ISSN 1172-3416 NZ GCP 1 : 1993 NEW ZEALAND GAS CODE OF PRACTICE for INSPECTION, TESTING AND CERTIFICATION OF GASFITTING WORK DONE UNDER SUPERVISION Issued by the Secretary of Commerce in accordance with the Gas Act 1992
THE GAS ACT 1992 APPROVAL OF GAS CODE OF PRACTICE FOR INSPECTION TESTING AND INSTALLATION OF GASFITTING WORK DONE UNDER SUPERVISION Part IV of the Gas Act 1992 ("the Act") On the second day of February 1993, the Secretary of Commerce acting pursuant to section 37 of the Act issued the Installation of Gasfitting Work done under Supervision ("the Code"). On the fourth day of February 1993, pursuant to section 39 of the Act the Secretary published in the Gazette a notice of intention to apply to me for approval of the Code, and there has been consultation with such persons (or their representatives) as will be affected by the Code and they have had the opportunity to consider possible effects and comment on those effects. The comments concerning those effects have been considered and where necessary amendments were made to the Code. Therefore pursuant to section 39 of the Act, I, John Luxton, Minister of Energy, have this day approved the Code as attached to this approval, which Code shall come into force on the first day of April 1993. Dated this 18 th day of March 1993. John Luxton Minister of Energy. ii
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION This Code of Practice for Inspection, Testing and Installation of Gasfitting Work done under Supervision was prepared by the Ministry of Commerce, Office of the Chief Inspecting Engineer (Gas). The following were involved in the preparation of this Code of Practice: Gas Association of New Zealand Inc. Natural Gas Corporation of New Zealand Ltd. REVIEW This Code of Practice will be revised as occasions arise. Suggestions for improvement of this Code are welcome. They should be sent to the Office of the Chief Inspecting Engineer (Gas) Ministry of Commerce PO Box 1473 Wellington iii
CONTENTS FOREWORD 1 1 SCOPE, RELATED DOCUMENTS, INTERPRETATION 2 1.1 Scope... 2 1.2 Related documents... 3 1.3 Interpretation... 3 2 GENERAL 4 2.1 Supervision... 4 2.2 Inspection and testing... 4 2.3 Non-qualified persons limited to specified gasfitting work... 5 2.4 Maintenance of records... 5 3 PRELIMINARY CHECKS AND EVALUATIONS 5 3.1 Scoping gasfitting work... 5 4 INSPECTION AND TESTING OF GASFITTING WORK 6 4.1 Inspection... 6 4.2 Testing... 6 4.3 Remedial Action... 7 5 CERTIFICATION OF NEW GASFITTING WORK 7 5.1 General... 7 6 CONNECTION TO GAS SUPPLY, PURGING AND COMMISSIONING 8 6.1 Connection to gas supply... 8 6.2 Purging... 8 6.3 Commissioning of gas appliances... 8 7 GAS APPLIANCE AND GAS SAFETY TRAINING 9 7.1 Gas appliance operation and safety training... 9 7.2 Gas safety training... 9 Page iv
FOREWORD The enactment of the Gas Act 1992 and the amendment of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 1976 by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Amendment Act 1992 and subsequent promulgation of regulations have resulted in changes to the controls imposed on gasfitting work. Gasfitting work is no longer subject to mandatory inspection by a third party upon completion. Instead gasfitting work is to be certified by a suitably qualified person such as a craftsman gasfitter, placing responsibility for the gasfitting work on that craftsman gasfitter as the certifier. In addition there is now flexibility which allows non-registered persons to carry out gasfitting work. It is now permissible for persons with no formal gasfitting training to perform gasfitting work under the supervision of a craftsman gasfitter, who is required to test and certify the work upon its successful completion (or may supervise and authorise a registered gasfitter to test and certify the work and connect the supply of gas). The over-riding principles are that the gasfitting work must be soundly engineered and installed and that the finished gas installation must be safe before it is connected to a gas supply. This Code of Practice sets out the various requirements associated with testing and certification of gasfitting work done under supervision. It must be read in conjunction with an appropriate installation standard or code of practice. For all gas installations within its scope there is a requirement for the gas installation to comply with the New Zealand Standard NZS 5261 "Code of Practice for the Installation of Gas Burning Appliances and Equipment". For industrial gas installations, NZS 5261 is cited as a means of compliance. This Code is intended for use by: - Persons who perform or intend to perform gasfitting work in accordance with section 57(5) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. - Certifiers who supervise, or intend to supervise, the gasfitting work of such persons. Users of this Code are reminded that they should be familiar with relevant legislative requirements under the: Gas Act 1992 Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 1976 Gas Regulations 1993 1
