Type A appliance approval
There are two pathways for Type A gas appliances in Western Australia:
- Approval under the gas certification scheme; or
- Approval under individual gas appliances certification scheme.
Approval under the gas certification scheme
Energy Safety uses Australian Standards as the basis for the assessment of gas appliance safety. Type A gas appliances are typically assessed and certified by Conformity Assessment Bodies (CAB).
Most domestic and commercial catering gas appliances sold in Western Australia are covered by the gas certification scheme.
Gas Technical Regulators in all other States and Territories have also accepted this scheme.
Certifications given under the gas certification scheme are, in turn, adopted by the Director of Energy Safety as approval for the purpose of the Gas Standards Act 1972.
Approval under the gas certification scheme may be obtained by applying to one of the following Conformity Assessment Bodies:
- The Australian Gas Association: www.gas.asn.au
- Standards Australia: www.intertekinform.com/en-au/publishers/as/
- IAPMO R&T Oceana: www.iapmooceana.org
- Global-Mark: http://www.global-mark.com.au
- BSI Australia: www.bsigroup.com/en-au/
Approval under individual gas appliances certification scheme
For one-off Type A gas appliance approval in Western Australia, the appliance may instead be approved under the individual certification scheme. The individual certification scheme was approved and gazetted on 23/8/2024.
The individual certification scheme requires a competent authority, recognised by the Director of Energy Safety, to carry out the testing required for approving individual Type A gas appliances.
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Building and Energy division, which assists the Director of Energy Safety in administering the Gas Standards Act 1972, is in the process of receiving applications from persons or organisations that wish to be recognised as a competent authority.
The competent authority application must demonstrate their competencies, experience, and quality control system for testing Type A gas appliances.
Until further notice, persons seeking to have their Type A gas appliance approved are advised to apply for approval under the gas certification scheme through one of the CABs.
For more information, please contact egpgeneraladmin@demirs.wa.gov.au or call 08 6251 1900.
Type B appliance approval
A consumer shall not use a Type B gas appliance in Western Australia unless the gas appliance is approved by the Director of Energy Safety, and is marked, stamped or labelled in the manner approved by the Director.
Type B appliances are large commercial and industrial gas appliances. A Type B appliance must not be installed in a consumer's gas installation unless it is currently approved for such installation by the Director, or it is individually approved in writing for such installation by an inspector. This requires the manufacturer/installer to obtain certification from a Type B gas appliance inspector, through a technical submission (that is, a desktop appraisal) that the appliance will satisfy the technical standards required by the regulations.
Additional information:
- Type B appliances are assessed against those requirements set out in AS 3814 and AS 1375.
- Stationary engines are classified as Type B appliances, if the energy input of the stationary gas engine exceeds 1000MJ/h.
Guidelines for the approval of Type B (industrial) gas appliances in Western Australia
Guidelines have been developed and issued by the Director of Energy Safety, Building and Energy Division of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Western Australia.
The guidelines assist members of the gas industry by providing information on:
- how to obtain approval for installing and operating Type B appliances;
- the roles of industry participants in having a Type B appliance approved; and
- the regulatory requirements to approve Type B appliances in Western Australia.
If any part of these guidelines is in conflict with legislation, the legislation takes precedence.
Guidelines for the approval of industrial gas appliances (Type B) in Western Australia
Any enquiries or comments in relation to the guidelines can be addressed to:
Principal Engineer Gas Utilisation
Building and Energy
303 Sevenoaks Street
Cannington WA 6107
Email: be.energy@demirs.wa.gov.au
Independent Type B gas inspectors
The Gas Standards (Gasfitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999 require Type B gas appliances to be approved for installation and subsequently certified as approved before being left permanently connected to the gas supply.
Gas suppliers may provide this service through their own suitably designated inspectors. However, the Director of Energy Safety has also designated the following independent Type B gas inspectors with powers to approve Type B gas appliances.
The inspectors may be contracted by Type B appliance users or gas suppliers, on a fee-for-service basis.
Each inspector has specific conditions attached to their designation. These deal with issues such as the maximum size (consumption) of the appliance, the need to be invited by the operator of the gas installation to carry out the inspection work, the need to be independent of the appliance vendor and installer and to have no conflict of interest.
