Operations Implemented under the Gas Act 2000
Annual Report
2014/15
Consumer Building and Occupational Services
Department of Justice
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF GAS SAFETY
This is the annual report of the Director of Gas Safety pursuant to the Gas Act 2000. It describes
the operations of the Director’s office for the financial year 2014/15 as required by Section 16 of
the Act.
The Director of Gas Safety is a statutory appointment established by Section 9 of the Gas Act
2000. Mr Dale Webster held this position for the period covered in this report.
The Gas Act 2000 requires the Director of Gas Safety to deliver to the Minister a report on the
Director's operations during the previous financial year. The Minister must cause a copy of each
report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.
Director of Gas Safety:
Dale Webster
Office:
Consumer Building and Occupational Services
Office Address:
30 Gordon Hills Road, Rosny Park 7018
Postal Address:
Director of Gas Safety
PO Box 56
Rosny Park 7018
Telephone:
1300 366 322
Office hours:
9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
(except public holidays)
Website:
www.justice.tas.gov.au
Email:
wstinfo@justice.tas.gov.au
2
PREFACE
This report covers the Director of Gas Safety’s operations under the Gas Act 2000 (the Act) as it
was in force for the 2014/15 financial year.
Section 4 of the Act states that the objectives of the Act are:
(a) to facilitate the development of a gas supply industry in Tasmania; and
(b) to promote efficiency and competition in the gas supply industry; and
(c) to promote the establishment and maintenance of a safe and efficient system of gas
distribution and supply; and
(d) to establish and enforce proper standards of safety, reliability and quality in the gas supply
industry; and
(e) to establish and enforce proper safety and technical standards for gas installations and
appliances; and
(f) to protect the interests of consumers of gas.
The Director of Gas Safety is appointed in accordance with Section 9 of the Act.
Section 10 of the Act states that the Director of Gas Safety has the following functions:
(a) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards in the gas supply industry;
(b) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards with respect to gas
installations and gas appliances.
The Director of Gas Safety, in administrating the Act, provides input and is involved in a range of
activities in liaison with the gas industry and other Government agencies. This includes gas entity
licensing functions and gas emergency management vested with the Regulator and Minister for
Energy, Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resource (now Department of State Growth)
respectively.
The Director’s actions in relation to these functions are dealt within this report.
3
Contents
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF GAS SAFETY .......................................................................... 2
PREFACE .................................................................................................................................... 3
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF GAS SAFETY ......................................................................... 6
VISION ........................................................................................................................................ 8
SECTION 1: GAS DISTRIBUTION .............................................................................................. 9
Table 1: Tasmanian Network Location of Natural Gas Distribution Networks and Isolated LP
Gas Networks .......................................................................................................................... 9
1.1.
Natural Gas Rollout .................................................................................................... 10
1.2.
Network Incident and Accident Reporting ................................................................... 10
1.3.
Gas Distribution Entity Safety and Operating Plan ...................................................... 11
1.4.
Gas Distribution Standards ......................................................................................... 11
1.5.
Distribution Network Equipment and Integrity Management ........................................ 12
1.6.
Dial Before You Dig .................................................................................................... 12
1.7.
Isolated Gas Networks ................................................................................................ 13
1.8
Gas Distribution Network Life Cycle Auditing .............................................................. 13
Table 2: Director’s Gas Network - Life Cycle Administration and Safety Program.................. 13
1.9
Annual Distribution Gas Entity (TGN) Performance Report ......................................... 14
Table 3: Gas Distributors Operational Performance 2014/15 (extracted from the Tas Gas
Networks annual reporting data to the Director of Gas Safety 2014/15) ................................ 14
SECTION 2: GAS RETAILING ................................................................................................... 15
2.1.
Gas Retailer Emergency Gas Curtailment Planning .................................................... 15
SECTION 3: GAS SUPPLIERS, STORAGE SYSTEMS AND CONDITIONING ......................... 15
3.1
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)....................................................................................... 15
3.2
LP Gas (LPG) ............................................................................................................. 16
3.3
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) ................................................................................ 16
3.4
Biogas ........................................................................................................................ 16
Table 4: Gas Storage and Conditioning Plants ...................................................................... 17
SECTION 4: GAS INSTALLATIONS AND APPLIANCES .......................................................... 17
4.1
Notification and Certification ....................................................................................... 17
4.2
Complex Gas Installation Design Acceptance ............................................................. 18
4.3
Prescribed Standard Gas Installation Acceptance ...................................................... 19
4.4
Type B Gas Appliance Acceptance ............................................................................. 19
4.5
Type A Gas Appliance Class Certifying External Authorities ....................................... 21
Table 5: Tasmanian approved gas appliance external authorities ......................................... 21
4.6
Type A Gas Appliance Acceptance - Individual Appliance Certification Schemes ....... 22
4.7
Prohibition of Sale, Product Withdrawal and Recall of Gas Appliances and
Components .......................................................................................................................... 22
4
Table 6: Tasmanian gas appliance prohibition of sale, product withdrawal and recall of gas
appliances and components .................................................................................................. 23
4.8
Major Events ............................................................................................................... 23
4.9
Internet Sale of Gas Appliances .................................................................................. 23
4.10
Carbon Monoxide ....................................................................................................... 24
4.11 Gas Installation and Appliance Incidents ....................................................................... 24
SECTION 5: OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF GAS SAFETY PROGRAMS/ACHIEVEMENTS25
5.1
Regional Delivery of Programs ................................................................................... 25
Table 7: Operation and maintenance of administrative systems primary outputs ................... 25
Table 8: Summary of Achievements ...................................................................................... 27
5.2
Inspection Program ..................................................................................................... 31
5.3
Technical Standards Development ............................................................................. 32
Table 9: Technical Standards Development and Implementation 2014/15............................. 32
Table 10: Participation in committees and organisations ....................................................... 34
Table 11: Communication products ....................................................................................... 35
Gas safety and technical publications ........................................................................................ 36
Expos and other public events ................................................................................................... 36
Table 12: Staff development .................................................................................................. 37
SECTION 6: INTERGOVERNMENT INDUSTRY ADMINISTRATION ........................................ 39
SECTION 7: CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................... 39
APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................. 41
5
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF GAS SAFETY
The Director of Gas Safety, Mr Dale Webster, is supported by the Office of the Director of Gas
Safety, Gas Standards and Safety (GSS).
