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Overview

The intent of this technical information sheet is a guide for Gasfitters to help identify whether the gas installation they are completing is a Standard or Complex gas installation. Once this has been determined the Gasfitter will be able to notify the appropriate authority; the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) or Energy Safe Victoria (ESV).

Standard gas installation

Standard gas installations require the lodgement of a Compliance Certificate (CC) to the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) within five days of completing the installation, pursuant to Section 221ZH of the Building Act 1993.

Complex gas installation

Complex gas installations require the Gasfitter to obtain acceptance by Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) prior to commissioning the gas installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Refer to the attached tables to identify your installation type and to which authority (VBA/ESV) you lodge your application.

Definition

Storeys above the ground

The number of storeys above ground is a deciding factor as to whether the installation is a Standard installation or a Complex installation. Be aware the ground floor of any building is the 1st storey of that building and all subsequent floors above ground are measured from the ground floor.

A simple infographic depicting building height and storeys, including a basement.

Building classifications

The building classifications below are taken from the National Construction Code – Building Code of Australia Volume 1 2019 – Amendment 1.

Note: You may need to consult with your building surveyor to seek clarification of individual building classification.

Type of premises Installation type Who needs to be notified? Limitations, criteria and notice requirements
VBA ESV
Class 1a

A single dwelling being—A detached house.
Standard Yes No Lodge a Compliance Certificate with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) within five days of completing the installation.

Class 1a

A single dwelling being—One of a group of two or more attached dwellings, each being a building, separated by a fire-resisting wall, including a row house, terrace house, town house or villa unit.

Standard Yes No Lodge a Compliance Certificate with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) within five days of completing the installation.

Class 1b

(a) A boarding house, guest house, hostel or the like that—

  1. i. would ordinarily accomodate not more than 12 people; and
  2. ii. have a total area of all floords not more than 300 m2 (measured over the enclosing walls of the building or buildings); or
Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 1b

(b) Four or more single dwellings located on one allotment and used for short-term holiday accommodation.

Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 2 – Standard

A building containing two or more sole-occupancy units each being a separate dwelling.

This class can be Standard or Complex; read carefully limitations, criteria and notice requirements in the right hand column.

Standard Yes No

Building of 5 storeys or fewer above the ground is considered a standard installation.

Building of 6 storeys or more above the ground where the residential premise is occupied or has been previously occupied. Standard gas installation work is limited to inside the premise, (i.e. downstream of the occupancy gas isolation point in the premise). E.g. the changeover of a gas appliance or the extension of the existing gas fitting line inside the premise to a new gas appliance.

Lodge a Compliance Certificate with the VBA within five days of completing the installation.

Class 2 – Complex

A building containing two or more sole-occupancy units each being a separate dwelling.

This class can be Standard or Complex; read carefully limitations, criteria and notice requirements in the right hand column.

Complex No Yes

Building of 6 storeys or more above the ground where the residential premise is not occupied and has never been previously occupied. However, irrespective of whether the building is occupied or has been previously occupied, if a gasfitting line is being installed from the building gas riser into the premise, the gas installation becomes a complex gas installation.

Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 3

A Class 3 building is a residential building, providing long-term or transient accommodation for a number of unrelated persons, including the following—

  1. A boarding house, guest house, hostel, lodging house or backpackers accommodation.
  2. A residential part of a hotel or motel.
  3. A residential part of a school.
  4. Accommodation for the aged, children or people with disability.
  5. A residential part of a health-care building which accommodates members of staff.
  6. A residential part of a detention centre.
  7. A residential care building.

Note:

A Class 3 building is not a Class 1 or 2 residential building. However, a building could be a mixture of Class 3 and another Class.

Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and a signed Compliance Notice and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 4

A dwelling in a building that is Class 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 if it is the only dwelling in the building.

Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 5 – Standard

An office building used for professional or commercial purposes.

This class can be Standard or Complex; read carefully limitations, criteria and notice requirements in the right hand column.

Standard Yes No Building of 5 storeys or fewer above the ground, and
  • The total gas consumption does not exceed 500 megajoules per hour, and
  • For the case of an LP Gas installation, the maximum operating pressure of the second-stage gas pressure regulator is less than 70 kilopascals and the maximum operating pressure of any subsequent gas pressure regulator associated with that LP Gas installation is less than 7 kilopascals. For any other case, including a natural gas installation, the maximum metering pressure is less than 7 kilopascals, and
  • The number of gas supply points is 4 or fewer.

Lodge a Compliance Certificate with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) within five days of completing the installation.

Class 5 – Complex

An office building used for professional or commercial purposes.

This class can be Standard or Complex; read carefully limitations, criteria and notice requirements in the right hand column.

Complex No Yes

Building of 6 storeys or more above the ground.