Designations and delegations for gas inspectors
The designation instruments are a prescribed form under the Energy Coordination (General) Regulations 1995. It is a legal requirement for the instruments to be in the prescribed form. This has required some changes to be made compared to designations that have been issued in the past.
All of the powers of inspection given to a Gas Inspector are now listed under the heading “Powers of inspection that may be exercised”. Some instruments previously listed these powers under a separate heading after the Director’s signature although the prescribed form did not provide for this separate heading.
Limitations/restrictions have been standardised depending on whether the Gas Inspector is to be authorised to inspect/approve Type A appliances, Type B appliances, or Consumer Gas Installations, or some combination of those.
More information can be found in the Department’s Code of Practice for inspectors – Gas.
Additional documents:
- Information for applicants for designation inspector – Gas
- Application for designation as a new inspector – Gas
- Renewal application for designation as an inspector – Gas
List of independent Type B gas inspectors
Building and Energy cannot guarantee or be in any way responsible for the actions of these inspectors or the nature or level of fees for their service.
Lindsay Kier (GI039)
310 Peet Road
Roleystone WA 6111
Ph: (08) 9332 8941
Mob: 0417 328 941
Fax: (08) 9332 8941
Phil Clarke (GI449)
Safe Energy Services
PO Box 513
Dianella WA 6059
Mob: 0429 883 345
Fax: (08) 9275 3912
Email: phil@safeenergyservices.com.au
Website: www.safeenergyservices.com.au
David Brown (GI462)
Australian Gas Inspection Services
8C Hindmarsh Ave
Yokine WA 6060
Ph: (08) 9371 5826
Mob: 0431 084 777
Fax: (08) 9371 5826
Email: david.brown@agiswa.com.au
Website: www.agiswa.com.au
Simon Dade (GI472)
Gas Support Pty Ltd
Mob: 0458 372 435
Email: simondade@icloud.com
Website: gassupport.com.au
Peter Harris (GI584)
Risk and Energy Services Pty Ltd
Mob: 0402 089 645
Email: p_eter_harris@yahoo.com.au
Matthew MacPherson (GI585)
BMS Gas & Oil Services
PO Box 39
Burswood WA 6100
Mob: 0414 918 597
Email: gasinspector@bmsgasandoilservices.com.au
Requirements variation and exemptions
The Director of Energy Safety, under regulation 32(3) of the Gas Standards (Gasfitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999, has issued the following variations and exemptions from requirements in the codes and standards listed in Schedule 7 of the regulations. Each request has been allocated a number for future identification purposes.
These variations and exemptions can generally be applied to gas installations in Western Australia. Gas installations that utilise a variation or exemption must conform to the conditions imposed in the variation or exemption, including the recording of the variation or exemption number of the compliance badge, by the gas fitter who carries out the work.
An application may be made for a variation/exemption from the requirements of Regulation 32(1) of the Gas Standards (Gasfitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999. Generally, requests are received for variation/exemptions to Schedule 6 of the regulations or clause requirements from the Standards/Codes that are referred to in Schedule 7 of the regulations.
When can you apply?
An application for a variation/exemption needs to be submitted at the design/planning stage prior to the proposed installation taking place. An application for an existing installation will not be considered.
Building and Energy may review the validity of an application for a variation or exemption to ensure adherence to the policy of conforming with Australian Standard requirements wherever possible prior to processing the application. This is of particular relevance for installations that need to comply with the requirements of the Australian Standard AS/NZS 5601: Gas installations.
A variation or exemption application may be considered by the Director of Energy Safety or delegate under Sub-regulation 32(3) of the regulations:
The Director may, in relation to a requirement for consumer's gas installation or type of consumer's gas installation specified in schedule 6 or 7 of the regulations:
- vary a requirement;
- specify that a requirement does not apply; or
- specify a requirement in addition to the requirements.
Who can apply?
For Class G (general or commercial) installations, the application can be submitted by a gas fitter/consultant/owner operator/appliance manufacturer or other party.
For Class I (industrial or large commercial) installations, the application is generally submitted via a Type B Designation Gas Inspector.
Irrespective of who submits the application, it must contain evidence that it is supported by the owner or operator.
How to apply
You can post or email your application for a variation/exemption to the Director of Energy Safety or delegate. Contact details are as follows:
Post:
Building and Energy
Principal Engineer Gas Utilisation
Locked Bag 100
East Perth WA 6892
