Feedback sought for primary standard for gas installation

Standards Australia is seeking feedback on revised standard AS/NZS 5601.1, Gas Installation, Part 1: General installations, following a full revision for the first time since 2013. AS/NZS 5601, Gas Installation, is the primary standard for gas installations in Australia and New Zealand. The revised standard aims to support essential safety requirements, with the project including a gap analysis of all performance-based requirements against the means of compliance.

Several changes have been proposed for the revised standard, including new definitions for an ‘ignition source’, ‘open flued appliance’, ‘fire safety system’, ‘semi-rigid connector’ and ‘under-pressure shut-off device’. The revised standard also seeks to prohibit the use of flexible flue liners for applications other than within chimneys and on the use of semi-rigid connectors in the installation of commercial catering equipment. The installation of multilayer pipe above-ground external to buildings will also be prohibited under the revised standard.

Kara Chan, Engagement Manager at Standards Australia, called for public and industry feedback on the draft standard, which will be open until 10 June 2021. Chan added that the draft standard is part of the organisation’s objective to provide transparency by allowing the broader community to have the opportunity to review.

The draft standard also calls for the provision of emergency isolation for buildings with multilayer pipe, for fire protection. New requirements for the protection of combustible surfaces adjacent to commercial catering equipment are also recommended, along with new requirements for the isolation of installations in educational institutions. The draft standard also proposes to implement new pipe sizing graphs based on the Churchill friction factor equation, which will allow for greater flow capacities for complex gas installations with large pipe diameters and longer pipe runs. The revised standard will not apply to the repair of existing gas installations (including the repair of gas appliances), but does apply to modifications of existing installations.

“We look forward to gaining insights from industry, as the feedback we anticipate in receiving will be imperative to the delivery of an important standard, one that is relevant and provides guidance to industry for safe practice,” Chan said.

Public and industry feedback regarding the draft standard can be submitted via Connect.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Chepko Danil