81 / 116
PLUMBING CONNECTION
AUTUMN 2015 81
projects has commenced including amendments to AS/
NZS5601.1:2013 “Gas Installations: General installations”
and AS/NZS5601.2:2013 LP Gas installations in caravans
and boats for non-propulsive purposes”. Also the
restructuring of the Type A gas appliance standards
with the publication of a part 0 standard AS5263.0 with
general requirements for all Type A gas appliances and
work currently underway to develop appliance specific part
1 standards for domestic cookers, water heaters, space
heaters and barbeques.
Currently approved projects where work is yet to
commence includes a revision of AS4575 “Gas Appliances-
Quality of Servicing” and amendments to AS3688 “Water
supply-Metallic fittings and end connectors”. The latter
of these two standards, AS3688, is interesting in that the
scope of the standard covers fittings and connectors for
use with not only water but also gas. The reality however is
that AS3688 is focussed more so on water systems than
gas systems. As a result some of the performance criteria in
AS3688 require review so that it is relevant to gas systems.
An example of this is performance requirements for
press fit end connectors where the performance criteria
are tailored more to water systems than gas systems.
Because of this AS/NZS5601.1:2013 required that press fit
connectors not only complied with AS3688 but also the test
requirements of either the British standard BS8537, the
American standard ANSI LC4 or the German standard DVGW
VP614. The DVGW standard has since been superseded.
Once AS3688 has been amended to include performance
criteria specific to press fit systems for gas applications
then the references to these other international standards
will be removed from AS/NZS5601.1.
AS4575 on the other hand requires a complete revision
with the last edition being published in 2005. The standard is
not a mandatory standard however it does provide essential
requirements and basic standards for the management
and delivery of Type A gas appliances servicing without
going into too much detail. Topics include competency
of personnel, tools and equipment, specification of
materials, quality of service work and record keeping.
It is hoped that the revision of the standard will result
in a more comprehensive document with guidance on
commissioning and methods of testing gas appliances for
correct operation. Ultimately once this standard is revised
a preferred outcome would be for the document to be
adopted by Registered Training Organisations as part of the
curriculum for gas fitters seeking to become qualified in the
servicing of Type A gas appliances.
ESV informed the industry of the impending adoption
date of AS/NZS5601.1:2013 and AS/NZS5601.2:2013
through a series of road shows across Victoria in January
and February 2014. Amendments to AS/NZS5601.1:2013
and AS/NZS5601.2:2013 are now being developed to