Gas Regulations 1988 (SA)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

GAS REGULATIONS, 1988

REGULATIONS UNDER THE GAS ACT, 1988

Gas Regulations, 1988

being

No. 86 of 1988: Gaz. 26 May 1988, p. 13471

as varied by

No. 77 of 1989: Gaz. 1 June 1989, p. 14902 No. 53 of 1991: Gaz. 16 May 1991, p. 15853 No. 86 of 1994: Gaz. 16 June 1994, p. 17544 No. 88 of 1995: Gaz. 10 May 1995, p. 20795 No. 152 of 1995: Gaz. 29 June 1995, p. 31716 No. 46 of 1997: Gaz. 10 April 1997, p. 14937

1 Came into operation 1 June 1988: reg. 2.

2 Came into operation 1 July 1989: reg. 2.

3 Came into operation 1 July 1991: reg. 2.

4 Came into operation 1 July 1994: reg. 2.

5 Came into operation 1 July 1995: reg. 2

6 Came into operation 1 July 1995: reg. 2.

7 Came into operation 10 April 1997: reg. 2.

Note: Asterisks indicate repeal or deletion of text. For further explanation see Appendix.

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Citation 1. These regulations may be cited as the Gas Regulations, 1988.

Commencement

2. These regulations will come into operation on 1 June, 1988.

Interpretation

3. (1) In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

"the Act" means the Gas Act, 1988:

"prescribed tolerances of accuracy" in relation to metering equipment installed to measure a consumer’s consumption of reticulated gas, means a level of accuracy resulting in an error of no more than—

(a)	two per cent greater than the volume of the gas actually supplied;
or
(b)	three per cent less than the volume of the gas actually supplied,

when measured at the rated capacity of the metering equipment compared with a true

measure of volume at standard conditions.

(2) For the purposes of the definition of "prescribed tolerances of accuracy", 15°C and 101.325 kPa are standard conditions.

PART II

THE SUPPLY, QUALITY AND METERING OF RETICULATED GAS

Supply and quality of reticulated gas

4. (1) A licensed gas supplier must—

(a)

ensure that reticulated gas supplied by it to a consumer—

(i)	is safe for use in the gas reticulation system and in any apparatus through or for which it is supplied;
(ii)	contains less than 12 mg/m3 of hydrogen sulphide;
(iii)	is supplied at a pressure of not less than 375 Pa at the outlet of the consumer’s metering equipment;

and

(iv) has a distinctive smell at one-fifth of the lower explosive limit in air;
and
(b)	comply with any directions given to it in writing from time to time by the Minister in relation to the design, manufacture, construction, installation, operation, maintenance or testing of the gas reticulation system or in relation to gas fitting or apparatus or the quality of the gas supplied to consumers.

(2) A direction given by the Minister under subregulation (1) may, if the Minister thinks fit, require compliance with—

(a)	a specified standard of the Standards Association of Australia;
(b)	a specified approval requirement of the Australian Gas Association;
or
(c)	any other standard or code of practice specified by the Minister.

Licensed gas supplier to supply metering equipment

5. A licensed gas supplier must not supply reticulated gas to a consumer unless—

(a)	the consumer has been supplied with metering equipment that is capable of measuring the volume of gas supplied within the prescribed tolerances of accuracy;
and
(b)	the equipment has been installed at the premises of the consumer in such manner as to be capable of measuring the volume of gas supplied within the prescribed tolerances of accuracy.

Damaged metering equipment to be repaired or replaced

6. Where a licensed gas supplier discovers that metering equipment installed at the premises of a consumer has been damaged or tampered or interfered with, the supplier must cause the equipment to be repaired to ensure that it is capable of measuring the volume of gas supplied within the prescribed tolerances of accuracy, or, if the equipment is beyond repair, must replace it.

Metering equipment to be tested

7. (1) A licensed gas supplier must ensure that all metering equipment supplied by it is tested in accordance with this regulation—

(a)	before it is installed at the premises of a consumer;
and
(b)	at further intervals of not more than ten years or at such other intervals as the Minister may approve or require.

(2) A person carrying out testing pursuant to subregulation (1) must ensure that the metering

equipment—

(a)	does not exhibit any characteristic indicative of any malfunction;
and
(b)	is capable of measuring the volume of reticulated gas supplied to the consumer within the prescribed tolerances of accuracy.

(3) A licensed gas supplier must not allow metering equipment that has been tested pursuant to this regulation to be used to measure the volume of reticulated gas supplied to a consumer unless an authorized person is satisfied that the equipment does not exhibit any characteristic indicative of any malfunction and is capable of measuring the volume of reticulated gas supplied to the consumer within the prescribed tolerances of accuracy.