The GSS unit is managed by the Manager Gas Safety, Mr Andrew Ayton, who is delegated the
role of the Director.
The GSS unit became part of the newly formed Building Standards and Occupational Licensing
(BSOL), the outcome of a merger of Building Standards, Electrical Standards, Working With
Vulnerable People, and Occupational Licensing and Accreditation. This structure has enabled
resource and knowledge sharing, and, hence greater efficiencies between technical and nontechnical units within the branch for energy safety administration.
The Office of the Director of Gas Safety comprises three Authorised Officers and one
Administrative Officer, with additional administrative support from BSOL administration and
records staff.
The benefit of this structure is still being realised, with continual improvement that aligns
complementary outputs and gains the efficiencies that are expected of the Department in the
current economic climate.
Administrative and industry performance functions are centralised in Launceston, with the
capability for Gas Act 2000 safety technical compliance programs in each region. Specialist policy
functions are resourced from the regional Gas Safety Specialists in conjunction with the BSOL
Directorate.
It is pleasing to report that during this reporting year, following targeted recruitment, that regionally
based technical and inspection service delivery now has the capability for all downstream
installations and infrastructure inspection services, including individual industrial and commercial
appliance (type B appliance) technical programs. Staff turnover nevertheless necessitated
general assistance for Southern regional functions to be resourced from Launceston, however
recruitment to fill the staff vacancy has commenced, which will bolster Southern region
productivity. Ensuing employee training and mentoring will mean that this output will be resourced
from the increased Hobart staffing in the near future.
Gas Entity Infrastructure Design Acceptance and Safety Systems Administration has relocated to
Hobart subsequent to the promotion of an existing staff member to Gas Safety Specialist –Supply
Reliability and Programs.
The GSS unit operational structure and activities are shown in Figure 1.
6
7
VISION
Consistent with the vision of the Department of Justice to provide ‘A fair just and safe Tasmania’,
and in accordance with the administrative role of the Director of Gas Safety, GSS strives to
provide leadership and effective governance in respect to gas infrastructure, downstream
installation safety and technical standards. GSS achieves this by ensuring the evolving natural
gas, compressed liquefied natural gas, biogas and LP Gas industries achieve levels of excellence
in construction, operations, reliable supply, acceptable public safety and energy efficiency.
The Director of Gas Safety will:

ensure that gas infrastructure operations achieve high standards of safety, reliability and
control inherent risks;

provide advice to the gas industry to achieve best practice in gas safety;

develop communication products and promote consumer understanding of gas safety
through education and communication;

work with industry stakeholders to ensure the efficient and safe evolution of gas technology
and work standards for Tasmanian consumers;

in conjunction with national jurisdictions, work to achieve desired levels of national
harmonisation in the regulation of gas safety technical standards; and

work to achieve contemporary program delivery models to enhance efficient operations.
We achieve our vision through the following values, expected from our team at all times.
Excellence:
We strive for quality and excellence in our functions.
Respect:
We treat all stakeholders and staff with respect.
Accountability:
We take responsibility for our actions and decisions.
Integrity:
We make decisions on merit, based on facts, logic and due process.
Commitment:
We work cooperatively, mentor and support other team members to
enhance development of the gas industry in Tasmania.
Cooperation:
We work cooperatively, inclusively and are open in our dealings.
Creativity:
We seek to solve problems creatively within the boundaries of
prescriptive standards and codes.
8
SECTION 1: GAS DISTRIBUTION
It is once again gratifying to report that natural gas networks continue to provide a reliable supply
of natural gas to an increasing number of consumers through Natural Gas Distribution Facilities
operated under license by Tas Gas Networks Pty Ltd (TGN).
Apart from a single incident affecting the gas supply to 59 domestic, commercial and industrial
consumers, it appears that the effective planning for natural gas supply/quality and the successful
response to incidents by gas entities, the Director’s office and major consumers to prevent any
major interruption to Tasmanian natural gas supply.
There has been no serious property damage or personal injury in the operation of distribution
networks. Concerted efforts by the Director and gas entities with enforcement activity and
educating third parties to identify gas infrastructure locations using the Dial Before You Dig
process has encouragingly resulted in a reduction in the number of uncontrolled gas releases
caused by third party interference.
In April 2015, a gas quality incident involving a quantity of high hydrocarbon dew point gas
entering the Tasmanian Gas Pipeline in Victoria threatened natural gas supplies to Tasmanian
centres. Gas entities declined to accept the out of specification gas due to concerns for safety and
possible equipment damage. As a result, the Director of Gas Safety was not asked to accept the
off-specification gas in accordance with the Act.
Mass consumer curtailment was averted in this instance by Tas Gas Pipelines Pty Ltd venting to
atmosphere the off spec gas at Rosevale station. No consumer gas supplies were affected by this
incident, however an unknown quantity of off spec gas was delivered through the Bell Bay lateral.
No adverse effects were reported in respect to consumer installations connected to this lateral.
Following the out of specification gas incident, the Director of Gas Safety coordinated an incident
debrief with all stakeholders. This initiative was well received by industry, with various actions
resulting. These actions will be developed or applied by Gas Standards and Safety during
2015/16.
The amount of Director of Gas Safety gas distribution network investigations increased during the
reporting period. The primary cause being a considerable increase in the quantity of deliberate gas
meter interference for the purposes of diverting gas. These investigations have used considerable
Gas Standards and Safety resources so the Director is continuing to liaise with industry to provide
proactive prevention to discourage this very dangerous trend.
The Director continues to maintain regular meetings with TGN to facilitate the open exchange on
topical network operational and regulatory matters. These meetings have been held quarterly and
have been of considerable benefit to both TGN and GSS.
Table 1: Tasmanian Network Location of Natural Gas Distribution Networks and
Isolated LP Gas Networks
Existing Natural
Gas Distribution
Facility
BURNIE
BELL BAY
DEVONPORT
HOBART
Suburb / Town
Receiving Gas Supply
Dynnyrne
Glenorchy
LAUNCESTON
St Leonards
Gas Facility, New
Extensions
Commissioned
2014/15
New Facility
Planning Reviews
Nil
Nil
Nil
Mc Devitt Avenue
Extension to Bunning’s
Hardware
Nil
1000 kPa extension
designs yet to be
submitted
9
Extension of network to
Penny Royal Gunnery
development
LONGFORD
ULVERSTONE
South Ulverstone
Nil
Distribution network
construction yet to
commence.