1 SCOPE, RELATED DOCUMENTS, INTERPRETATION 1.1 Scope 1.1.1 This Code defines the specific requirements for the inspection, testing and certification of gasfitting work done under supervision in New Zealand by persons entitled to do gasfitting work only by exemption under section 57(5) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. This Code provides guidelines for: (a) those non-qualified persons who may perform gasfitting work only under the supervision of craftsman gasfitters in accordance with section 57(5) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Plumbers Act; (b) those registered gasfitters, acting under the authority of a craftsman gasfitter who has supervised the work, who test, certify and connect to the supply of gas the gasfitting work carried out by such non-qualified persons; (c) those craftsmen gasfitters who undertake to supervise, certify and connect to the supply of gas, the gasfitting work performed by such non-qualified persons. [Information Note:- In this context, "under the authority of a craftsman gasfitter" means that the registered gasfitter has written authority from a craftsman gasfitter in each instance. This may take the form of a counter-signature on the gasfitting certification certificate.] 1.1.2 The following categories of gasfitting work are not covered by this Code: (a) self-certified work performed by a craftsman gasfitter; (b) non-supervised work performed by a registered gasfitter or the holder of a limited certificate in gasfitting issued by the Board, whose work has to be certified by a craftsman gasfitter; (c) work performed under an employer licence granted under section 39A of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act; (d) work performed by competent organisations as defined in the Gas Regulations 1993; (e) work performed by persons entitled to do gasfitting work by exemption under section 57(1), 57(2), 57(3) or 57(4) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. [Information Note:- The gasfitting work covered by this Code may be subject to an audit by the Secretary of Commerce or by the Board.] 2
1.2 Related documents The attention of users of this Code is drawn to the requirements of the legislation and standards listed below in relation to performance and certification of gasfitting work: Gas Act 1992 Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 1976 Gas Regulations 1993 NZS 5261:1990 Code of Practice for the installation of gas burning appliances and equipment 1.3 Interpretation 1.3.1 In this Code "Information Notes" are used. These notes appear in italics after the text of the Code, contained within square brackets. They form no part of the specifications, recommendations or requirements of this Code and are included only to draw the attention of the reader to information that has some bearing on the application of this Code. These notes do not remove from the reader his or her responsibility to be aware of legislation or remove the possibility of seeking confirmation of its applicability where necessary from the regulatory body. 1.3.2 In this Code, unless the context requires otherwise: "Board" has the same meaning as in the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. "Certifier" means a person entitled to test and certify work performed under section 57(5) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act (a craftsman gasfitter or a registered gasfitter acting under the authority of a craftsman gasfitter). "Craftsman gasfitter" has the same meaning as in the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. "Gas" has the same meaning as in the Gas Act 1992. "Gas appliance" has the same meaning as in the Gas Act 1992. "Gas installation" has the same meaning as in the Gas Act 1992. "Gasfitting" has the same meaning as in the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. "Inspection" means the appropriate examination of gasfitting work and the gas installation to provide a judgement on compliance with set criteria for the purpose of certification. "Non-qualified person" means any person entitled to do gasfitting work under supervision only by exemption under section 57(5) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. 3
