| Advisory note | 10/2023 |
|---|---|
| For | Licensees and contractors working in the gasfitting industry |
| Scope | Applies to all areas in New South Wales |
Issue
Gas installations in food trucks and trailers must comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 5601.2 2020. and AS/NZS 5601.1 2022
Fair Trading have been conducting audit gas inspections on mobile food van and trailer manufacturers.
During the audit gas inspections, we identified non-compliances within the installations. Some of the most common non-compliances found are listed in the table below.
Non-Compliance Identified | Related Legislation or Standard |
Specialist work (gas installation) was being carried out by unqualified persons. Installation was fitted with a quick connect device within the installation allowing unqualified person to connect the regulator to the installation. | Clause 33 of the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 |
LP Gas bottles were installed within the minimum distances from an ignition source and within the minimum distances to any openings into the food truck or trailer. | AS/NZS 5601.2 2020 - Clause 3.1.8 Required clearances around a cylinder. |
Consumer piping was of insufficient size. The operation of appliances may be affected by the pressure drop with all appliances in operation. | AS/NZS5601.2 2020 - Clause 5.1.2 Size |
Quick-Connect Devices are only permitted to connect an appliance to a gas supply, they are not an approved fitting to be used as part of the main gas line (from the outlet of the cylinder regulator to connection point of the appliances). | AS/NZS5601.2 2020 - Clause 5.1.4.3 Materials for piping systems |
The use of non-approved piping and jointing methods such as use of multilayer pipe and press fit connections which are prohibited. | AS/NZS5601.2 2020 - Clause 5.1.4.4 Prohibited types of piping, joints and fittings. |
Failure to install grommet or equivalent protection at all points where gas pipe passes through the vehicle body, partitions or bulkheads. | AS/NZS 5601.2 2020 - Clause 5.2.1 General requirements. |
Failure to install the main run of the piping system outside of the caravan regardless of the number of fixtures connected to the pipework. | AS/NZS5601.2 2020 - Clause 5.2.2 Piping in Caravans. |
Pipe was not protected from direct contact with the metal structure. | AS/NZS5601.2 2020 - Clause 5.2.4 Rigid Piping. |
Gas pipework was not fixed and supported to all requirements. | AS/NZS5601.2 2020 - Clause 5.2.11 Pipe supports and Fixings. |
Gas appliances were not installed to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. | AS/NZS5601.2 2020 - Clause 6.5 Manufacturer’s instruction |
No high-level ventilation to atmosphere was installed. | AS/NZS5601.2 2020 – Clause 7.4.2 Distance from ceiling |
Failure to ensure the Food Trailer or Truck’s Gas installation has the correct Compliance Plate, labels and markings | AS/NZS 5601.2 2020 Section 10 Compliance plate, labels and markings |
Failure to install isolation valve in a readily accessible and clearly identified location on the gas installation to isolate all appliances. (Required when more than one appliance is installed) | AS/NZS 5601.1 2022 - Clause 5.2.9.2 Commercial kitchen isolation. |
Insufficient distance from nearest part of cooking surface or trivet of the gas appliance to grease filter. | AS/NZS5601.1 2022 - Clause 6.10.2.2 Clearances to a grease filter |
Failure to ensure the gas appliances are installed with minimum clearances from combustible materials as specified in the manufacturer’s instructions or ensure adequate fire protection on the walls where the clearances cannot be met, referring to Appendix C. | AS/NZS5601.1 2022 - Clause 6.10.2.3 Clearances around commercial catering equipment. |
Reference
Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017
AS/NZS 5601.1 2022 (installation of commercial cooking equipment)
AS/NZS 5601.2 2020 (installation of gas pipework in a caravan)
Relevant Definitions - AS/NZS 5601.2 2020
1.1.1 Scope
This Standard specifies requirements and means of conformance for the design, installation, repair, alteration, modification, replacement and commissioning of LP Gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes.
The requirements cover —
(a) caravans;
(b) mobile homes, mobile holiday homes, campervans and motor homes;
(c) transportable structures with fixed gas installations, other than transportable homes and classroom units;
(d) trucks and trailers incorporating fixed gas installations;
(e) boats;
(f) houseboats;
(g) floating restaurants, whether fixed or mobile; and
(h) catering vehicles, whether self-propelled or towed.
NOTE 1: A mobile home includes what is often referred to as a “tiny house”, which is a relocatable home as distinct from a permanent structure that is transported from one fixed location to the next.
NOTE 2: Where commercial catering equipment is to be installed, refer to AS/NZS5601.1 for specific appliance installation requirements downstream of the appliance installation valve.
1.3.7 caravan
structure designed or adapted to be moved from one place to another, whether towed or transported, which is intended for human habitation or use as a workplace, and includes a self-propelled recreational vehicle or mobile home, and any associated annex or similar structure, whether permanently or temporarily attached to, or adjoining the main portion of the structure.
1.3.12 combustible material
material that will ignite and burn, and includes material that has been flame-proofed.
1.3.34 gas installation
combination of the following used or intended to be used in the supplying and utilization of gas, taken as separate items or as a whole: piping, fittings, components, appliances, flues, apparatus or other devices and associated requirements.
1.3.58 quick-connect device
two-part mating plug and socket assembly for connecting a gas appliance to a gas supply without the use of tools
Note 1 to entry: Type 1 quick-connect devices are sometimes referred to as “bayonet fittings”.
Requirements
LP Gasfitting work must only be carried out by a qualified person or under the immediate supervision of a qualified person.
A qualified person is a person who holds an endorsed contractors’ license or supervisors’ certificate in the category of LP Gasfitting.
It is illegal for someone to employ an unqualified person to carry out LP gasfitting work. If an unqualified person is working under the immediate supervision of a qualified person, they must also be employed by a person or company who holds a contractor's license in the category of LP Gasfitting.
Gas installations in food trucks and trailers must comply with the requirements of AS/NZS5601.2-2020. Where commercial catering equipment is to be installed, the gasfitter must refer to AS/NZS5601.1 for specific appliance installation requirements downstream of the appliance installation valve.
More information
For more information, please email: [email protected]
This advisory note has been approved for issue by the BSCU Technical Review Committee. Information contained within this document is current as of September 2023 and refers to codes and standards current at the time of writing.
NSW Fair Trading disclaims any liability (including for negligence) to any person in respect of anything done, or not done, by that person in whole or partial reliance on any of the information in this advisory note.