| Advisory note | 04/2023 |
|---|---|
| For | Licensees and contractors working in the gasfitting industry |
| Scope | Applies to all areas in New South Wales |
Issue
Recent gas audit inspections of Class 1 buildings carried out by Fair Trading’s Gas Compliance Unit have identified consumer pipework in gas installations that has not been correctly sized to ensure adequate gas supply to the gas appliance(s).
All gas installations in NSW must comply with the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 with any installation not conforming to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 considered non-compliant.
Reference
Gas and Electricity [Consumer Safety] Regulation 2018
AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 - Gas Installations
5.2.4 Consumer piping size
The consumer piping shall be of sufficient diameter to ensure adequate gas supply to the gas appliance(s) and shall be determined by –
(a) the pipe sizing methodology listed in APPENDIX F;
(b) pipe sizing tables or calculation provided by the pipe manufacturer; or
(c) formulae that achieve the outcomes of Clause 2.2.3.2 (a)
4.5.1 Suitability for intended use
Before any proprietary system is installed, its suitability for the intended application shall be verified taking into account other aspects related to the installation (including measurement systems and gas quality), normal and emergency operating conditions, temperature, gas composition and environmental conditions reasonably likely to be experienced.
4.5.2 Installation of proprietary systems
Proprietary systems shall be installed in accordance with Table 4.2 and the relevant manufacturer’s instructions.
Relevant definitions - AS5601.1 2022:
1.3.94 Proprietary system
Manufacturer-specific system using matched components, which may require special tools for installation.
Requirements
AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, prescribes how to size consumer gas piping in Appendix F, a normative appendix, and is based on the Churchill friction factor equation. Appendix F lists both Flow Graphs and Tables as options for sizing.
Sizing tables for multilayer pipework are not included in Appendix F due to the dimensional differences of the various products. Multilayer gas pipework must be sized and installed as per the relevant manufacturer’s installation instructions and technical data.
When designing and installing a multilayer gas consumer piping system, the requirement that multilayer gas pipe cannot be installed above ground external to the building and the consumer piping external to the building shall be metallic and extend at least 1 m into the building must be considered.
Any metallic pipe installed as part of the gas consumer service shall be sized in accordance with the requirements of AS/NZS 5601.1 2022.
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 January 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.