"Registered gasfitter" has the same meaning as in the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. "Supervision", as defined by section 57(6) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act, means that the work is undertaken under such control and direction of a craftsman gasfitter as is sufficient to ensure the work is performed competently and safely. 2 GENERAL 2.1 Supervision 2.1.1 The certifier shall supervise all gasfitting work performed by the non-qualified person regardless of whether the work is of a kind which requires certification. 2.1.2 A gasfitting certificate shall not be issued unless the gasfitting work for which certification is required has been supervised in accordance with section 2.1.1. 2.2 Inspection and testing 2.2.1 For non-industrial gas installations, all new gasfitting work and any alteration, addition or replacement to an existing gas installation shall be inspected and tested by a certifier to ensure that it complies with NZS 5261, or in the case of installations outside the scope of NZS 5261, meets appropriate equivalent performance criteria. 2.2.2 For industrial gas installations, all new gasfitting work and any alteration, addition or replacement to an existing gas installation shall be inspected and tested by a certifier to ensure the gas installation conforms to NZS 5261 or other acceptable alternative installation standard. 2.2.3 A gasfitting certificate shall be issued by a certifier for any gasfitting work for which certification is required and which meets the inspection and testing criteria. [Information Note:- The Gas Regulations 1993 specify the kinds of gasfitting work for which certification is required. This includes construction of gas installations, additions, replacements and alterations.] 2.3 Non-qualified persons limited to specified gasfitting work Non-qualified persons shall not perform certain gasfitting work. 4
[Information Note:- Non-qualified persons shall not perform gasfitting work on pipework containing gas or physically connected to a source of gas. Non-qualified persons shall not connect any gasfitting work to any source of gas. Section 57(5) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act.] 2.4 Maintenance of records 2.4.1 The certifier is required to retain certain records. [Information Note:- Refer to the Gas Regulations 1993 for specific requirements.] 3 PRELIMINARY CHECKS AND EVALUATIONS 3.1 Scoping gasfitting work 3.1.1 Prior to the commencement of any work by the non-qualified person, the non-qualified person should obtain agreement from the certifier that the certifier is prepared to supervise and test the work. 3.1.2 Prior to the commencement of any work by the non-qualified person, the certifier shall establish the full scope of the intended work, the type of gas to be supplied and the availability of that supply. It is recommended that the certifier test the soundness of any existing gas installation that may be in place. 3.1.3 The certifier shall advise the non-qualified person of: (a) the extent of supervision, inspection and testing that will be required; and (b) the limitations imposed on the gasfitting work that can be performed by non-qualified persons in accordance with section 2.3; and (c) the requirement that the work comply with either NZS 5261, or with appropriate equivalent performance criteria where the work is in a non-industrial installation and is not covered by NZS 5261, or with an acceptable alternative installation standard where the work is in an industrial installation; and (d) the properties of gas that impact on safety; and (e) any testing programme to meet the requirements of section 4 in the event that the gasfitting work is required to be installed, inspected, tested or commissioned in stages. 5
4 INSPECTION AND TESTING OF GASFITTING WORK 4.1 Inspection 4.1.1 The certifier shall perform a final inspection of the gasfitting work to ensure the gas installation conforms to NZS 5261 or other acceptable alternative standard or code, where applicable. 4.2 Testing 4.2.1 Once the gas installation has passed the final inspection as in section 4.1, the certifier shall perform a final pressure test on the gas installation. 4.2.2 Where NZS 5261 was used as the installation standard, testing shall be in accordance with clause 101.7 of that standard. Where another installation standard was used, (i.e. the work is in an industrial installation) relevant parts of that standard may be used as an alternative. 4.2.3 The final pressure test shall be performed on the entire gas installation unless this can be achieved in stages in accordance with a previously agreed testing programme as in section 3.1.3. Where an installation is commissioned in stages, joints shall be checked for gas leaks. 