EnergySafe Magazine Spring 2015, issue 41 | Page 20

20

Gas
News

Protecting
combustible
surfaces
By Tyler Mason, Gas Engineer
Recently ESV was made aware that
some fire resistant boards, used
extensively in gas installations, are
failing to provide adequate thermal
protection to combustible surfaces.
It is expected that fire resistant board will not
allow combustible surfaces to reach temperatures
greater than 65C above ambient temperature;
however instances have been identified where
temperatures have exceeded 100C.
This situation has caused ESV to begin an
investigation into the standard of testing in the
m anufacture of fire resistant board. Some fire
resistant boards are sourced from overseas.
Fire resistant board has two requirements,
one to be composed of non-combustible material
and the other is to provide thermal insulation
in order to protect combustible surfaces.
Australian and New Zealand Standard A
S/NZS 5601.1: 2013, in clause 6.2.5 Temperature
limitation on nearby combustible surface and
Appendix C Fire resistant material clearly
describes the requirements of fire resistant
board and plumbers and gasfitters should
seek confirmation from manufacturers and
suppliers that their fire resistant board meets
these requirements.

On-site
gasfitting to
be included
in National
Construction
Code
By Michael Weber, GIAS Technical
Communicator
The Australian Building Codes Board
(ABCB) is proposing that gasfitting
(excluding Type B appliances) be
included in the National Construction
Code (NCC). This would involve the
development of a Gas Code of Australia
that would include performance-based
requirements and references to Australian
standards, which would contain means
of compliance requirements.
The inclusion of a Gas Code is not
intended to change technical requirements
for gasfitters and any changes to regulations

Just in time: ESV Gas Inspector Cameron Diplock inspecting the aftermath of a fire that occured behind
fire resistant materials and was caught early before it spread.

Installers of domestic gas cooking
appliances can find more information in
ESV’s Gas Information Sheet 6 Feature
walls in domestic kitchens and Gas
Information Sheet 25 Domestic gas
cooking appliance clearances.
ESV has already independently tested
these boards and identified some have not
met requirements and on the strength of the
results of that testing Gas Information Sheet
3 Fire resistant boards has been withdrawn.

ESV and fire resistant board manufacturers
and suppliers are now investigating standards
and testing that are applied to fire resistant
boards. Until this situation is cleared up, gasfitters
should confirm the fire resistant boards they use
are suitable to the application. Moisture content
has been identified as a potential issue of boards
meeting requirements.
ESV will present outcomes of the investigation
to Standards Australia with recommendations
for improvements to AS/NZS 5601.1: 2013.

will be limited to the governance of rules.
Existing performance requirements in
AS/NZS 5601 Gas Installations can be
used as a basis for the new Gas Code.
ESV and the Victorian Building Authority
(VBA) support this venture as there are benefits
including improved communication between
the gasfitting, building and plumbing sectors.
It is expected the inclusion of a Gas Code
will improve the coordination and compliance
for building requirements as the Gas Code
will mesh in with the Building Code and
installation and construction efficiency will
improve. As plumbing and gasfitting share
many common elements the creation of a
Gas Code along similar lines to that of the
Plumbing Code will ensure these close links
remain between these two sectors.
The ABCB is not intending to administer
the certification of Type A gas appliances
and gas components as part of the proposal.
However, currently the ABCB administers the
Watermark certification scheme for plumbing
products and therefore it will be interesting
to note if the proposed changes will include
administration of the certification for Type A
gas appliances and gas components.
If the proposed changes are adopted then
there will be a need to amend legislation.

It is envisaged the Gas Code will be limited
to on-site gasfitting and will include all on-site
gasfitting work after the gas meter, or first
stage LP Gas regulator, up to the connection
to the gas appliance. Associated areas include
appliance installation, flues, air ducts, pipework
and ventilation. The Gas Code scope will align
with the scope of AS/NZS 5601.
The governance of the Gas Code is
a critical issue. There is a need to have the
ABCB and the Gas Code Technical Committee
on board at the development stage and for
ongoing code maintenance. To accomplish this
requirement, it is proposed to appoint a gas
regulatory representative and a gas industry
representative to the ABCB to provide input
into the operation of the Gas Code.
The impact of the proposal to AS/NZS 5601
requires further consideration as does the impact
on New Zealand and caravans and boats, which
are covered under part 2 of AS/NZS 5601.
For this venture to go ahead, the inclusion
of a Gas Code must demonstrate benefits
and be subjected to a Regulatory Impact
Statement as this will provide detailed analysis
of costs as well as benefits. Smoother
coordination and compliance for building
requirements is a positive direction for the
construction industry.