AS/NZS 5601 changes

Gas Installation Standards amendments Q&A sessions 2024

In late August, Standards Australia will publish amendment 2 to the Gas Installation Standards AS/NZS5601.1 Gas Installations: General installations, and AS/NZS5601.2 Gas Installations: LP Gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes.

To help explain these amendments and how they may affect your gasfitting work, we’ve recorded a presentation from our Gas Installation and Equipment Safety team.

In the presentation you’ll learn about:

• Amendments to the Gas Standards AS/NZS5601.1 and AS/NZS5601.2
• Top 10 non-compliances for complex gas installations to AS/NZS5601.1 and top five non-compliances to AS/NZS5601.2
• Hydrogen fuel cells and full cell systems.

The presentation runs for approximately 25 minutes and you can watch it at a time that suits you.

Watch the presentation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Energy Safe ran 3 Q&A webinars on the amendments. This FAQ document contains the questions asked in those sessions and our answers to them:

Energy Safe Victoria staff will also be at VBA Industry Conference plumbing sessions to answer questions about the amended standards. Find out more and register: VBA Industry Conference | Victorian Building Authority

Previous AS/NZS 5601 amendments

The information below details the amendments to the standards 5601.1 and 5601.2 over time.

AS/NZS 5601.1 2022

A new revision and 6 month transition period

AS/NZS 5601.1 2022 was published on 30 September 2022

There are significant changes in AS/NZS 5601.1 2022 from the previous standard. These changes will affect persons carrying out gasfitting work.

Transition period ends on 30 March 2023

From 30 March 2023, after the 6 month transition period, work will be assessed against the new standard.

Gasfitters are expected to comply in full with the 2022 edition of AS/NZS 5601.1 from this date.

6 month transition

Energy Safe Victoria and the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) provided industry a 6 month transition period for implementation of the standard. Work completed prior to, or during this period, will be assessed against the old standard. However, gasfitters can choose to use the new standard during this period.

Certain projects will also be assessed against the old standard. For example, if work is installed but not completed before the new standard is implemented. If completing the work occurs after the transition period, we will assess that part of the work against the new standard.

Why was there a transition period?

To ensure industry had sufficient time to become familiar with the new requirements in the standard. And taking into consideration this significant change:

Multi-layer pipe installed in new buildings and the modification of consumer piping in existing buildings using multi-layer pipe will now require automatic isolation in the event of a fire. This is in the form of an automatic shut off valve interlocked to a fire safety system or alternatively for class 1a residential building other devices such as an excess flow device or Under Pressure Shut-off device (UPSO) can be used.

Both Energy Safe and the VBA understand the need to allow time for suppliers to build up stock of the gas components that will be required for installations to meet the new requirement.

AS/NZS 5601.1 2022 – correction amendment

On Friday 24 March 2023 Standards Australia(opens in a new window) published a correction amendment for AS/NZS 5601.1:2022. The correction amendment makes changes to the following clauses.

• Preface
• Clause 5.2.11 (more detail below)
• Clause 6.4
• Clause 6.4.1
• Clause 6.10.1.1 and
• Table 6.10.2.3

All changes are minor in nature and the intent of the clauses remains unchanged.

Clause 5.2.11

1. Delete last paragraph and replace with the following:

Alternatively, for a Class 1a building in Australia, or detached or multi-unit dwelling in New Zealand, a system or device that automatically shuts off the gas supply if gas tightness is adversely affected by a fire emergency event shall be provided. The system or device which shuts off the gas supply shall be installed in a readily accessible location as close as practicable to the point of supply and prior to any multi-layer pipe. The device shall be sized and commissioned in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, to ensure safe and correct operation and avoid nuisance tripping.

2. After Note 3, add the following:
NOTE 4: This clause also applies to the alteration of consumer piping using multi-layer pipe in an existing installation but does not apply to the replacement of a gas appliance in an existing installation.

Gasfitters are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the full correction amendment.

