Gas safety at home

One of ESV’s roles is to educate and inform the community about safety issues with gas and electricity, to improve overall safety outcomes for people, property and the environment.

Gas and electricity are inherently dangerous and it’s illegal and potentially fatal for unlicensed and unqualified people to undertake any gasfitting or electrical work.

Homeowners and consumers must always use a licensed or registered gasfitter who is endorsed in the specialised class of Type A gas appliances servicing work (Gas Serving Type A on the Plumbers Identity Card).

Information on the following pages includes important safety information and tips to follow for maintaining and using gas appliances safely in the home.

 

Gas and electrical safety obligations

Under the new laws rental providers (previously referred to as landlords) have certain responsibilities for gas and electrical safety.

Rental providers must undertake gas and electricity safety checks:

• For all new agreements after 29 March 2021, or

• Where there is a fixed term agreement of more than five years which rolls over into a periodic tenancy after 29 March 2021, must undertake gas and electricity safety checks.

Additionally, rental providers must keep, and be able to produce, records of gas and electrical safety checks conducted at the property.

Gas safety check

The rental provider must ensure a gas safety check of all gas installations and fittings on the premises is conducted every two years by a licensed or registered gasfitter who is endorsed in the specialised class of Type A gas appliances servicing work (Gas Serving Type A on the Plumbers Identity Card).

Note: Registered plumbers engaging in specialised classes of plumbing must be under the supervision of a person licensed in the specialised class.

If requested, the rental provider must also provide the renter with the date of the most recent safety check, in writing.

If a gas safety check has not been conducted within the last two years at the time the renter occupies the premises, the rental provider must arrange a gas safety check as soon as practicable.

Evidence of safety checks

Gas safety check

The gasfitter should provide a record of the gas safety check. The document must include:

• Their full name and business details, including licence or registration number of the gasfitter who performed the check

• the date the safety check was conducted, and

• the results of the check, including any servicing and repairs required and actions taken to address the repair.

 

 

Gas safety check

A record of a gas safety check can be either of the following:

• a compliance certificate (if applicable)

• a document from the licensed gas fitter who carried out the safety check.

If further gas work must be carried out after the check, a rental provider must also keep the compliance certificate or tax invoice relating to that work.

Other changes to the renting rules include

• An expanded definition for urgent repairs – now including air conditioning, safety devise and any fault or damage that makes the property unsafe or insecure.

• Rental providers (landlords) must ensure the rental property is provided and maintained in good repair and is in a reasonably fit and suitable condition for occupation.

• Rental providers must ensure the property complies with minimum standards before a renter moves in.

Gasfitter toolkit

The Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 (RTR) came into force on 29 March 2021. These regulations are administered by Consumer Affairs Victoria.

The RTR requires that in all residential tenancies a gas safety check of all gas installations and fittings on a premises is conducted every two years by a licensed or registered gasfitter who is endorsed in the specialised class of Type A gas appliances servicing work (Gas Serving Type A on the Plumbers Identity Card).

Note: Registered plumbers engaging in specialised classes of plumbing must be under the supervision of a person licensed in the specialised class.

The rental provider (previously referred to as the landlord) is required to ensure this has been carried out and keep records of safety checks.

Gas safety checklist

ESV has developed a gas safety checklist for use by gasfitters.

What’s in a gas safety check?

In regards to the requirements, a gas safety check means:

(a) the following gas installation checks—

i. that LPG cylinders and associated gas components are installed correctly;

ii. that appliance gas isolation valves are installed where required by AS/NZS 5601.1 “Gas installations”, as published or amended from time to time;

iii. that gas appliances and their components are accessible for servicing and adjustment;

iv. that the gas installation is electrically safe;

v. that clearances from appliances to combustible surfaces are in accordance with installation instructions and AS/NZS5601.1 “Gas installations”, as published or amended from time to time;

vi. that there is adequate ventilation for appliances to operate safely;

vii. that gas appliances (including cookers) are adequately restrained from tipping over;

viii. checking the condition of gas appliance flue systems, including chimneys

ix. checking gas appliances for evidence of certification; and

(b) testing gas installations for leakage; and

(c) servicing gas appliances as follows—

i. a clean of all dust and debris from appliances including burner, pilot, fan, filters and air intakes;

ii. a check of the integrity of the heat exchanger;

iii. a check of the gas supply and appliance operating pressures;

iv. a check that the gas appliance burner ignition is reliable and complete;

v. a check for any gas appliance flame abnormality;

vi. a check of the operation of the gas appliance, including safety devices;

vii. a combustion spillage test in accordance with Appendix F of AS4575 “Gas appliances— Servicing of Type A appliances”, as published or amended from time to time, after service or repair of the heater.

Keep records

ESV recommends gasfitters keep a digital record of all Gas safety checklists provided to rental providers. This may be a screenshot from your computer or a photo of the hardcopy taken with your phone. These records should be kept securely.