Gas Safety Act 2000

This Act is the Gas Safety Act 2000.

The dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.

Note 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain words and expressions used in this Act, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other words and expressions defined elsewhere in this Act or in other legislation.

For example, the signpost definition ‘gas network–see the Utilities Act 2000, dictionary.’ means that the expression ‘gas network’ is defined in that dictionary and the definition applies to this Act.

Note 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).

A note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.

Note See Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.

Other legislation applies in relation to offences against this Act.

Note 1 Criminal Code

The Criminal Code, ch 2 applies to the following offences against this Act (see Code, pt 2.1):

 s 8 (Offence—gasfitting work to comply with relevant standard)

 s 8A (Offences—energy efficiency requirements for gasfitting work)

 s 9 (Offence—certificate of compliance)

 s 12 (Offence—unsafe consumer piping system)

 s 14 (Offence—standard of gas appliance work)

 s 14A (Offences—energy efficiency requirements for gas appliance work)

 s 23 (Offences—sell or use unapproved gas appliance)

 s 24 (Offences—energy efficiency requirements for gas appliances)

 s 24A (Offence—dispose of gas equipment otherwise than in accordance with standards)

 s 25 (Compliance indicators to be attached).

The chapter sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility (including burdens of proof and general defences), and defines terms used for offences to which the Code applies (eg conduct, intention, recklessness and strict liability).

Note 2 Penalty units

The Legislation Act, s 133 deals with the meaning of offence penalties that are expressed in penalty units.

The main objects of this Act are to—

promote safe and efficient gas usage; and

establish a regulatory system for the following:

the installation, operation, maintenance and repair of consumer piping systems;

the connection of gas appliances to consumer piping systems;

the commissioning, maintenance, repair and servicing of gas appliances connected to consumer piping systems;

the testing and inspection of consumer piping systems and gas appliances;

the installation, operation, maintenance, commissioning, testing, inspection and repair of medical gas systems.

In this Act:

gas appliance means a gas burning appliance that is manufactured, adapted or designed for connection to a consumer piping system.

In this Act:

type A gas appliance work means the maintenance, repair or service of a type A gas appliance other than—

gasfitting work; or

work exempted by regulation.

In this Act:

type B gas appliance work means the installation, commissioning, maintenance, modification, repair or service of a type B gas appliance connected to a consumer piping system other than—

gasfitting work (excluding the connection of a type B gas appliance to, and the disconnection of a type B gas appliance from, a gas isolation valve in a consumer piping system); or

work exempted by regulation.

In this Act:

gas appliance worker means a person licensed in the construction occupation of gas appliance worker under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004.

In this Act:

gasfitter means a person licensed in the construction occupation of gasfitter under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004.

In this Act:

gasfitting work—

means—

work on a consumer piping system, or proposed consumer piping system, including the connection or disconnection of a gas appliance (other than a gas appliance designed to be portable by users and connected by means of a flexible hose to a gas bayonet or gas turret) to or from the system; or

the inspection or testing of a consumer piping system; or

medical gasfitting work; or

medical gas technician work; and

includes the installation of a flue for a type A gas appliance; but

does not include the installation of a flue for a type B gas appliance.

In this Act:

gas safety legislation means—

this Act; and

the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004.

Note A reference to an Act includes a reference to the statutory instruments made or in force under the Act, including any regulation (see Legislation Act, s 104).