WESTBURY
Nil
WYNYARD
Nil
Industrial estate and town
SMITHTON
centre
Existing LP Gas Isolated Gas Facility
LAUNCESTON
Glenara Lakes
Distribution network
construction
commenced
Initial Consideration
na
ST HELENS
Sunhaven Villas
1.1.
Preliminary designs
commenced
Nil
Decommissioned and
working through safety
documentation prior to
amending licence
Natural Gas Rollout
Natural gas network expansion and construction has been limited to an additional 5.04 kilometres.
Natural gas network/s augmentation has been predominantly associated with major retail and
housing subdivision developments, with smaller additions to facilitate the connection of natural gas
consumers when deemed commercially viable by TGN.
Proposed future natural gas networks at Ulverstone and Smithton, including a cross country
network from Port Latta, have undergone preliminary non-technical assessment. However,
detailed design and construction is yet to commence.
1.2.
Network Incident and Accident Reporting
Incident and accident reporting by the distributor has been ongoing, with the collation of data
showing a statistically misleading increase in the number of incidents for this reporting period.
Whilst there were 16 incidents reported for the reporting period, eight of these were the result of a
gas curtailment incident resulting from a single event involving a Pipeline Integrity Gauge (PIG)
operating to verify the integrity of the Devonport high pressure steel transmission network, became
trapped in the pipeline. This incident resulted in the loss of gas supply to 59 domestic, commercial
and industrial consumers in the Quoiba area for three hour duration.
Incident data is assessed for trends to determine both the cause and required risk controls, and in
actual fact, this demonstrates a pleasing reduction in third party impact causing uncontrolled gas
release incidents. (Refer Figure 2)
The reduction in frequency of third party activity impacting on the security of networks may be
partially explained by the education program rolled out by Gas Standards and Safety, TGN and
DBYD. This positive result is in spite of the added risk of the rollout of the national broadband
network – an activity which has increased the risk of impact on gas network infrastructure due to
the significant amount of work in the vicinity of gas mains.
As a result, the Director will continue working in conjunction with the distribution gas entity on
community awareness programs to continually improve public appreciation of gas infrastructure, in
particular the possible consequences of damaging gas networks. Education of civil and trade
contractors through the BSOL allied trades e-newsletter (eConnections) will also continue.
10
Consistent with international indicators, third party activity remains the primary risk to buried gas
infrastructure. Applying lead indicators in the prediction of major incidents, the Director’s actions
have included undertaking a targeted liaison program aimed at less critical near-miss incidents.
This is highlighted by the increase in gas distribution incident investigations undertaken by the
Director’s office.
No injuries to employees or the public have resulted from any incidents, and gas network metering
and isolation design has been compliant and acceptable.
Figure 2 – Director’s Gas Distribution Operations
1.3.
Gas Distribution Entity Safety and Operating Plan
The entity’s safety and operating plans has remained unamended during the reporting period. The
Director continues to measure safety, reliability and structural integrity performance against the
current independently certified and accepted safety and operating plan for the gas entity’s natural
gas networks.
GSS is expecting a revised safety and operating plan in the latter half of 2015 which will reflect
proposed fundamental personnel changes for the maintenance and integrity management of their
distribution infrastructure. This will involve a comprehensive review of the revised plan by GSS
prior to acceptance by the Director.
1.4.
Gas Distribution Standards
A review of the Gas Entity Tier 2 and 3 design and operation policy and procedures has been
ongoing. This has involved independent certification from a person approved by the Director to
ensure gas entity standards are consistent with current activities and contemporary compliance
requirements.
While not ideal, the gas curtailment incident involving the entrapped PIG did provide a good insight
into the way the gas entity manages such an emergency, including valuable in-field testing of
standards covering gas curtailment and re-instatement of gas to affected consumers. The Director
had a representative on site for the duration of the emergency and was satisfied with the calm and
systematic approach employed during the mitigation and recovery phases. Any safety concerns
observed and raised during the incident response were addressed following a debrief and were
also incorporated into revised gas entity standards.
11
1.5.
Distribution Network Equipment and Integrity Management
Due to encroachment adjacent to high pressure steel transmission networks, and in line with
contemporary Australian Standards requirements, the theoretical Maximum Allowable Operating
Pressure (MAOP) has been reduced in Devonport and Hobart to mitigate the consequences in the
event of an uncontrolled gas escape. To date the reduced MAOP in these networks has not
affected their reliability, and there remains sufficient supply capacity redundancy to maintain
sufficient quantities of gas to consumers.
The continuation of the leakage surveys monitoring program is intended and will be reported to the
Director. This program ensures public risk is as low as reasonably practicable and detection
measures are implemented to identify leakage. A total of 281 kilometres of network mains were
surveyed for gas leakage. Encouragingly no gas leaks were identified during these leakage
surveys. (Refer Table 3)
To ensure the ongoing safety and integrity of high pressure transmission distribution infrastructure,
the gas entity developed and implemented a Pipeline Integrity Management Plan. The Director is
expecting to complete a comprehensive review of this Plan in the first quarter of 2016.
Natural gas distribution networks have been operating for just over ten years and, as a result, the
administration and regulation focus have progressed from design and construction quality
assurance to infrastructure integrity and operational management assessment and validation. This
program uses maintenance records, physical characteristics and operating history of the networks
to predict the integrity of a given network.
In line with this approach, systemic reviews and direct pipeline integrity assessments of high
pressure steel distribution networks in Devonport, Launceston and Hobart have commenced.
Reviews and assessments include remaining life review, location class review and safety
management study reviews, pipeline coating assessments involving cathodic protection reviews,
direct current gradient surveys, pipeline dig up surveys, and pipe wall integrity assessments using
intelligent pipeline integrity gauge/s. The information collected by these studies will result in the
development of remaining life reports and updates of pipeline integrity management plans for
these networks.
1.6.
Dial Before You Dig
The Director continues to encourage the use of the Dial Before You Dig phone and internet
service by all infrastructure owners and contractors undertaking civil excavation in the vicinity of
gas infrastructure. The Director’s office meets with Dial Before You Dig’s Victorian Operations
Manager to identify improvements in service delivery.
The Director extensively consulted with Dial Before You Dig in the development and publication, in
August 2014, of a dedicated ‘Dial before You Dig Service Guidelines for Tasmania’. These
service guidelines were developed to set Tasmanian-specific standards which everyone is
expected to meet, when dealing with the safety of those who work near underground assets and
the protection of those assets.
