliance book.
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Guide to filling out a gas certificate of compliance
A correctly completed gas certificate of compliance is a valuable record, it assures the customer of a compliant job and protects the gas fitter from future potential litigation where work is performed by others. It is in a gas fitter’s best interests to complete the gas certificate of compliance as insurance.
1. Customer details
Please include the customer name, installation address, and phone or fax number. These details should be completed accurately in full, with no abbreviations used for suburb or town names.
2. Date of gas work
The date when the gas work was completed.
3. Type of gas work / type of supply and premises / type of installation
This is a tick box section to provide details in the above fields.
4. Diagram and notes
It is important that you give a clear and complete description of the work that you performed. Under the Gas Act 1997 you are required to keep the certificates of compliance for five years and from your description you must be able to determine, over that time period, what work you certified for the installation.
This space can also be used to detail any other issues or recommendations made to the customer.
5. Faults identified and brought to customer’s attention
This space is provided to record any defects, not associated with your work that you have noticed, but have not been rectified.
6. Details of contractor
This may be your personal details if you are a sole trader or your trading company where you have a registered business. If you are an employee then this will be your employer’s details. Details must include the worker’s and contractor’s PGE number.
7. Test/Check Certificate
This section must be completed with all details and signed in two places.
- By the registered gas worker carrying out the work, examinations, tests, and (commissioning if completed by that person).
- By the registered plumber or electrician for minor plumbing or electrical work associated with the installation of the gas appliance.
- By the contractor /authorised person once satisfied that the standards and requirements of the Gas Act 1997 have been complied with.
If the work is being done by a sole operator then both the contractors section and the registered worker section must be signed by the sole operator.
If the primary work was gas related but involved electrical or plumbing work, use a gas certificate of compliance and record the electrical or plumbing details in the bottom section of the certificate.
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More information
Downloads
Gas certificate of compliance example (PDF 314KB)