GIS 07: Requirements for acceptance of high-pressure gas installations

Introduction

This gas information sheet provides information about a gasfitter’s responsibilities and special requirements that apply for an application of acceptance, when installing high pressure gas installations exceeding 200 kilopascals (kPa).

Legislation

It’s important that gasfitters are aware of legislation relating to the installation of consumer piping designed to operate at greater than 200 kPa and they ensure gas fitting work carried out by them, complies with the relevant legislation.

Regulation 23 (Standards and requirements for high-pressure consumer piping) of the Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2018, states:

“(1) For the purposes of section 72(1) of the Act[1], it is a prescribed requirement that a person must—

(a) before carrying out gasfitting work in relation to consumer piping which is to have an operating pressure in excess of 200 kilopascals, apply to Energy Safe Victoria for authorisation to carry out that work; and

(b) not carry out that gasfitting work unless that gasfitting work is authorised by Energy Safe Victoria.

(2) For the purposes of section 72(2) of the Act, the prescribed standard for consumer piping which is to have an operating pressure in excess of 200 kilopascals is the standard determined by Energy Safe Victoria in respect of that piping in an authorisation for the gasfitting work relating to that piping.”

AS/NZS 5601.1 - Gas Installations Part 1: General Installations, is not applicable to pressures in excess of 200 kPa. Applications for high pressure consumer piping installations will require the standard(s) relevant to their specific installation, to be nominated and referenced.

Energy Safe Victoria will evaluate the applicant’s chosen standard for suitability, based on the type of piping installation proposed.

Note: Typically, the most common standard applied for consumer piping with an operating pressure exceeding 200 kPa is - AS 4041 Pressure piping and its referenced standards (where applicable).

Application for authorisation

An application for authorisation to carry out gasfitting work for installations exceeding 200 kPa must be made before work begins. No gasfitting work can be carried out unless it is authorised by Energy Safe.

Energy Safe requires the licensed person to submit an application via GasTrac (Energy Safe’s online gas installation acceptance system for managing gas applications).

Application information

The table below lists information to be submitted for review with the application.

AreaDescription
Project outline

This must be sufficiently descriptive to give Energy Safe Victoria a clear understanding of the complete scope of works proposed and provide enough technical information to summarise the proposal.

Information should include –

  • A cover letter or document outlining the scope of works.
  • Details of the standard(s) that will apply to the application.
  • General arrangement, piping and instrumentation diagrams to assist in explaining the proposal.

Schedule 8

(Additional Information to be supplied by Persons Seeking Acceptance of Certain Gas Installations)

The Schedule 8 requirements are prescribed in the Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2018.

Information to satisfy the Schedule, must be submitted with all applications for gas installations with pressures exceeding 200kPa, due to the additional risks introduced into a gas installation by high gas pressure.

Energy Safe Gas Information Sheet 60, on the Energy Safe website - Gas Installation Acceptance – Schedule 8 Requirements provides a detailed explanation of what information is required.

Risk assessment

A comprehensive risk assessment, which documents the hazards associated with the proposed gas installation should be prepared in conjunction with the nominated standard(s); and AS/NZS ISO 31000, Risk Management – Principles and Guidelines; and submitted with your application.

The risk assessment:

  • establishes the project’s ‘risk context environment’ (for example, the installation’s location, such as a hospital, school, or chemical processing plant, which will significantly impact the hazards identified and tolerance of risk).
  • Involves:
    • risk identification
    • risk analysis
    • risk evaluation.
    • liaising with responsible parties, to determine if the proposed piping installation will impact hazardous area classifications. Alternate piping routes may need to be considered, where electrical equipment is/or proposed for installation.

It is expected that identified project hazards and risks, are monitored, controlled, and reviewed in accordance with the risk assessment’s outcomes throughout the installation process, to ensure they remain relevant and achieve expected outcomes.

Installation standards

The standard(s) nominated in the application will need to be applied to the installation’s design, construction, installation, inspection, testing, modification/extension and commissioning.

Supporting information will be required that references clauses from the nominated standard you have chosen for the installation.

For example: an application made to comply with the requirements of - AS 4041 Pressure piping, should provide information to address the following areas:

  • Piping classification (Section 1 / Appendix V)
  • Qualification of Materials (Section 2)
  • Design (Section 3 / Appendix I / Appendix J)
  • Protective Systems and Devices (Section 7)
  • Fabrication / Welding / Weld Procedures / Welder Accreditation (Sections 4 / 5 / 6 & Appendices)
  • Examination and testing – Non-destructive examination, Weld Maps, Pressure tests (Section 6 / Appendix U)
  • Inspection / Commissioning / Handover for operation (Section 8 / 9)
  • Requirements from Normative Appendices (where applicable)

Note: The areas described above, would also be relevant if applying an equivalent pressure piping standard.

Compliance documentation

The project complexity and nominated standard(s), will generally determine what type of documentation is required, to validate compliance.

Information will generally be required for specific sections (examination, testing and inspection) of the nominated standard, however other compliance documentation may include:

  • “as-built” drawings
  • material data reports and test certificates for pipes, fittings, components and materials
  • welding procedures and welder qualification test results
  • heat treatment reports
  • welder accreditation
  • weld maps
  • non-destructive test (NDT) examination reports for on-site welding and piping fabrication (Note: the amount, or type of testing required, will be based on the requirements of the nominated Standard/s)
  • strength test report(s)
  • gas tightness leak test report
  • pipework purging and commissioning report
  • end user operation and maintenance instructions, and
  • information and drawings relating to any variation from the original application.

[1] All references to the Act, mean the Gas Safety Act 1997

Date: 21/12/2024 12:16

Controlled document

The currency and accuracy of this document cannot be guaranteed once printed or saved to a storage device. If in doubt, please check the ESV website for the current version.

Reviewed