Dial Before You Dig and the Director’s office hope to commence discussions in the latter half of
2015 on the development of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will seek to describe
how parties will interact with each other, provide a platform for further cooperation and provide for
sharing of information.
The Director has continued to assess and review the currency, accuracy and reliability of asset
records to ensure the suitability of information made available by gas entities to the public through
the Dial Before You Dig service.
12
Regular presentations and provision of guidance information to reach a large audience of
Tasmanian trades and affiliated professionals is exceeding expectations regarding the use of the
Dial Before You Dig system. This reporting period saw a threefold increase in enquiries with
21,582 received by the Dial Before You Dig provider for Tasmania relating to distribution gas
infrastructure.
1.7.
Isolated Gas Networks
No new isolated gas networks were constructed in 2014/15.
The Director was notified late in the reporting period that it is the intention of gas entity, Origin
Energy, to decommission an isolated LP Gas network on Tasmania’s East coast. The Director is
currently consulting with the gas entity and the Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator
(OTER) regarding resultant licence amendments. This will require both a review of the
decommissioning activity to ensure it does not lead to an unacceptable level of risk, and approval
of the revised safety and operating plan.
1.8
Gas Distribution Network Life Cycle Auditing
Refining of audit models for the life cycle audit of gas networks is continuing.
The Director’s natural gas network and high pressure distribution pipelines review, along with an
audit of gas atmosphere hazardous area electrical installation compliance, reliability, public safety
and condition survey received priority during the reporting period.
Proactive compliance audits have continued to lapse in 2014/15. This is largely due to the
redirection of limited resources to core and reactive duties including complex applications for
acceptance and gas appliance safety.
Table 2: Director’s Gas Network - Life Cycle Administration and Safety Program
Formal Safety Instrument
Gas Entity – Pipeline
Integrity management plan
Gas Entity Pipeline
maximum operating
pressure review
Administrative Program
Initial document and
implementation review
5 year review
Direct current and ground
variance for direct assessment
Inline inspection of pipelines
Steel pipeline integrity plan
review
Pipeline quality gas review
Finalisation of electrical
installations in hazardous areas
audit
Gas Entity - Full Safety
Review of infrastructure hazards
Purpose
Pipeline system design,
construction, operation and
maintenance activities, in
conjunction with the application
of sound engineering principles
with due regard to safety
Technical compliance and
public safety
Detect and monitor
deterioration of pipeline
protective coating condition
Detect and monitor internal
condition of pipe and its
capability to operate at MAOP
Detect out of specification
product, frequency and effects
analysis
Maintain safe electrical
installations at meter stations
to ensure acceptable network
reliability and public safety
Maintenance of public safety
13
Formal Safety Instrument
Assessments of gas
networks
Gas Entity - Safety
management systems
Gas Entity - Network design
certifiers acceptance
1.9
Administrative Program
and currency of protective
systems
Review currency with operations
and construction
Purpose
and pipeline management from
encroachment
Approval of Independent Design
Certification
Technical compliance of new
networks designs
Maintain acceptable network
reliability and public safety
Annual Distribution Gas Entity (TGN) Performance Report
In line with the layers of protection model utilised by the Director, nationally consistent reporting
criteria provide lead safety and reliability indicators.
Lag (near miss) and lead indictors are collated and reviewed across reporting periods to ascertain
the ongoing adequacy and effectiveness of distribution networks, risk mitigation actions including
safety critical operations and maintenance activities, hazard identification, training, network
integrity, network controls and emergency preparedness.
Table 3: Gas Distributors Operational Performance 2014/15 (extracted from the Tas
Gas Networks annual reporting data to the Director of Gas Safety 2014/15)
Statistics
Length of distribution network (kilometres)
Public third party reported gas leaks
Gas escapes on mains not caused by third
parties
Kilometres of network subjected to leak survey
Leaks detected during surveys
Leak repairs as result of surveys
Emergency / Incident response
Level 4 incidents
Level 3/2/1 incidents
Emergency response exercises planned
Emergency response exercises completed
Average time to respond to emergency
notification
Longest time to respond to emergency
notification
Dial before you dig enquiries
Third party interference where Dial Before You
Dig enquiries were performed
Operational performance
Scheduled audits
Non-conformance identified
Non-conformance not corrected in scheduled
time
Gas quality tests
Gas quality excursions (including odorant)
Pressure/ temperature excursions
Cathodic protection system surveys conducted
Unsatisfactory CP system test results
Polyethylene Mains
500 kPa
1000kpa
716.418
56.445
113
0
Steel Mains
5.0 MPa
46.099
0
0
0
0
220.8
0
0
14.8
0
0
45.8
0
0
16 (8 accounted for in single pigging
incident)
0
2
2
32 minutes
118 minutes
21,582
8
307
16
1
2
1
0
2
0
14
SECTION 2: GAS RETAILING
Commercial retailing of natural gas to industrial, commercial and domestic retail consumers is
undertaken by licensed gas entities Aurora Energy Pty Ltd and Tas Gas Retail Pty Ltd. Consumer
connections to the natural gas network increased by 8% this financial year.
The increased consultation with retailers planned for 2014/15 was not achieved due to the ongoing
significant change in technical resourcing.
2.1.
Gas Retailer Emergency Gas Curtailment Planning
The requirements for natural emergency supply protocols by licensed gas retailers are embedded
in the Tasmanian Natural Gas Supply Emergency Coordination Plan.
Implementation of industry gas quality communications protocol for the Tasmanian Gas Supply
Emergency Coordination Plan, to manage local supply curtailment issues and emergency
incidents, is ongoing. In particular the Director and retailers are working through actions that
resulted from a debrief convened by the Director following an out of specification gas incident.
The Director accepted Aurora Energy’s revised and resubmitted Safety and Operating Plan –
provided as a result of a prescribed five year review and alignment with industry agreed gas
quality and emergency gas supply coordination provisions.
There is a possibility that threatened industrial action at the BHP ESSO plant in Victoria may
adversely affect Tasmanian natural gas supplies. Given the uncertainty of the timing and extent of
any industrial action, or even the eventuality of such action, the Director of Gas Safety initiated
meetings with gas retailers to proactively prepare in the event that prolonged industrial action
would reduce Tasmanian gas supplies to a point that curtailment is necessary.
