Plumbing Connection Winter 2016

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2 2 PLUMBING CONNECTION WINTER 2016
AN UPDATE ON NATIONAL GAS
TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
GAS TECHNICAL REGULATORS COMMITTEE
ESV, as the technical regulator for Victoria, liaises
with technical regulators throughout Australia and New
Zealand. As a result of this liaison and the fact that there
is no overriding federal legislation for the safe transport
and use of gas, the Gas Technical Regulators Committee
(GTRC) was formed and considers issues both upstream and
downstream of gas supply points.
The GTRC:
∫ promotes gas safety
∫ develops a common approach to gas technical and safety
activities
∫ benchmarks best practices
∫ shares information
∫ provides a forum and discussion group to facilitate gas
industry reform.
NATIONAL DATABASE OF CERTIFIED GAS APPLIANCES AND
COMPONENTS
To assist gasfitters in identifying certified gas appliances
and components a National Certification Database has been
developed by ESV on behalf of the GTRC.
This National Certification Database provides information
in relation to certified products as well as the certification
status of those products. Gasfitters are now able to confirm
that appliances and components are certified before they
install them.
The database can be found online at This
information is typically on a monthly basis. The recognised
certification bodies (AGA, SAI Global, IAPMO, Global-Mark,
Vipac) also have their own certification listings that can be
referred to via their respective websites which can be found
via the GTRC website.
To find a certificate in the various Certification Services
databases, enter your search terms in the provided search
function space and press ‘Go’.
SCHEME RULES – GAS TECHNICAL REGULATORS COMMITTEE
Australian States and Territories administer their
respective legislation requiring gas products to be approved
before they are offered for sale and use. Scheme Rules
are being developed to provide a framework to ensure
consistency for the operation of a certification scheme to
certify gas products. These rules allocate responsibility
and accountability to the certifying bodies for gas
appliance and component approvals so that the process
for certifying products is robust, effective and recognised
across Australia and New Zealand. The Australian State and
Territory Regulatory Authorities, through GTRC members,
are responsible for developing and maintaining the
necessary details of each component of these rules.
NATIONAL GAS COMPLIANCE MARKS
For some time now both New Zealand and Australia have
recognised the need for a common certification badge
or label recognised by the retailer, the consumer and the
gasfitter. In Australia the badge or label (see above) will be
known as the Gas Compliance Mark. It shall be permanently
affixed to the gas appliance so that it is clearly visible to the
installer and shall remain durable and legible. The GCM may
be in the form of a plate, a label or screen printed directly
onto the appliance and is an addition to a rating plate or label.
WE ASKED TECHNICAL COMMUNICATOR, ENERGY SAFE VICTORIA, MICHAEL WEBER TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
OF CURRENT AND FUTURE NATIONAL GAS TECHNICAL REGULATIONS AS WELL AS EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE GAS
TECHNICAL REGULATORS COMMITTEE (GTRC).
REGULATIONS