When is a Gas Certificate of Conformance required?
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.
What is NOT covered by the Gas Certificate?
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.
How to check if an appliance is certified?
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.
What does a Gas Compliance Certificate Cost?
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.
Validity of the Gas Certificate!
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.