SECTION 3: GAS SUPPLIERS, STORAGE SYSTEMS AND CONDITIONING
Ongoing independent certification of design, installation, testing and mechanical completion
procedures for gas storage facilities CNG, LNG and LP Gas continues to be refined.
Co-operation with all gas suppliers has resulted in improved gas safety standards and compliance.
3.1
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
It is pleasing to report that existing and new gas storage safety management systems are being
implemented affectively in this sector of the fuel gas industry. This program has been ongoing in
2014/15 with the Director reviewing LNG supplier implementation of gas safety management plans
for major conditioning and storage facilities, and major installations. These LNG management
arrangements have multiple site systems management for design, testing, commissioning,
operations and emergency management.
Supply of LNG to industrial consumers has become an alternate energy option for large
consumers isolated from the NG transmission system. This is providing economic energy
advantages for these consumers.
The Director continues to review and audit the operational safety case for the BOC Westbury
natural gas purification to LNG facility in consultation with the Major Hazard Facility (MHF) branch
of WorkSafe Tasmania. Gas Standards and Safety conducted an extensive audit of the Westbury
pipeline facility’s asset management and safety critical equipment, and planning has commenced
15
for a permit to work management and implementation audit in the first quarter of the 2015/16
financial year.
3.2
LP Gas (LPG)
LP Gas connections remain high in areas not serviced by NG networks.
The Gas (Safety) Regulations 2014 provide continuity of previous Dangerous Substances
regulations which were rescinded as part of the Dangerous Goods Act 1995.
Following the rescinding of the Dangerous Substances regulations, continuity of design and
approvals process, and public safety for the LP Gas storage, supply, installation, marine vessel
and vehicle gas conversion industries, has been maintained as part of the Director’s administrative
role.
Ongoing independent certification of design and installation, testing and mechanical completion
procedures for gas storage facilities exceeding 8,000 litres of LP Gas has been refined.
LP Gas storage, monitoring and approval programs have increased the compliance rate in this
industry.
The Director, in collaboration with WorkSafe Tasmania, has consulted with LP Gas suppliers on
the development and implementation of systems for the extension of LP Gas cylinder test intervals
to 15 years in line with amendments to prescribed standards. A number of gas suppliers are
looking at, or are implementing, such systems to reduce ongoing operating costs.
3.3
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
The CNG gas conditioning and storage process is managed under the Director’s gas safety
management plan and gas storage approvals system.
The Self Point CNG facility owned and operated by natural gas distributor Tas Gas Networks
(TGN) remains the solitary CNG dispenser in Tasmania.
The demand for CNG as an alternative to conventional fuels was expected to increase, with
design considerations at two new sites in northern Tasmania. Further expansion of this fuel’s
availability to industrial and commercial fleets in particular has not yet eventuated.
Dependent on the success and viability of current Victorian gas infrastructure developments using
CNG storage as a means of gas supply to isolated natural gas distribution networks, the Director
of Gas Safety anticipates in coming years the development of similar systems to supply industrial
and commercial precincts that are currently isolated from Tasmanian gas distribution networks.
3.4
Biogas
Biogas (dairies, rural husbandry), municipal and industrial waste gases capture and combustion is
driving new co-generation, tri-generation projects by commercial and industrial consumers to
offset escalating energy costs. The Director is monitoring a number of field trials proving up biogas
chemistry and volume.
The expectation that the use of waste gas for energy generation will increase in the agriculture
and water treatment industry is proving accurate due to the frequency of enquires received by the
Director’s Office.
Targeted new groups have been identified for an expanding communications audience. The
Director of Gas Safety has been involved in initial meetings with Lion dairy products in Burnie in
16
respect to proposed digester and biogas utilisation designs, and has been involved in networking
and learning opportunities provided by Bioenergy Australia.
Biogas has been adopted into prescribed technical standards administered by the Director. Work
on this phase of the waste gas industry will continue in 2015/16 as projects develop.
Table 4: Gas Storage and Conditioning Plants
Gas Facility, New
Infrastructure
Commissioned 2014/15
Gas Type
Location
CNG
Portable
LNG
Norske Skog
80,000 Litre storage vessel and
associated equipment
commissioned
Bio Gas
Cascade Brewery
Commissioned
Bio Gas
Municipal Waste
Stations
Numerous designs enquires for
new and upgrades of Bio Gas
installations at municipal waste
stations and sewage plants
Biogas
Dulverton Refuse
Centre
Biogas
Lion - Burnie
Waste Gas
New Facility or
Installation
Approvals 2014/15
CNG storage container
to supply art installation
Part of major project
involving LNG storage
system and new paper
coater
Digester, flare and duel
fuel operation of existing
boiler
Extraction system, and
flare determining gas
quality and quantity
energy generation
business case
Initial design for
Digester, flare and duel
fuel operation of existing
boiler
SECTION 4: GAS INSTALLATIONS AND APPLIANCES
The installation of new gas service connections to industrial and commercial consumers has
increased this year and subsequently maintained a high demand for the Director’s natural gas
installations and gas appliance, safety and technical compliance programs.
Applications for new and alterations/additions to existing Type B gas appliance and complex gas
installation acceptances have again increased from the previous year. Maintaining this program
continues to be problematic with reduced staffing, and this has caused some delays to industry
and increased intrastate travel costs within the GSS unit. As a result GSS resources will increase
by one full time equivalent position in 2015/16 financial year to enhance this programs productivity
in line with industry expectations.
4.1
Notification and Certification
The Gas Act 2000 installation, notification and certification procedures used by gasfitters to certify
work compliance continues to operate effectively.
17
Further improvement in the installation, notification and connections process is expected following
the employment – by the Director of Gas Safety – of new gas fitting work compliance plates
attached to gas fitting work by the installing gasfitter. The revised gas fitting work compliance
plates enables gas suppliers (LP Gas, NG, CNG, LNG) to determine the status of the complex and
prescribed standard installations administrative compliance program for supply safety and
technical standards.
Minor numbers of gasfitter non-notification have occurred, been identified and rectified principally
through cooperation with gas entities. Additional protocols have been developed in conjunction
with the Compliance and Dispute Resolution unit within BSOL for non-notification regulatory
enforcement action pursuant to the Occupational Licensing Act 2005. Measurement of the
effectiveness of this cooperative enforcement approach will be ongoing during the 2015/16
financial year.
