Gas Act 2001 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 8 · Safety
64. Safety requirements in relation to gas
Feedback & supportNo person may carry out any work in such a manner that allows gas to escape unless precautions are taken to prevent any such escape of gas from being a danger to any person or property.
gas
“gas” means natural gas and town gas, but does not include liquefied petroleum gas;
No person may connect a gas installation to a source of gas without ensuring that every outlet is sealed with the appropriate gas fitting and the gas installation has been tested for gas tightness.
connect
“connect”, in relation to any premises, means connect to a gas main of a gas transporter, whether directly or by means of a gas service pipe, and “disconnect” and “re‑connect” have corresponding meanings except that they also include discontinuing or restoring (as the case may be) the conveyance of gas to the premises;
Where a person carries out any work in relation to a gas fitting which might affect the gas tightness of a gas installation, a gas pipeline or gas pipeline network, the person must immediately thereafter test the system for gas tightness.
gas fitting
“gas fitting” includes any pipe, valve, meter, regulator or other device for the control, measurement and use of gas;
Any person who disconnects a gas fitting must, with the appropriate fitting, seal off every outlet of every pipe to which it is connected.
No person carrying out work in relation to a gas fitting which involves exposing any part of the gas installation which contains or contained flammable gas may smoke or use any source of ignition unless the gas installation has been purged so as to remove all such gas or has otherwise been made safe from risk of fire or explosion.
gas installation
“gas installation” means a discrete grouping of gas fittings linking a gas service pipe to a gas appliance;
No person searching for an escape of gas from a gas fitting may use any source of ignition unless the source of ignition is incorporated as part of an instrument designed for the detection of gas.
No person may use any naked flame or carry out any hotwork in the vicinity where gas is known to be leaking.
hotwork
“hotwork” means any work on a non-isolated gas pipeline network involving the use of a local source of ignition and includes welding, gas‑cutting, grinding, chipping, and any process capable of generating heat, sparks or both, which may be capable of igniting flammable vapour or any other combustible material;
Any person who contravenes any provision of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $250 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.