Gasfitters to comply with AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 from 30 March
Gasfitters are reminded that they must comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 Gas Installations – Part 1: General installations from 30 March 2023. It comes after a six-month transition period which will end on 29 March 2023.
Due to formatting issues during the editing of the publication, the standard had been delayed by Standards Australia and was published in mid-to-late September.
Some of the major changes include:
- Section 2 has now been separated into “essential safety requirements” and “performance-based design requirements”.
- Brazing is prohibited within 1m of a joint with non-metallic components.
- The installation of multilayer pipe above-ground external to buildings is now prohibited.
- New buildings with multilayer pipe and modification of consumer piping in existing buildings with multilayer pipe will now require automatic isolation in the event of a fire. This is in the form of an automatic shut-off valve interlocked to a fire safety system, or alternatively for class 1a residential building other devices such as an excess flow device or Under Pressure Shut-off device (UPSO).
- The minimum clearance between the supporting surface for a cooking vessel in a domestic cooking appliance and a rangehood has increased to 650mm for new gas installations in new kitchens to align with the international clearance requirements for rangehoods. For the replacement of domestic cooking appliances in existing installations the minimum clearance will remain 600mm unless the manufacturer’s installation instructions specify a greater clearance.
- Semi-rigid connectors (previously referred to as limited flexibility connectors) are not permitted to be used for the connection of commercial catering equipment.
- There are new requirements for the protection of combustible surfaces adjacent to commercial catering equipment.
- There are new pipe sizing graphs and tables based on the Churchill friction factor equation, which will allow for greater flow capacities for complex gas installations with large pipe diameters and long pipe runs.
- An informative clause on the effect of altitude on gas supply pressure for high-rise building installations has been included.
- There are revised requirements for the location of flue terminals under a covered area, in a recess or on a balcony.
- There are new requirements for the isolation of installations in educational institutions.
- Freestanding commercial catering equipment with a connection point under the equipment cannot be connected via a hose assembly.
- There are new requirements for the connection of freestanding commercial catering equipment using a hose assembly and a high-level connection.
- The flue of a gas appliance is no longer allowed to terminate in a roof space.
Image courtesy of Alexander Schimmeck, Unsplash.