A notification form for the vehicle gas fitting industry has not been completed due to resourcing.
4.2
Complex Gas Installation Design Acceptance
Inspectors completed the design assessment of 242 complex gas installations primarily at
commercial sites. This was a 22% increase on last year and maintains the increase experienced
over the previous reporting periods, although with sustained reduced resources.
New gas installation work appears to still be significantly influenced by consumer energy efficiency
costs and commercial retrofitting of steam, hot water and commercial catering gas appliances. The
marked increase in alterations and additions to existing gas installations illustrates that those that
have previously shifted to gas as a source of energy have experienced benefits and are looking to
further increase costs and business efficiencies.
A significant resource was allocated to the substantial LPG, CNG, NG and Bio Gas installation
projects at Henty Gold, Dulverton waste transfer station, Dark Mofo flame organ and Pete Matilla
Gateway Sculpture including design, construction, commissioning and safety management
administration and acceptances.
High pressure gas supply to high pressure gas installations is continuing to require long term staff
knowledge management and a transfer of gas transmission integrity management standards to
these gas installations.
Figure 3 – Complex Gas Installation Design Acceptances
18
Figure 4 – Major Installations >1050kPa MAOP-CNG, LNG, Biogas Plants
4.3
Prescribed Standard Gas Installation Acceptance
The Director accepted 64 submissions for prescribed standard gas installation connections which
is less than the previous reporting period. Considering the financial years between 2011- and 2013
recorded an increase in prescribed standard gas installation connections of over 700%, this
program still requires significant resourcing. Combined with an increase in type B appliance and
complex gas installation applications for acceptance, this has directly affected the GSS unit’s
capacity to undertake other programs.
The Director of Gas Safety remains focused on safety and technical design considerations for
acceptance of multi-residential prescribed standard gas installations. This includes gas
distributor’s gas metering system location and installation standards. This has been extended to
the maintenance and operation of consumer installation and appliance reviews with the principal
owner of the prescribed installations, Housing Tasmania.
Figure 5 – Prescribed Standard Gas Installation Design Acceptances
4.4
Type B Gas Appliance Acceptance
This office completed acceptances for 72 Type B gas industrial appliance designs, a further 5%
increase on the previous year.
The expansion of appliance control functions and their use in the gas industry, to provide energy
efficiencies, continues to increase the complexity of Type B appliances and has demanded
extended application review and acceptance time frames.
The Director, through investigations into appliance incidents, has identified maintenance,
modification to Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programs and operator training failures.
However, the Director has been unable to resource the implementation of proactive safety integrity
programs on installed equipment.
19
The Director has continued to implement a quality acceptance scheme requiring ISO 9000
certification of the manufacturer, to assess certain high consumption Type B appliances
manufactured internationally before being considered for use in Tasmania.
Significant projects continue to impact on the demand for the services of the Director’s office and
staff expertise as forecast. Long term resourcing and knowledge management was required to
facilitate the acceptance and integrity management of the Tamar Valley Power Station Pratt and
Whitney FT8 turbine synchronous condenser modification. The state-of-the-art Henty Gold sodium
cyanide generator project also received operational acceptance from the Director of Gas Safety
during the reporting period.
Highly visual public displays, the Dark Mofo organ and Matilla Gateway Sculpture, exploiting flame
manipulation for artistic affect have undergone significant review and acceptance including
legislative requirements, operational management and public safety for these unique type B
appliances located, by nature, in close proximity to the general public.
Unique and complex type B appliances such as these require design certifier acceptance
programs, and adoption of layer protection philosophy, staged design, commissioning and
operations consent phases, together with succinct analysis and evaluation with the proponents
and their equipment suppliers to ensure safety.
Figure 6 – Type B Appliance Acceptances
Figure 7 – Major Appliance Commissioning / Acceptance
20
Figure 8 – Gas Safety Management Plans
4.5
Type A Gas Appliance Class Certifying External Authorities
The Australian National Testing laboratories were audited by Energy Safety Victoria for the
purpose of type testing to certain appliance test standards. This program will be ongoing with
performance reporting to each state by Energy Safety Victoria. The Director accepts the interstate
regulator’s audit results.
In conjunction with the Gas Technical Regulators Committee (GTRC), the Director continued to
assist in the development of nationally consistent rules for gas appliance and component
certification and assessment criteria for the recognition of conformity assessment bodies. The
Director expected to implement these rules with the four approved external authorities during
2014/15; however, due to legislative concerns, GTRC members made the decision to defer the
implementation of the GTRC Rules until a cost benefit analysis on the introduction of periodic
safety critical testing to replace/complement existing visual inspections is completed. This cost
benefit analysis will weigh up any safety benefits against any additional impost on business and
consumers.
A model for notification by external authorities and interstate regulators, of gas appliance products
suspended from the market and appliances withdrawn from market, is operational. This is
functional and effective through the GTRC membership and the certifying bodies.
To assist gasfitters to verify the certification status of gas appliances, the GTRC has developed
and implemented a single national certification database as opposed to the four individual
databases currently available. This has required funding from participating states and territories.
In the latter part of the reporting period, the Director received an application from Vipac Engineers
and Scientists for recognition as an external authority in Tasmania to certify that type A gas
appliances and components are compliant with prescribed standards before being made available
for sale. Gas Standards and Safety are reviewing Vipac’s scheme rules and associated
accreditations. If approved, this is expected to occur in late 2015.
Table 5: Tasmanian approved gas appliance external authorities
Organisation
Australian Gas Association
SAI Global
IAMPO R&T Oceana ‘Gas Mark’
Global Mark Pty Ltd
Address
66 Malcolm Road, Braeside, VIC 3195
286 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
1040 Dandenong Road, Carnegie, VIC 3163
Suite 4.07, 32 Delhi Road, North Ryde, NSW 2113
21
4.6
Type A Gas Appliance Acceptance - Individual Appliance Certification
Schemes
The Director has maintained the policy that a single appliance imported into Tasmania. Appliances
may undergo individual site safety certification and acceptance.
This scheme allows new or manufactured – non-certified individual appliances imported into
Tasmanian to undergo inspection for safety certification against relevant technical standards
determined by the Director.
Importation in excess of five appliances will require class certification by an approved external
authority in accordance with an appropriate technical standard and the requirements for class
certification in the Act.