Building of 5 storeys or fewer above the ground, where

  • The total gas consumption exceeds 500 megajoules per hour, or
  • For the case of an LP Gas installation, the maximum operating pressure (inlet pressure) of the second-stage gas pressure regulator is 70 kilopascals or more or the maximum operating pressure (inlet pressure) of any subsequent gas pressure regulator associated with that LP Gas installation is 7 kilopascals or more. For any other case, including a natural gas installation, the maximum metering pressure is 7 kilopascals or more, or
  • The number of gas supply points is 5 or more.

Seek acceptance by Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 6 – Standard

A shop or other building used for the sale of goods by retail or the supply of services direct to the public, including—

  • an eating room, café, restaurant, milk or soft-drink bar; or
  • a dining room, bar area that is not an assembly building, shop or kiosk part of a hotel or motel; or
  • a hairdresser’s or barber’s shop, public laundry, or undertaker’s establishment; or
  • market or sale room, showroom, or service station.

This class can be Standard or Complex; read carefully limitations, criteria and notice requirements in the right hand column.

Standard Yes No

Building of 5 storeys or fewer above the ground, and

  • The total gas consumption does not exceed 500 megajoules per hour, and
  • For the case of an LP Gas installation, the maximum operating pressure (inlet pressure) of the second-stage gas pressure regulator is less than 70 kilopascals and the maximum operating pressure (inlet pressure) of any subsequent gas pressure regulator associated with that LP Gas installation is less than 7 kilopascals. For any other case, including a natural gas installation, the maximum metering pressure is less than 7 kilopascals, and
  • The number of gas supply points is 4 or fewer.

Lodge a Compliance Certificate with the VBA within five days of completing the installation.

Class 6 – Complex

A shop or other building used for the sale of goods by retail or the supply of services direct to the public, including—

  • an eating room, café, restaurant, milk or soft-drink bar; or
  • a dining room, bar area that is not an assembly building, shop or kiosk part of a hotel or motel; or
  • a hairdresser’s or barber’s shop, public laundry, or undertaker’s establishment; or
  • market or sale room, showroom, or service station.

This class can be Standard or Complex; read carefully limitations, criteria and notice requirements in the right hand column.

Complex No Yes

Building of 6 storeys or more above the ground.

Building of 5 storeys or fewer above the ground, where

  • The total gas consumption exceeds 500 megajoules per hour, or
  • For the case of an LP Gas installation, the maximum operating pressure (inlet pressure) of the second-stage gas pressure regulator is 70 kilopascals or more or the maximum operating pressure (inlet pressure) of any subsequent gas pressure regulator associated with that LP Gas installation is 7 kilopascals or more. For any other case, including a natural gas installation, the maximum metering pressure is 7 kilopascals or more, or
  • The number of gas supply points is 5 or more.

Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 7

A storage-type building that includes one or more of the following sub-classifications:

  1. Class 7a – a car park.
  2. Class 7b – a building that is used for storage, or display of goods or produce for sale by wholesale.
Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 8

A process-type building that includes the following:

  1. A laboratory.
  2. A building in which the production, assembling, altering, repairing, packing, finishing, or cleaning of goods or produce for sale takes place.
Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by Energy Safe Victoria ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 9

A building of a public nature that includes one or more of the following sub-classifications:

  1. Class 9a – a health-care building including those parts of the building set aside as laboratories, an includes a health-care building used as a residential care building.
  2. Class 9b – an assembly building, including a trade workshop or laboratory in a primary or secondary school.
  3. Class 9c – a residential care building.
Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 10

A building including one or more of the following sub-classifications:

  1. Class 10a is a non-habitable building including a private garage, carport, shed, or the like.
  2. Class 10b is a structure that is a fence, mast, antenna, retaining or free-standing wall, swimming pool, or the like.
  3. Class 10c is a private bushfire shelter.
Complex No Yes

Seek acceptance by Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Class 10 Buildings located on a private residential property

Extract from the Gas Safety Act 1997

Standard gas installation means

(a) a gas installation—
(i) which contains only Type A appliances; and
(ii) which is located in residential premises of a prescribed class or on land associated with such premises;

Note: ESV has determined that a Type A gas appliance installation such as a hot water service, central heater, swimming pool heater and the like installed in a non-habitable private garage attached to a private dwelling, or a stand-alone garage, or shed located on a private residential property, would be classed as a Standard Gas Installation as per the extract from the Gas Safety Act 1997.

Lodge a Compliance Certificate with the VBA within five days of completing the installation.

Type of premises Installation type Who needs to be notified? Limitations, criteria and notice requirements
VBA ESV
Caravans – Private Standard Yes No Lodge a Compliance Certificate with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) within five days of completing the installation.

Mobile Homes – Private

Standard Yes No Lodge a Compliance Certificate with the VBA within five days of completing the installation.

Mobile Catering Vehicle

Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Marine Craft

Complex No Yes

Marine craft used for recreational purposes.

Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Any installation involving a Type B appliance

(regardless of building class)

Complex No Yes Seek acceptance by ESV prior to commissioning your installation. You must submit a Gas Application before beginning work and at the completion of works a statement of compliance (Schedule 11 of the Gas Safety Regulations) must be received by ESV.

Date: 29/03/2024 6:31

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 06 March 2023

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