The Gas Standards (Gas Supply and System Safety) Regulations 2000 were came into effect on 1 August 2000.  The regulations mandate the following standards:

• AS 2885.1 "Pipelines - Gas and liquid petroleum - Design and construction"
• AS 2885.3 "Pipelines - Gas and liquid petroleum - Operation and maintenance"
• AS/NZS 4645 "Gas distribution networks"
• AS 4564 "General purpose natural gas"
• AS 4670 "Commercial propane and commercial butane for heating purposes"
• AS 4647 “Diaphragm gas meters”

Increasing competition in the gas industry has the potential to impact on the technical and safety standards of gas suppliers as they come under pressure to reduce costs to remain competitive. To safeguard the public and consumers in such a changing environment, these regulations have been introduced to ensure:

• the safety of the public, gas consumers and gas workers in the vicinity of gas distribution assets; and
• that gas supplies conform to acceptable standards of quality and metering accuracy to protect ordinary gas consumers.

For enquiries on this matter, please contact Building and Energy's Principal Engineer Gas Supply by telephoning (08) 6251 1900.

LP Gas standards

The standards for LP Gas (liquid petroleum gas) are detailed in Part 2, Division 3 of the Gas Standards (Gas Supply and System Safety) Regulations 2000. The regulations were promulgated on 4 July 2000 and came into effect on 1 August 2000.

Further information about the introduction of the regulations is available on this page above.

Copies of the legislation may be obtained from the Legislation website.

Quality of supply

Part 2 of the regulations specify the standards for natural gas and LP Gas. The metering accuracy for tariff customers of plus or minus 2 per cent and the prescribed minimum pressure to be supplied to a customer are also specified in these regulations.

Network operators

Refer to the Economic Regulation Authority for details of gas network operators.