There remains a strong demand for this Tasmanian specific certification scheme with fifteen
separate appliances approved in 2014/15. The availability of overseas gas appliances using the
internet is expected to drive a further increase in the call for individual certification.
Pursuant to Section 70 of the Gas Act 2000, two Tasmanian Type B licensed gasfitters have been
approved to conduct individual gas appliance certification. The Australian Gas Association,
already being an approved external authority has developed an individual appliance scheme for
commercial cooking appliances. The Australian Gas Association’s scheme is proving to be cost
prohibitive to consumers due to the need to transport appliances to Victoria for testing.
Individual appliance mutual recognition arrangements with interstate gas regulators are in place.
Legislation enables importation into Tasmania of unique appliances previously approved by other
interstate regulators.
Figure 9 – Type A Appliance Approval by Director
4.7
Prohibition of Sale, Product Withdrawal and Recall of Gas Appliances and
Components
The Director has responsibilities pursuant to Section 79 A-C for prohibition of supply of unsafe gas
appliances. A single prohibition on the sale of unsafe and non-compliant butane canister cookers
was initiated during the reporting period.
Following safety concerns, the Director’s office assisted and supervised several market initiated
recalls within Tasmania during the reporting period.
22
Table 6: Tasmanian gas appliance prohibition of sale, product withdrawal and recall
of gas appliances and components
Appliance
Action
Reason for Action
Butane canister
cookers (multiple
brands and models)
Director of Gas
Safety prohibition on
the supply
Voluntary national
recall, Connections
magazine article
Voluntary national
recall
Non-compliance with prescribed standard and unsafe due
to inoperability of over pressure protection device
designed to disengage canister before canister rupture
Global Valve Alliance
(model BV20F )
Trauma hot water
heaters
Swift RV cooking
appliances
Cannon Heaters
Coolabah BBQ Home
Gas Smoker
Voluntary national
recall, Director direct
mail out to identified
appliance owners
Negotiating with
ACC for national
recall
Installation of flame
failure device as part
of appliance
Unsatisfactory leakage
Non-compliance with prescribed standard
Incorrectly installed cookers; by not providing adequate
support with the appliance enclosure, which in and a
number of instances nationally led to excess movement
and vibration causing internal appliance pipework to leak
gas.
Excessive levels of carbon monoxide entering homes
under certain climatic and installation conditions
Explosion following user re-light following appliance flame
failure
Thetford Triplex Plus
Oven/Grill Cooking
Appliance
Voluntary national
recall, Connections
magazine article
In some instances an incorrectly installed fascia causing
the gas control valve to be misaligned and in extreme
cases may stick in the open position. If this defect is
present there is a risk of gas building up into the appliance
when not lit and this may lead to a possible explosion
within the oven.
Comcater Pty Ltd Frymaster 45 Series
Field retro-fit
program
Excessive carbon monoxide production during operation
4.8
Major Events
Significant resources continue to be deployed to ensure public safety at significant Tasmanian
events such as The Taste of Tasmania, Dark Mofo, Agfest and Festivale. This has required event
organisers, with the assistance of the Director’s office, to develop and implement gas safety
management plans for the safe use of gas appliances and emergency response in the event of a
gas related incident.
The Director’s comprehensive guidance material for both the storage and use of LP gas at public
events, and the assessment and use of temporary flame effects operated before an audience, has
been well received and implemented by event organisers and display managers, due largely to
public exposure risks. The Director has implemented minimum requirements for the design,
manufacture and operation of flame effects using an international standard that provides
requirements for the protection of the audience, support personnel, performers, the operator,
assistants, and property where flame effects are used.
4.9
Internet Sale of Gas Appliances
It is disturbing to report the sale of new non-certified products, imported into Australia and
purchased via the internet by Tasmanian consumers. This issue continues to be difficult for gas
regulators to regulate.
The significant reduction in Australian manufactured appliances, and a transfer to Asian offshore
manufacturers, has seen this trend of importation of non-certified products grow considerably.
Wholesaling of gas appliances via internet based sales sites without appliance certification is
creating an unacceptable void in the appliance safety certification scheme and increasing risk to
the public.
23
Importers often move to alternate interstate locations to avoid regulators’ attempts to implement
legislative actions. Importers are prepared to undertake significant actions to avoid detection and
the administrative powers of regulators.
4.10
Carbon Monoxide
A carbon monoxide awareness program continues to be a priority of the Director, following the
national strategy for exposure to carbon monoxide and the release of the coroner’s findings into
the deaths of three men by carbon monoxide poisoning near Miena in the Central Highlands on 17
March 2012.
Targeted carbon monoxide education programs have seen the Director’s office work with training
providers and communicate with gasfitters, caravan suppliers and caravan rental businesses
about the dangers of improper installation and operation of gas appliances, including the need for
continual maintenance and testing for safe operation.
Communication has been in the form of direct correspondence, published articles, participation at
selected recreational vehicle expos and the presentation of sessions to gas fitters as part of the
2014 WorkSafe Month activities. Carbon monoxide educational topics included additional
installation and testing requirements within gas fitting standard AS/NZS 5601 and raising
awareness in respect to the enclosure of recreational vehicle appliance flues by annexes or
similar.
4.11 Gas Installation and Appliance Incidents
GSS has responded to 21 gas storage, installation and appliance incidents in this reporting period.
Portable LP Gas storage and appliance incidents remain the predominant cause.
Following a considerable number of incidents nationally and internationally, the use of patio style
area heaters is predicted to represent a risk to Tasmanian consumers. Whilst these gas
appliances are safety tested and conform to prescribed standards, the portability of these
appliances lends to their misuse, such as operating them indoors or in poorly ventilated areas.
Subsequently the Director’s Office has been working closely with the Gas Technical Regulators
Committee on the development of additional local and national minimum safety standards
including oxygen depletion monitoring devices and tilt sensing interlocks.
Similar to trends identified in Tasmania, the collection of incident data at a national level has also
identified that portable appliances connected to minor LP Gas storage cylinders and disposable
canisters make up a disproportionate number of serious incidents compared to other forms of gas
installations. As a result the Director has been involved in a number of projects aimed at reducing
these incidents at a local and national level. Projects include the distribution of educational
material and review of appliance design and certification standards.
An unexplained spike in the number of incidents involving school science laboratory gas bunsen
burner turrets was experienced this financial year. As a result, the Director’s office liaised
extensively with the Department of Education, certification bodies, manufacturers, suppliers and
maintenance contractors to develop a holistic and shared curative strategy. Continued monitoring
and statistical analysis of incident causation will inform the Director of Gas Safety if this strategy is
effective.
