Gas Safety Regulations 2021

Gas Safety Regulations 2021

27 January 2021

I, the Governor in and over the State of Tasmania and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, make the following regulations under the Gas Safety Act 2019.

These regulations may be cited as the Gas Safety Regulations 2021.

These regulations take effect on the day on which their making is notified in the Gazette.

In these regulations –

Act means the Gas Safety Act 2019;

applicable standards means – the standards referred to in regulation 5; and any other standard determined by the Director to be an applicable standard and published as determined by the Director;

AG 806 means AG 806, Approval requirements for vehicle refuelling appliances, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that code);

AS 1375 means AS 1375, Industrial fuel-fired appliances, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS/NZS 1425 means AS/NZS 1425, LP Gas fuel systems for vehicle engines, published jointly by the Standards Association of Australia and the Standards Association of New Zealand, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS/NZS 1596 means AS/NZS 1596, The storage and handling of LP Gas, published jointly by the Standards Association of Australia and the Standards Association of New Zealand, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 2337 means AS 2337, Gas cylinder test stations, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS/NZS 2739 means AS/NZS 2739, Natural gas (NG) fuel systems for vehicle engines, published jointly by the Standards Association of Australia and the Standards Association of New Zealand, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 2746 means AS 2746, Working areas for gas-fuelled vehicles, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 2885 means AS 2885, Pipelines – Gas and liquid petroleum, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 3645 means AS 3645, Essential requirements for gas equipment, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 3814 means AS 3814, Industrial and commercial gas-fired appliances, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 3961 means AS 3961, The storage and handling of liquefied natural gas, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 4114 means AS 4114, Spray paint booths, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 4575 means AS 4575, Gas appliances – Quality of servicing, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS/NZS 4645 means AS/NZS 4645, Gas distribution networks, published jointly by the Standards Association of Australia and the Standards Association of New Zealand, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 4670 means AS 4670, Commercial propane and commercial butane for heating purposes, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 4732 means AS 4732, LP Gas fuel systems for marine engines, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 4983 means AS 4983, Gas fuel systems for forklifts and industrial engines published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS 5092 means AS 5092, CNG refuelling stations, published by the Standards Association of Australia, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS/NZ 5601 means AS/NZS 5601.1, Gas installations – General installations, and AS/NZS 5601.2, Gas installations – LP Gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes, published jointly by the Standards Association of Australia and the Standards Association of New Zealand, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS/NZS ISO 31000 means AS/NZS ISO 31000, Risk management – Principles and guidelines, published jointly by the Standards Association of Australia and the Standards Association of New Zealand, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS/NZS ISO 45001 means AS/NZS ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems – requirements with guidance for use, published jointly by the Standards Association of Australia and the Standards Association of New Zealand, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

AS/NZS 60079 means AS/NZS 60079, Explosive atmospheres, published jointly by the Standards Association of Australia and the Standards Association of New Zealand, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

automotive refuelling dispenser means a fuel transfer unit, usually combined with a metering device, that is intended principally for the dispensing of gas in the liquid or vapour phase from a gas storage system to a vehicle fuel container;

capacity, also known as water capacity, means the volume of space that is enclosed within a container, expressed in litres or kilolitres;

commissioned, in respect of gas-fitting – see regulation 4;

commissioning, in respect of gas-fitting work, means the process, following fabrication and installation, of – testing and placing a gas installation or gas storage system into safe operation in compliance with the applicable standards, codes or determinations; and energising the gas installation or gas storage system with gas during the testing;

consumer piping means a system of pipes, fittings, components and equipment which conveys gas downstream from a gas supply point;

container means a cylinder, tank or pressure vessel, for the storage of gas while in the liquid or vapour phase;

dry, in relation to a gas, means that the gas meets the standard conditions set out in regulation 9(3);

facility safety case means a safety case or revised safety case for a pipeline facility that is accepted or provisionally accepted under Division 2 of Part 3 of the Act;

