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GIS 27: Dealing with a dangerous installation

Purpose

This Gas Information Sheet outlines ESVs expectations when dealing with a dangerous installation. The Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2018 requires a person carrying out gasfitting work to take certain actions if they become aware of a dangerous installation.

A dangerous installation is one that presents a threat to life or property.

Dangerous gas installations

Gas installations and appliances are found to be dangerous because of various defects, which include the following:

  • Unsafe installation of appliance
  • Faulty appliances
  • Appliance safety devices tampered with or removed
  • Significant gas escape
  • Significant flue spillage
  • Dangerous storage of LPG bottles
  • Appliance situated in an obscure location
  • Carbon monoxide present or suspected

What to do when faced with a dangerous installation

  1. The first priority when identifying a dangerous installation is to ensure you are safe and the property is not damaged. The person carrying out the work must:
    1. Make the installation or appliance safe;
    2. Notify the occupier or owner about the defect; and
    3. If unable to make safe, notify the gas distribution company (if Natural Gas) or gas retailer (if LPG).

Note: Penalties may apply for failure to act as above.

  1. If the person carrying out the gasfitting work is unable to make the gas installation safe, or it is unreasonable for the person to make the gas installation safe, he or she must without delay notify ESV and the Natural Gas distribution company or LPG retailer who supplies gas to the defective installation.
  2. When notifying the occupier, explain that further use would put the occupier at serious risk and you are obliged under the Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2018 to make safe.
    If the occupier refuses to allow you to make safe, including withdrawal of supply, advise that you are required to notify the gas supplier.
  3. You have no right to work on the installation without the owner’s permission. Record the details of the refusal (owner/occupiers name, date and time) and nature of the defect and danger.

If the dangerous installation appears to have been caused by poor workmanship, or it is an illegal installation, Energy Safe Victoria should be notified: contact the ESV Gas Technical Information line on 1800 652 563 (Option 5).

Date: 29/03/2024 6:22

Controlled document

The currency and accuracy of this document cannot be guaranteed once printed or saved to a storage device. If in doubt, please check the ESV website for the current version.

Reviewed 29 January 2023

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