FAQ

LPG is abbreviated for Liquefied Petroleum Gas. LPG is used in many environment’s from home to industrial.

Commonly used in homes for gas heaters, stoves, hobs, braai’s, fireplaces and geysers.

• Always use a registered installer
• Always use a qualified gas dealer
• Always use a verified and tested gas product
• Always check the seal on a cylinder matches the brand of the cylinder
• Always check gas appliances before use

If you suspect your gas appliance is unsafe it is best to turn the appliance immediately and do not touch it until it has been checked by a registered gas engineer. Open all the doors and windows to air out the room and ensure you have shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve.

To ensure your gas installations are always in top working order ask a registered gas installer to perform an annual maintenance and service check.

For all homeowners with gas installations already installed on their property or if for those planning on doing so in the future it is vital to ensure compliance with all the above regulations not only to ensure you adhere to stipulations within your home owners insurance policy but to also make sure you and your precious family are safe from any gas related disasters.

You cannot purchase a cylinder, you can pay a deposit on the cylinder (R345.00) and this will remain property of the LPG company. When you return your cylinder the deposit will be refunded unless you are exchanging it for a full cylinder.

If you want to own the cylinder you would need to purchase either a Alva, Cadac etc. You are then responsible for the maintenance of the cylinder, including inspections etc.

Exchange is the term used for swopping an empty cylinder for a full cylinder and paying only for the gas.

There are times supplier only do exchange on a like for like basis.

i.e. Orxy – bring a green cylinder and get supplied a green cylinder. Bring any other colour and no swopping will happen.  This generally happens in peak demand times or when there are shortages of cylinders in the market.

Rogue is a term used for suppliers that do not follow acceptable filling practices. Rogue dealers do not purchase or maintain gas cylinders. Often when filled they are filled incorrectly and to incorrect volumes. 

Some rogue dealers go as far as substituting gas for water, sand etc. to lead you to believe the cylinder is full.

All certified fillers will have a seal with a serial no / tracing no imprinted on the seal with the brand name tying to the cylinder.

Orxy = green

Afrox- dark grey

Easy Gas – light grey

Total – orange

The rapidly increasing cost of electricity has resulted in a growth in popularity among many South African home-owners to utilise gas installations in their homes. However, most homeowners are unaware that there are specific regulations that they must comply with when installing gas equipment in their homes to ensure their insurance policy remains valid.

According to the regulations that were introduced in 2009, all gas installations must have a Certificate of Conformity according to the Pressure Equipment Regulations that have been promulgated under the Occupation Health and Safety Act (No 85 of 1993).

While this may sound like a complex, legal document – essentially it is a certificate that states that the installation has been properly inspected and is determined to be safe and leak free. It is critical that this certificate is also issued by an authorised person who is registered with the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa (LPGAS).

According to the regulation, any home-owner who has a liquid gas installation installed in their home must have this certificate, which is usually obtained during the installation phase. However, all home-owners considering gas installations need to know that the onus is on them, the homeowner, to ensure that they have this certificate in their possession, not the installer.

If your home is damaged or destroyed, as a result of a defective gas appliance – and you do not have a valid certificate issued by someone registered with LPGAS – the insurance implications could be significant. An insurance company would be well within their rights to repudiate a claim, which could have severe financial repercussions for the home-owner.

Having the installation inspected and approved is a quick and easy process – provided the installation has been done correctly – much in line with similar requirements for electrical installations, which also requires a certificate of compliance under the Machinery and Occupational Safety Act of 1983.

The types of gas installations that require this certificate include gas fires or braais, gas stoves and ovens, as well as hot water systems. It is vital for all home-owners to realise that such an inspection is not just essential for their insurance policy to remain valid, but even more importantly, that it is conducted to ensure that the installation is safe and their family is not put at risk. If a gas appliance has been incorrectly installed and results in a gas leak this could have major health implications for a family, not to mention the huge danger involved of an explosion.

It is also important for homeowners to know that if they wish to sell their home and they have a gas appliance installed, they are required to obtain the certificate and deliver a copy thereof to the new purchaser.

As is the case with the other COC Certificates, the overall cost of a Gas Compliance Certificate cannot be determined until the Gas Inspection has been performed.

Once we have performed the Gas Inspection, we can advise if any remedial work is required. If your gas installation is compliant and NO further rectifications are required, a new gas certificate can be issued to you at no additional charge over and above the initial gas inspection fee.

However, should remedial work be required to make your gas installation compliant, the homeowner should request for a detailed report on the work required and a quote of cost thereof.  

Regulation 17(3) of the Pressure Equipment Regulations promulgated in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 became effective on 1 October 2009 and makes it compulsory for a gas compliance certificate to be obtained in the event that a property is sold.

It should be noted that it matters not that the installation of the gas appliance predates 1 October 2009 and the certificate is required despite this fact.

Unlike in the case of the Electrical Compliance Certificate, there is no similar regulation regarding the length of the period of validity of a gas compliance certificate. It is, therefore, recommended that such a certificate is acquired on the sale of the property regardless of how old the existing one may be.

As with all the Compliance Certificates there are limits as to what the inspector and the seller are responsible for in order for a Compliance Certificate to be issued.

The inspector is limited to whatever regulations are in place at the time of the inspection. It is important to note that there is a big difference in issuing a Compliance Certificate and “servicing, upgrading or restoring” a Gas Installation. (Similar to roadworthy versus servicing or restoring a car.)

The primary concern of the Gas Compliance Certificate is SAFETY and the inspector report is not concerned with non-compliance issues such as:

Portable, temporary gas appliances, such as portable BBQ’s, Patio Heaters, internal heaters are not covered. These items are normally not included in the sale of the property and will be removed from the premises by the seller.

Replacing gas cylinders simply because they do not look brand new.

Re-filling empty gas cylinders.

Relocating gas cylinders to an aesthetically more pleasing position, if where they are situated is a legal position, the inspector will leave them there.

Do not install larger gas cylinders – the inspector may remove or install smaller cylinders if the maximum permissible volume is exceeded.

The inspection is limited to the gas installation only and the gas certificate does not cover the actual gas appliances, stove, heater, braai, hop, geyser etc.

• No less than 1 metre sideways from doors and windows.
• No less than 2 metres from drains and air vents.
• No less than 3 metres below windows (unless a non-combustible roof is installed).
• No less than 1 metre from the property boundary wall (unless it is a fire wall).
• No less than 5 metres sideways away from a switchable electric point or plug switch.
• Light bulbs cannot be less than 1.5 metres above a gas cylinder.
• Only class 1 or 2 copper pipes, or other approved gas piping, may be used (Note: This is not the same copper piping as used by plumbers).
• Copper pipes going through a wall must be sleeved.
• Approved flexible gas hose may not be more than two meters long and may not go through any partition (including wood, dry wall, cupboard wall etc).

If you would like to see if the appliance you would like to purchase or have, is certified with the LPG association of SA please follow click here to find your appliance.

All appliance installed need to be certified with LPGSA, a certificate of conformance cannot be issued if it is not certified.