EnergySafe Magazine Spring 2014, issue 37 | Page 23

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For all the latest energy safety news visit www.esv.vic.gov.au

Spring 2014
energysafe issue 37

New options for compliance
of gas installations under
AS/NZS 5601
By Jason Treseder,
Type A Gas Engineer
All gasfitters should be aware that
AS/NZS 5601 was published late last year
and is now called up in Victoria. One of the
more obvious changes from the 2004 edition
was the introduction of a new Section Two—
Performance-based design and other
essential requirements.
The additional section provides a new path
for compliance, based on demonstrating
compliance with performance-based
requirements for installations where Means of
Compliance requirements in sections three to
six are not possible or necessary to achieve.
While it is expected that Means of Compliance
will remain the default method for most installations,
performance requirements provide a new path for
installations with innovative technology or other
reasons for not being able to directly comply with
the Means of Compliance requirements.
Means of Compliance
The Means of Compliance sections contain
prescriptive requirements, for which a combination
of experience, history and calculations have
already shown will produce safe and reliable
installations. In contrast, performance-based
requirements are based on the high level safety
and operational objectives that must be achieved,
without specifying or limiting how the objective
may be achieved. This provides a high level of
flexibility for the installation, although an equally
high level of responsibility is placed on the installer
to ensure all aspects of the performance base
requirement have been addressed, without causing

detriment to other aspects of the installation.
It is important to be aware that performancebased requirements offer an alternative means for
demonstrating compliance and are not an option
for installations that are simply not compliant.
In particular, the installer using performancebased requirements is obliged to ensure that
the level of safety, convenience and efficiency
of operation for installations is not less than for
installations that comply with the prescribed
means of compliance.
Exemption process
In the past installations that did not comply with
the prescriptive means of compliance requirements
required an application for exemptions (schedule 6)
under the Gas Safety Act. The exemption process
still exists and remains the only option for installations
that are directly non-compliant. For installations
where performance-based and exemption
application approaches are both possible, it is up
to the installer to choose which path they prefer.
Alternative solutions for complex gas
installations must be assessed by ESV to ensure
they meet the performance requirements of the
installation. The Victorian Building Authority (VBA)
should be contacted when considering alternative
solutions for standard gas installations.
ESV requirements for alternative solutions
ESV requires all alternative solutions that
are based on performance requirements to
be accompanied by documentation. The
documentation should outline the scope of
work the alternative solution relates to as well as:
»» the performance requirements that the
alternative solution is required to meet

»» identification of the relevant deemed-to-satisfy
clause
»» documents relied on to substantiate the
alternative solution proposal including, where
relevant, NATA-accredited test reports and
expert judgments
»» other evidence that is being relied upon
to support the alternative solution.
The level of documentation and evidence
required will depend on the nature of the
installation and the performance requirement
being addressed. All documentation must be
kept by the gasfitter for seven years.
Assessment methods
Assessment methods for each installation
are determined based on the complexity of the
alternative solution design and performance
requirements to be achieved.
Assessment methods may include:
»» review of documentary evidence
»» verification of methods
»» independent expert judgment methods
»» comparison to the deemed-to-satisfy
requirements.
Submissions will be reviewed on a caseby-case basis and no guarantee is given that a
performance-based approach will be accepted
by ESV. If a performance-based approach is
being considered it is recommended that ESV be
contacted and advised early on in the process.


Please contact the Gas Technical
Information Helpline on 1800 625
563 for further information.

NMIT: Training gasfitters for today and tomorrow
By Doug Rennie, ESV Gas Inspector
From modest beginnings, the Northern
Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT) recently
celebrated 100 years of quality trade
training. Today NMIT is one of Victoria’s
leading training providers for gasfitters.
With the continued partnership and support
of ESV, NMIT’s dedicated staff are proud to
offer a variety of courses in gasfitting.
NMIT training provides:
»» plumbing and gasfitting apprenticeships
»» registration with the Victorian Building
Authority in gasfitting
»» the opportunity to obtain a licence with the
Victorian Building Authority in gasfitting
»» gas conversion work
»» licence renewal with the Victorian Building

Authority for previously licenced gasfitters.
NMIT’s teaching staff are fully qualified in all
areas of plumbing and gasfitting.
NMIT facilities include state-of-the-art work
stations and equipment. Training is focused
on a combination of technical information and

hands-on practice, and at all times the
NMIT teaching staff seek the advice and
support of ESV.
For more information on existing courses or
new courses contact the plumbing and gasfitting
staff at NMIT on [phone].