Type A Appliance Gasfitter Toolkit

Amendments to the Gas Safety Regulations

The Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2018 were amended 17 May 2022 and came into operation 1 June 2022. The objectives of these amendments are to prescribe AS 4575 as the standard to which Type A appliance service work applies and require the creation and giving of records in relation to Type A appliance service work carried out in a standard gas installation.

Open flued gas heaters and safety shutdown features

As of 1 August 2022, open flued gas space heaters must have safety shutdown features. Refer to the Victorian Government Gazette links below for detailed information.

• Victorian Government Gazette 28 July 2022 [PDF 440 KB]
• Victorian Government Gazette 1 August 2022 [PDF 460 KB]

For further information, read the FAQ on OGFSH and safety shutdown features

It is an offence to sell or install OFGSH that are no longer accepted (certified).

ESV and VBA guidance material

Ensuring a gas installation is safe is a fundamental responsibility for all gasfitters licensed to perform gas servicing on Type A appliances. As a qualified gasfitter, you must ensure that the gas installation is safe for use.

AS 4575 is another tool in your toolkit to ensure you meet this obligation.

The following gas information sheets, test and service report sheets and animations will assist you in satisfying your obligations.

2021 Gas Safety webinar FAQs

• Read the FAQs from our 2021 gas safety webinar series, held jointly with the VBA and Master Plumbers.

Gas information sheets

Sheets 37 and 44 are designed to assist you with selecting the correct carbon monoxide measuring equipment and provide guidance on safe working levels.

• Sheet 37: Carbon Monoxide Measuring Equipment
• Sheet 44: Carbon monoxide safe working level

Sheets 57, 58 and 59 outlines the importance of carrying out a comprehensive service open-flued gas heaters, and ensuring there is adequate air supply for the appliance to operate safely. They also highlight how important it is to understand the impact of negative pressure – created by extraction or exhaust fans – can have on an open-flued gas heater.

• Sheet 57: Type A appliance service – your obligations under the Gas Safety Act
• Sheet 58: Type A appliance service – the quality and adequacy of air supply
• Sheet 59: Type A appliance service – inspecting and servicing Type A appliances

Sheet 38 and test and service reports

ESV and the VBA have developed Sheet 38, which provides information on how to test for negative pressure and carbon monoxide spillage when carrying out gas servicing work. The test report sheet is available for use – fill out this reports and provide it to your client to outline the tests conducted.

• Sheet 38: testing for negative pressure and carbon monoxide spillage while carrying out gas service work
• Negative Pressure and Carbon Monoxide Spillage Test Report

Animations

ESV has developed an easy to follow animation that simplifies the concept of negative pressure and its effects on open-flued gas heaters. This may be useful to share with clients who may have a gas heater installed in a room affected by negative pressure.

• Negative pressure animation
• VBA Negative pressure and combustion spillage test video – VBA to provide

Gas safety alert

ESV has raised Safety Alerts on a number of open-flued gas space heaters. These need to be checked for compliance or modified to ensure they operate safely.

For further details, click here.

In April 2020, Rinnai announced an Energysaver Installation Audit Program.

Additional information for your client

Sheet 36 outlines the benefits of installing carbon monoxide alarms as a back-up measure to regular servicing. This includes specifications to look for when purchasing one.

• Sheet 36: Carbon monoxide alarms for domestic use

Negative pressure

The VBA gas servicing portal has been designed to automatically provide your client with a copy of the gas and servicing record which will include a letter outlining the dangers of negative pressure and open flue gas appliances if a negative pressure is detected.

This letter must be used to inform your client that you have identified a negative pressure environment within the property. It is useful when a client refuses to allow you to rectify the negative pressure, and your tests show the appliance under negative pressure is not spilling carbon monoxide.

• Visit the VBA AS 4575 reforms page

IMPORTANT: On completion of any service or repair work: if the gas heater is spilling carbon monoxide, the source of the carbon monoxide must be found and eliminated, or the appliance isolated. If your client refuses to have their heater isolated, contact ESV’s 24/7 emergency line on 1800 652 563 and select option 5

Contact us

If you have a technical query, contact our Gas technical helpline directly on 1800 652 563, option 3 or by email at gastechnicalenquiry@energysafe.vic.gov.au.