gas-fitter means a person authorised under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005 to undertake a class of gas-fitting work;

gas-fitting work means work conducted in relation to the installation, testing, commissioning, relocation, repair, alteration, servicing or maintenance of a gas installation, appliance, automotive gas fuel system or gas storage system (or any part of a gas installation, appliance, automotive gas fuel system or gas storage system) – including all pipes, fittings and auxiliary equipment – downstream of a gas supply point; or associated with a gas storage system; and regardless of whether the gas installation, appliance, automotive gas fuel system or gas storage system uses natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas or any other gas;

gas-fitting work compliance plate means a durable plate, approved by the Director, securely attached by a gas-fitter to a gas installation, appliance or gas storage system;

heating value, of natural gas, means the heat, measured in megajoules per standard cubic metre, produced in the combustion of the gas (at a constant pressure of 101.325 kPa absolute of dry gas) in gaseous oxygen to form gaseous carbon dioxide and liquid water;

hot-tapping work means the connection of a pipe to consumer piping which contains gas under pressure;

IGE/UP/1 means IGE/UP/1, Strength testing, tightness testing and direct purging of industrial and commercial gas installations, published by The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard having effect under that standard);

lower explosive limit means the minimum concentration of vapour, gas or dust in the atmosphere that will produce a flame;

NFPA 160 means NFPA 160, Standard for the Use of Flame Effects Before an Audience, published by the National Fire Protection Association, as in force from time to time;

reference number, of a gas-fitter, means the licence number of the licence held by the gas-fitter under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005;

relative density of natural gas means the mass in kilograms of a standard cubic metre of the gas divided by the mass in kilograms of a standard cubic metre of dry air;

safety-critical work means work which may – adversely affect the safety of gas infrastructure; or increase the risk of injury to any person;

serious bodily injury or illness means an injury or illness that disables a person to the extent that, as a consequence of that injury or illness, the person is subject to a period of admission to hospital as an in-patient;

standard cubic metre of natural gas means the quantity of dry gas, at 15 degrees C temperature and 101.325 kPa absolute pressure, enclosed in one cubic metre;

standard gas installation of a prescribed class means a standard gas installation of a class prescribed by regulation 52;

Wobbe Index means the number, expressed in megajoules per cubic metre, produced when the heating value of the gas is divided by the square root of the relative density of the same gas.

For the purposes of these regulations, gas-fitting work has been commissioned if the gas-fitting work has been issued with –

a certificate of compliance for gas-fitting work, or a statement of compliance for gas-fitting work, by a gas-fitter that demonstrates that the gas installation or gas storage system may be safely operated and complies with the applicable standards; or an independent certification by a person approved by the Director that demonstrates design, fabrication, construction, installation, testing, and safe operation, in accordance with the accepted design, and the conditions of acceptance and applicable standards.

For the purposes of the Act, the prescribed standards and codes are as follows:

AG 806;

AS 1375;

AS/NZS 1425;

AS/NZS 1596;

AS 2337;

AS/NZS 2739;

AS 2746;

AS 3645;

AS 3814;

AS 3961;

AS 4114;

AS 4575;

AS 4645;

AS 4670;

AS 4732;

AS 4983;

AS 5092;

AS/NZS 5601;

AS/NZS ISO 31000;

AS/NZS 60079;

IGE/UP/1;

NFPA 160;

the standards and codes specified in Schedule 2 as applicable to pipelines;

the standards and codes specified in Schedule 3 as applicable to pipeline facilities.

A standard, rule, code or specification adopted by these regulations – forms part of these regulations, subject to any modification expressed in the regulation adopting the standard, rule, code or specification; and applies only in respect of any regulation that refers to it, unless otherwise stated; and is to be interpreted so as to give effect to the intent of these regulations; and includes any code or standard having effect under that standard, rule, code or specification.

A reference to standards, rules, codes or specifications includes a reference to an amendment of those standards, rules, codes or specifications, whether the amendment is published or issued before or after the commencement of these regulations.

