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PLUMBING CONNECTION
WINTER 2016
VICTORIA’S GASFITTING
APPROACH: A FLAGSHIP MODEL?
ENERGY SAFE VICTORIA – TECHNICAL
REGULATOR
Victoria traces its gas industry
back to the beginnings of Melbourne.
By 1892 there were 50 gasworks in
existence but not until 1896 was there
legislation to regulate this hazardous
industry.
Due in part to industrial disputes,
and poor coal supplies from NSW, the
Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria
(GFCV) formed in 1951 to exploit
the extensive brown coal deposits
in Gippsland for coal gas production.
A high pressure gas pipeline was
installed from the gasification plant
at Morwell to supply Melbourne with
coal gas. Natural gas was discovered
off the Victorian coast in 1965 and by
1970 Victorian households had been
converted to natural gas.
By 1997 the GFCV had
disaggregated into gas distribution,
retail and transmission and the Office
of Gas Safety took over the role of the
regulator. In 2005 this organisation
evolved into Energy Safe Victoria
(ESV), and became the regulator for
electricity, gas and pipeline safety.
THE ROLES OF ESV AND THE VICTORIAN
BUILDING AUTHORITY
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) and the
Victorian Building Authority (VBA)
share dual regulatory responsibility for
gas safety within Victoria.
ESV is the independent technical
regulator responsible for electricity,
gas and pipeline safety. ESV oversees
the design, construction and
maintenance of electricity, gas and
pipeline networks and administers the
gas acceptance scheme for complex
gas installations. It ensures every
gas and electrical appliance meets
safety and energy efficiency standards
before it is sold. ESV administers the
licensing and registration system
for electricians, but does not license
gasfitters. That role is carried out by
the VBA.
ESV is heavily involved in community
education and gas safety campaigns.
Some very successful campaigns
include our carbon monoxide/heater
servicing campaign, the Look Before
You Cook barbeque campaign as well
as having a presence at shows such
as World Plumbing Day and the Royal
Melbourne Show.
The widespread use of gas in
Victoria for industrial, commercial
and domestic purposes ensures
ongoing demand for well-trained
gasfitters, able to install and maintain
appliances. Control and regulation of
gasfitting is shared between ESV and
the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
ESV understands that to maintain
high levels of gas safety the workforce
needs to be adequately trained and
as such ESV is passionate about
promoting gasfitting training.
ESV investigates gas safety issues
and runs community education and
safety campaigns. It supports gas
professionals by way of providing a
technical advice line, safety guides,
data and information sheets.
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATOR ENERGY SAFE VICTORIA (ESV)
MICHAEL WEBER
EXPLAINS HOW THE GASFITTING
INDUSTRY WORKS IN VICTORIA AND HOW REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITY IS SHARED BETWEEN ESV AND THE
VICTORIAN BUILDING AUTHORITY (VBA). IN FUTURE EDITIONS WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THINGS WORK IN THE
OTHER STATES.
The use of gas in industrial, commercial and domestic purposes ensures ongoing
demand for well-trained gasfitters, able to install and maintain appliances.
GASFITTING