On 30 September 2022, Standards Australia published a new version of AS/NZS 5601.1 Gas Installations part 1: General installations that supersedes AS/NZS 5601.1:2013. The new version of AS/NZS 5601.1 is automatically adopted in Western Australia.
AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 applies to new installations and modifications/extensions to existing installations. It does not apply retrospectively to the existing gas installations or their repair.
For example, a Class G gasfitter is working on a like-for-like replacement of a gas cooker in a house where a multilayer pipe was already installed. The gasfitting work is not required to comply with the new emergency isolation requirements for multilayer pipe in AS/NZS 5601:2022 because the gasfitting work was not done on or affected the multilayer pipe.
There is a six-month transition period from the date of publication where both the 2013 and the 2022 editions of AS/NZS 5601.1 are acceptable. However, Building and Energy recommends complying with AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 as soon as possible.
Gasfitters are required to comply in full with AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 from 30 March 2023.
A summary of the major changes from AS/NZS 5601.1:2013 are:
- A new definition for an "ignition source".
- Section 2 has been separated into "Essential safety requirements" and "Performance-based design requirements".
- Brazing is prohibited within 1 m of a joint with non-metallic components.
- There are new drawings for consumer piping located in cavities.
- The installation of multilayer pipes above-ground external to buildings is prohibited.
- Provision of emergency isolation for multilayer pipe, including a new definition for a fire safety system.
- The minimum clearance between the supporting surface for a cooking vessel in a domestic cooking appliance and a range hood has increased to 650mm for new gas installations in new kitchens to align with the international clearance requirements for range hoods. For the replacement of domestic cooking appliances in existing installations, the minimum clearance will remain 600mm unless the manufacturer's installation instructions specify a greater clearance.
- Restriction on the use of semi-rigid connectors in the installation of commercial catering equipment.
- New requirements for the protection of combustible surfaces adjacent to commercial catering equipment.
- New pipe sizing graphs and tables that allow for greater flow capacities for complex gas installations with large pipe diameters and long pipe runs.
- An informative clause on the effect of altitude on gas supply pressure for high-rise building installations has been included.
- Revised requirements for the location of flue terminals under a covered area, in a recess, or on a balcony.
- New requirement for the isolation of installations in educational institutions.
- Freestanding commercial catering equipment with a connection point under the equipment cannot be connected via a hose assembly.
- New requirements for the connection of freestanding commercial catering equipment using a hose assembly.
- There are new requirements for the connection of freestanding commercial catering equipment using a hose assembly and a high-level connection.
- Commercial kitchens will require an isolation valve to be installed where there is more than one commercial catering appliance to be installed.
- The flue of a gas appliance is no longer allowed to terminate in a roof space.
Building and Energy will provide further guidance on these changes in the coming weeks.
AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 can be purchased from authorised distributors listed here https://standards.org.au/access-standards.