Metering equipment to be sealed

8. (1) Immediately after metering equipment has been tested and an authorized person is satisfied that the equipment does not exhibit any characteristic indicative of any malfunction and is capable of measuring the gas supplied to the consumer within the prescribed tolerances of accuracy, the licensed gas supplier must cause the equipment to be sealed so that no person can interfere with the operation or accuracy of the equipment without breaking the seal.

(2) A licensed gas supplier must not allow metering equipment that has been sealed pursuant to subregulation (1) to be used to measure the volume of reticulated gas supplied to a consumer unless an authorized person is satisfied that the equipment has been sealed so that no person can interfere with its operation or accuracy without breaking the seal.

Fee for testing metering equipment

9. For the purposes of section 18(2) of the Act, the prescribed fee is—

(a)	where the metering equipment is capable of measuring up to 10 cubic metres of gas per hour—$25;
(b)	where the metering equipment is capable of measuring more than 10 cubic metres of gas per hour but not more than 150 cubic metres of gas per hour—$50;
or
(c)	where the metering equipment is capable of measuring more than 150 cubic metres of gas per hour—$250.

Offence

10. If a licensed gas supplier contravenes, or fails to comply with, a provision of this Part, the supplier is guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty not exceeding $2 000.

PART 3

GAS APPLIANCES AND INSTALLATIONS

Interpretation

11. In this Part—

"AG 501" means AG 501—Code for Industrial and Commercial Gas Fired Appliances published by The Australian Gas Association and the Australian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association Ltd, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard referred to in that Code or referred to in any code or standard referred to in that Code, and so on);

"AG 601" means AG 601—Gas Installation Code published by The Australian Gas Association and the Australian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association Ltd, as in force from time to time (including any code or standard referred to in that Code or referred to in any code or standard referred to in that Code, and so on);

"Type B appliance" has the same meaning as in AG 601.

General gas fitting

12. For the purposes of section 22 of the Act, a person who carries out work on a gas installation or proposed gas installation (other than work comprised of installing or commissioning a Type B appliance) must ensure that the work is carried out, and examinations and tests are carried out, in accordance with AG 601.

Type B appliances

13. (1) For the purposes of section 22 of the Act, a person who installs or commissions a Type B appliance must ensure that the appliance is installed or commissioned, and examinations and tests are carried out, in accordance with AG 501 and AG 601.

(2) A licensed gas supplier must not commence supplying gas for use in a Type B appliance following installation of the appliance unless the appliance has been approved as complying with the requirements of AG 501.

Maximum penalty: $2 000.

(3) Subregulation (2) does not prevent a licensed gas supplier temporarily supplying gas for the purposes of the commissioning of a Type B appliance or the determination of whether the appliance complies with the requirements of AG 501.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation, AG 501 and AG 601 are to be read as if any requirement for approval of the Authority were a requirement—

(a)	if the appliance in question is, or is to be, connected to a gas reticulation system—for approval of the licensed gas supplier whose system it is or an authorised person;
(b)	in any other case—for approval of an authorised person.

PART 4

MISCELLANEOUS

Certificates of authority for authorised persons

14. (1) An authorised person must be issued with a certificate of authority containing the person’s name and stating that the person is an authorised person for the purposes of the Act.

(2) An authorised person must, at the request of a person in relation to whom the authorised person intends to exercise any powers under the Act, produce for the inspection of the person his or her certificate of authority.

* * * * * * * * * *

APPENDIX

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Regulation 3: definition of "apprentice" revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 3 definition of "the Board" revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 3 definition of "registered master plumber" revoked by 152, 1995,

reg. 3

definition of "registered person" revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 3

definition of registered sanitary plumber" revoked by 152, 1995,

reg. 3

definition of "registration card" revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 3

definition of "SPEB" revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 3

definition of "TAFE" revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 3

Part 3 comprising ss. 11 - 14 and headings revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 4; regs. 11 - 13 and heading inserted by 46, 1997, reg. 3

Part 4 comprising ss. 15 - 27 and heading revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 4; reg. 14 and heading inserted and heading by 46, 1997, reg. 3

Part 5 comprising ss. 28 - 33 and heading varied by 77, 1989, reg. 3; 53, 1991, reg. 3; 86, 1994, reg. 3; 88, 1995, reg. 3; revoked by 152, 1995, reg. 4