The detailed changes for the Preface and other clauses mentioned above can be purchased at the Standards Australia store

Further information

• Read the Standards Alert – Publication of AS/NZS 5601.1: 2022
• Watch our guidance videos below
  • New requirements for emergency isolation of Multi-layer pipe(opens in a new window) - published on 20 March 2023.
  • AS/NZS 5601.1 2022 Amendments, which was presented during the industry webinars in June and July 2022.
• Read Energy Safe Victoria’s industry guidance on Transitional arrangement for adoption of prescribed AS/NZS 5601.1 standards:

• The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) – webpage AS/NZS 5601.1 Gas Installations

Consult the Standard

Energy Safe and the VBA strongly encourage practitioners to consult the complete standard to ensure they comply with all Means of Conformance requirements.

The full text of AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 can be purchased at the Standards Australia store

AS/NZS 5601 guidance videos

Requirements for emergency isolation of multi-layer pipe

Commercial kitchens gas installations video

Updated in October 2022 to cover new requirements under AS/NZS 5601.1 2022.

AS/NZS 5601.1 Amendments video

For further information on the new standard, watch our video below:

Standards Alert: Publication of AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 Gas installations Part 1: General installations

Download the PDF:

Part 1: General installations

On 30 September 2022, Standards Australia published AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 Gas installations Part 1: General installations.

Commencement

The requirements of this prescribed standard applies from 30 March 2023 (six-month transition period from the date of publication).

Scope

AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 outlines requirements relating to the design, installation and commissioning of gas installations that are associated with the use or intended use of natural gas, LP gas or biogas. The standard forms part of the Victorian plumbing regulatory regime and applies to gasfitting work carried out in Victoria.

Key changes

The following sections provide a summary of the key changes to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022. Gasfitters must refer to the whole Standard for full details of the requirements.

1.3 Terms and definitions

Clause 1.3.39 – New definition for a “fire safety system”.
Clause 1.3.65 – New definition for an “ignition source”.

Section 2 Essential safety and performance-based design requirements

Section 2 has been separated into “Essential safety requirements” and “Performance-based design requirements”.

Clauses 4.2 (Table 4.2) and 5.2.12

Brazing prohibited within one metre of a joint with non-metallic components.

Clauses 4.2 (Table 4.2), 5.2.12 & 5.3.16

Prohibition on the installation of multilayer pipe above-ground external to buildings.

Clause 5.2.9.1

New requirement for the isolation of installations in educational institutions

Clause 5.2.9.2

New requirement for the isolation of installations in commercial kitchens.

Clause 5.2.11

Provision of fire emergency isolation for multilayer pipe.

Clause 5.3.14.5

New drawings for consumer piping located in cavities (notching and drilling studs).

Clause 6.9.4 & (Figure 6.9.4)

Revised requirements for the location of flue terminals under a covered area, in a recess or on a balcony.

Clause 6.9.5

Gas appliance flues can no longer terminate in a roof space in Australia to align with New Zealand.

Clause 6.10.1.1

Increased clearance requirement between domestic cooking appliances and rangehoods to align with IEC 60335-2-31, Household and similar electrical appliances — Safety, Part 2-31: Particular requirements for rangehoods and other cooking fume extractors.

Clause 6.10.2.6

New requirements for freestanding commercial catering equipment with under-equipment connection.

Clause 6.10.2.7

New requirements for the connection of freestanding commercial catering equipment using a hose assembly – high level connection.

Clause 6.10.2.8

Restrictions on the use of semi-rigid connectors in the installation of commercial catering installations.

Appendix C – Thermal protection of combustible materials

New requirements for the protection of combustible surfaces adjacent to commercial catering equipment.

Appendix F – Sizing consumer piping

New pipe sizing graphs and tables, which are less conservative than the 2010 and 2013 editions of AS/NZS 5601.1. In particular, for complex gas installations with larger pipe diameters and longer pipe runs allowing for greater flow capacity for a given pipe size.

Appendix K – Gas in high-rise buildings

Effect of altitude on gas supply pressure for high-rise building installations.

Want to know more?

Consult the Standard

Energy Safe and the Victorian Building Authority strongly encourage practitioners to consult the complete standard
to ensure they comply with all Means of Conformance requirements.

The full text of AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 can be purchased at the Standards Australia store

Contact us

If you have questions or require further information regarding the updated AS/NZS 5601.1 standard, please contact:

Victorian Building Authority
1300 815 127
plumbingtechnicaladvice@vba.vic.gov.au

Energy Safe Victoria
1800 652 563
gastechnicalenquiry@energysafe.vic.gov.au