What is a Gas Certificate of Compliance?

Also known as a certificate of conformity, a gas compliance certificate provides proof that the gas installation has been installed safely and according to standard, is in safe working condition and free from leaks or other potentially dangerous issues.

Regulation 17(3) of the Pressure Equipment Regulations, as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1993, states that a Gas Certificate of Conformity must be issued when there is a transfer of ownership for a property. This came into effect in October 2009.

In order for a certificate to be issued, the gas installation has to comply with the SABS Regulations for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations (SANS 10087–1, as amended).

Gas installations include all fixed or built-in appliances such as:

• Gas stoves
• Gas geysers or hot water systems
• Gas fireplaces or braais

What isn’t covered by a Gas Compliance Certificate?

All appliances e.g. ovens, stoves, instant water heaters, fireplaces, space heaters, etc.

All portable gas braais or gas heaters, which do not need a gas certificate of conformity.

How long is a gas certificate valid for?

With every new transfer of ownership of a property with gas installations, a new gas compliance certificate is required.

However, gas appliances and installations should undergo routine maintenance at least once a year, and with this, a new certificate should be issued.

Gas Compliance Certificate Requirements

The gas installation must meet certain requirements before it qualifies for a gas compliance certificate:

• No leaks present
• All rubber components must be replaced every 5 years
• Maximum cylinder size of 9kg for flats
• Maximum cylinder size of 19kg inside a house
• Maximum cylinder size of 100kg outside a free-standing property
• Only correctly selected fittings must be used
• Each appliance must have an isolation valve which has been SABS approved
• No electrical connections behind the hob and oven
• The hose must not exceed 2 meters in length and must not pass through a solid partition
• The cylinder must be positioned on a firm base and must be:
  • 5 meters from an electrical point above the valve
  • 1 meter away from a door, open window, or boundary wall
  • 3 meters away from a window below the cylinder
  • 2 meters away from drains or air-conditioning inlets
  • A gas geyser must be 1.4 meters from the ground surface and 1 meter away from the valve

(Information obtained from The Gas Works – Gas Installations Cape Town info@thegasworks.co.za)