In subregulation (2), amendment means – the omission of matter; and the insertion of additional matter; and the omission of matter and the substitution of other matter.

A licensee must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that any person engaged in carrying out any work on or at a pipeline or pipeline facility is – provided with documents setting out appropriate work standards, procedures and practices for work on the gas infrastructure; and given instruction and training, and tested for competency, in how to safely apply and use those standards, procedures and practices. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

Work standards, procedures and practices are not appropriate for the purposes of subregulation (1) unless they are consistent with these regulations.

Any training required to be provided by these regulations is to be provided in accordance with – any relevant industry competency standards and criteria conforming to national industry standards; or any relevant competency standards approved by the Director; or any relevant course of training approved by the Director; or any other relevant standard, rules or qualifications that the Director considers appropriate.

A person must not provide training, or a service, as required by the regulations to any level less than that provided for by this regulation. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 25 penalty units.

This regulation does not preclude on-the-job training of employees by the employer or other employees employed by the same employer.

A licensee must ensure that any natural gas conveyed or supplied by the licensee is at a safe temperature with an operating pressure in accordance with regulation 11 and safe in all other respects for the purposes of the relevant gas infrastructure. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

The natural gas conveyed in a distribution system and transmission pipeline, or supplied by a gas storage system to which the Act applies, and the natural gas supplied or sold to a customer through such a system is to be, at the standard conditions, within the limits, or below the maximum, specified in the following table:

For the purposes of subregulation (2), the standard conditions are that – the natural gas must be completely free from water vapour; and the temperature must be 15 degrees Celsius; and the absolute pressure must be 101.325 kilopascals.

The Director may exempt a licensee from compliance with the standard natural gas quality limits specified in this regulation in respect of a gas if the Director is satisfied that the conveyance, supply or use of the natural gas by the licensee will be safe in the circumstances.

An exemption under subregulation (24) must be in writing and must specify the conditions to which the exemption is subject.

A licensee to whom an exemption is given under this regulation must comply with the conditions of the exemption, if any. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

A licensee must ensure that the natural gas conveyed or supplied by the licensee is tested in accordance with this regulation. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

The heating value of natural gas conveyed in a pipeline must be determined by testing with – an instrument which continuously records the heating value of the gas; or an instrument of a class approved by the Director.

The accuracy of the instrument used for testing under subregulation (2) must be checked by calibration against nominally pure alkanes or gravimetric mixtures of nominally pure alkanes and other nominally pure fixed gases.

The relative density of natural gas conveyed in a pipeline must be determined by testing with – an instrument which continuously records the relative density of the gas; or an instrument of a class approved by the Director.

The accuracy of the instrument used for testing under subregulation (4) must be checked by using – the direct gravimetric measurement method; or another measurement method approved by the Director.

The hydrogen sulphide content of natural gas conveyed in a pipeline must be continuously recorded by means of a hydrogen sulphide analyser of a class approved by the Director.

The accuracy of the hydrogen sulphide analyser used for testing under subregulation (6) must be checked by calibration against a gas of known hydrogen sulphide content.

A licensee must ensure that any natural gas supplied by the licensee is supplied so that the operating pressure of the natural gas, at the outlet of each meter assembly for recording a consumer's consumption of natural gas, is one kilopascal or more, but less than or equal to 3 kilopascals, subject to any written requirement of the consumer or agreement between the Director and the licensee for gas to be supplied at more than 3 kilopascals. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

The pressure of the natural gas at each such meter assembly is to be within the pressure operating range designated by the manufacturer of the meter assembly.

A licensee must ensure that natural gas is supplied to consumers so that the heating value of the gas, when measured at each measuring point approved by the Director for that purpose, does not vary by more than 1% from the claimed heating value used by the licensee as the basis for its charges to the consumer for the natural gas. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

The claimed heating value referred to in subregulation 3) must not show systematic bias within that range of variation.