4.3 Remedial Action 4.3.1 Where at any stage during installation, inspection or testing any remedial action is identified as necessary to bring the gas installation to a standard suitable for certification, it shall be the responsibility of the certifier to either: (a) (b) take appropriate remedial action; or instruct the non-qualified person as to whatever remedial action is appropriate. [Information Note:- All persons using this Code are reminded of the existence of particular requirements in relation to identification of gas installations or appliances with hazards. Gas Regulations 1993.] 6
5 CERTIFICATION OF NEW GASFITTING WORK 5.1 General 5.1.1 In the event that the gasfitting work is to be commissioned and connected to a gas supply in stages over a period exceeding 5 working days, the certifier shall issue a gasfitting certificate for each stage. 5.1.2 The certifier shall not issue a gasfitting certificate unless the gasfitting work has successfully passed inspection and pressure testing in accordance with section 4 of this Code. [Information Note:- The certifier shall issue a gasfitting certificate within 5 working days of: (a) the successful completion of the final inspection and testing of the gasfitting work and its connection to a gas supply, or (b) the successful inspection and testing of that part of the gasfitting work which has been connected to a gas supply, if the work is commissioned in stages. Gas Regulations 1993.] [Information Note:- All gasfitting certification certificates for work performed under this Code shall be on prescribed forms issued by the Board. Gas Regulations 1993.] [Information Note:- The certifier shall complete the gasfitting certification certificate and: (a) return the original to the Board, (b) supply a copy to the owner of the gasfitting work, (c) supply a copy to the gas supplier, and (d) retain a copy. Gas Regulations 1993.] 6 CONNECTION TO GAS SUPPLY, PURGING AND COMMISSIONING 6.1 Connection to gas supply 6.1.1 New gasfitting work shall not be connected to a gas supply unless it has been satisfactorily inspected and tested in accordance with section 4 of this Code. [Information Note:- Gasfitting work performed by non-qualified persons shall be connected to a supply of gas by a craftsman gasfitter or by a registered gasfitter acting under the authority of a craftsman gasfitter. Section 57(5)(c) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act.] 7
6.2 Purging 6.2.1 Subsequent to any gasfitting work, and prior to attempting to light any gas appliance all pipework shall be purged of air by the certifier. 6.2.2 Where NZS 5261 was used as the installation standard, purging shall be in accordance with clause 101.8 of that standard. Where another installation standard was used, (i.e. the work is in an industrial installation) relevant clauses of that standard may be used as an alternative. 6.3 Commissioning of gas appliances 6.3.1 Commissioning of pipework and gas appliances shall be performed by the certifier in strict accordance with good practice and should take into account any instructions or directions provided by the gas appliance manufacturer. 7 GAS APPLIANCE AND GAS SAFETY TRAINING 7.1 Gas appliance operation and safety training 7.1.1 Upon the completion of any purging and commissioning work the certifier shall demonstrate the operation and safety features of each gas appliance installed to the gas installation owner or another person who is likely to operate the gas appliances. 7.1.2 The certifier shall ensure the gas installation owner is familiar with the operation of the gas appliances, and with the servicing manual, if any, for each gas appliance installed. 7.1.3 The certifier shall ensure that the gas installation owner and any other person who is likely to operate the gas appliances is advised of any routine safety checks recommended by the manufacturer. 7.2 Gas safety training 7.2.1 Upon the completion of any purging and commissioning work, the certifier shall explain to the gas installation owner or another person who is likely to operate the gas appliances of the properties of gas that impact upon safety. 7.2.2 The certifier shall ensure that the gas installation owner or operator is familiar with the smell of the odorant added to the gas for safety purposes. 8
7.2.3 The certifier shall ensure that basic instruction is provided to the gas installation owner and any other person who is likely to operate the gas appliances of the precautions to be taken in the event of gas escape or leakage. 9