EnergySafe Magazine May 2014, issue 35 | Page 22

22 Gas news Acceptance for steam boilers By David Harrison, ESV Investigations Officer There’s a process that needs to be followed to get Type B appliances (steam boilers included) accepted. So if you are contemplating the installation of a steam boiler at your premises you must follow the requirements of the Gas Safety Act and Gas Safety Regulations. Steam boilers using natural gas or LP Gas as a heat energy source fall under the provisions of the Gas Safety Act 1997 and require an application for acceptance, including the additional information to be supplied for a Type B appliance (as detailed in Schedule 9 of the Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2008) to be submitted to ESV. Click here for the application form or go to the ESV website at www.esv.vic.gov.au/ Gas-Professionals/Gas-installations/ Application-forms. Schedule 9 requires you to provide the following information: »» Appliance details »» Description of the appliance function »» Valve train schematic diagram »» Electrical circuit diagram »» Process and instrumentation diagram »» Purge time calculation »» Safe start gas rate »» Explosion relief area and dilution air flow rate »» Details of flueing »» Details of ventilation »» Commissioning procedures and operating instructions. In the case of a Type B appliance with a nominal gas consumption of more than 1000MJ per hour, the gross thermal efficiency over its designed operating range and a statement comparing the appliance’s efficiency with the best available performance in its class are required. For an explanation of the Type B application process, and details of the requirements of Schedule 9, ESV has provided a guide that On the boil: Steam boilers using natural or LP Gas require an appl