24
Figure 10 – Gas Incident Investigations
SECTION 5:
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF GAS SAFETY PROGRAMS/ACHIEVEMENTS
Considering increased planned outputs the Director has completed all reactive programs and has
made acceptable progress towards the rationalisation of the Gas Safety Legislation, development
of unconventional gas utilisation and new evolving industries. These programs form the critical
administration and control of gas infrastructure expansion and construction in Tasmania.
The following programs are mandated under the Gas Act 2000 and the Gas Pipeline Act 2000
prescribed standards.
5.1
Regional Delivery of Programs
Table 7: Operation and maintenance of administrative systems primary outputs
Industry
Segment
Business Management
System
Output
Reason
Management
Annual report output and
statistical collation
Annual report on
activities of the
Director
Time allocation data
collation for gas entity
activity
Time records
Legislative
requirement Gas Act
2000
Recovery of
reasonable cost
pursuant to Gas Act
2000
Communicate with
national gas regulators
Maintenance of
technical and
evolving standards
Business document
control
Administer the
document and
publications register
Web development and
management
Review and update
the gas website
Business
administration
and appliance
programs
Safe gas installations
and appliances
Maintenance of
document and
publications
standards
Quality control of
public documents
25
Industry
Segment
Business Management
System
Output
Reason
Communications
management system
Internal delivery of
relevant and timely
publications
Identify safety,
training and
educational needs
and stakeholder
expectations
Gas appliance (Type A)
safety management
Gas appliance approval
(Type A) program
Gas External Authority
approval
Accident and incident
investigation program
Undertake commercial
sensitivity assessment of
gas infrastructure
information records
Gasfitter
administration
Deliver timely
Freedom of
Information requests
Consumer safety
Consumer safety
Consumer safety
Community safety
Gas emergency
response
Preserve information
confidentiality
Ensure adequate
Gas safety management
GSMP for large or
plan (GSMP) acceptances high risk
installations
Safety and reliability
of installations
Gasfitter installations
notification database
Verify gasfitter
certifications of gas
installations
Gas installations
Acceptance program
Gas appliance design and
installation acceptance
(Type B)
Gas Distribution
Identify and
implement unsafe
gas appliance
notifications
Conduct safety
approval procedures
for appliances and
establish national
alliances
Ensure competent
organisations are
approved to
examine gas
appliance safety
Respond to
accidents and
incidents on gas
transmission,
distribution and
installations that
pose a risk to supply
and public safety.
Gas Entity network
approval program
Gas Entity network
integrity monitoring
Gasfitter certification
data
Deliver 3 regional
installation technical
compliance
programs
Deliver 3 regional
Type B appliance
technical
compliance
programs
Review proposed
network
submissions
Review of safety
and operating plans
Consumer safety
Consumer safety
Ensure construction
standards compliance
Ensure acceptable
levels of public risk
and supply integrity
26
Industry
Segment
Gas Storage
and
Conditioning
Business Management
System
Installation disconnections
and reconnection
procedures.
Gas Storage Systems
Gas Storage Systems
safety management and
emergency response
planning
Output
Reason
Deliver timely
disconnection
orders
Design acceptance
and supplier /
stakeholder
management project
Control unsafe or
non-compliant gas
installations
Target supplier
compliance in existing
and new gas storage
products
Approval of GSMP
Consumer and public
safety enhancement
While staffing resources available to the Director’s office remained low this year, the office was
able to successfully deliver prescribed reactive outputs in line with industry expectations, including:









Administration;
gas installations [complex] acceptance;
gas installations [prescribed] acceptance;
gas appliance and installation research and standards development;
gas distribution approvals programs;
gas appliance and components certification and approvals;
gas storage systems, reliability and supply;
incident and accident investigations; and
facilitation of compliance of new industry participants.
Targeted recruitment to sustain Gas Standards and Safety outputs resulted in the promotion of an
existing inspector to the vacant Gas Infrastructure Safety specialist role. Backfilling of the resultant
gas inspector’s position has commenced and should result in an additional inspector commencing
with the branch in the first quarter of the financial year. Filling this position will essentially provide
staffing numbers one fulltime equivalent less than the operating level prior to the commencement
of recruitment restrictions, and will provide much needed support to meet the diverse expectations
and safety outcomes of industry and the general public.
Table 8: Summary of Achievements
Activity
Function
Safety Outcome
Gas Distribution and Storage
Investigated uncontrolled
gas release incidents on
gas infrastructure
Driven development of
network load shedding and
gas quality emergency
guidelines
Maintained Gas Suppliers
Gas Safety Management
Planning for LNG and CNG
Gas storage
Identify causation of incidents
and review operational
standards
Prevent recurrence of uncontrolled
gas incidents, and ensure
acceptable levels of public risk
Stakeholder engagement and
development of stakeholder
appliance conversion, gas
storage and natural gas supply
in emergencies
Enhance Tasmanian natural gas
supply emergency plan
Ensure timely response to any
loss of containment incident,
supply emergency and
maintenance management
Manage inherent public risks from
uncontrolled gas emergencies.
Assist emergency response
organisations
27
Activity
Function
Safety Outcome
Reviewed network
reliability, integrity,
operational management,
public safety and condition
survey
Ensure compliance, adequacy,
currency, accuracy and
reliability of operational
records
Maintain supply safety and control
public risk
Reviewed development of
gas entity operations safety
and operating plans
Implemented a compliance
audit program for LNG gas
pipeline facilities
Participated in multi-agency
emergency response and
gas curtailment exercise
Ensure compliance and
adequate management of gas
infrastructure through
documented policies and
procedures
Ensure compliance of
emergency response and
planning
Test current state wide
emergency response and gas
curtailment mechanisms
Maintain supply safety and control
public risk
Maintain infrastructure safety and
control public risk
Protect vulnerable gas consumers
Gasfitter Licensing and Gas Worker Accreditation
Ongoing collaboration with
stakeholders to identify
required training and skills
development for
refrigeration workers for
flammable hydrocarbon
refrigerants
Developed and delivered
targeted training to wider
gas fitting industry
Investigated non-compliant
gas installation work
standards and resultant
safety issues
Provided advice and
conducted investigations
Ensure that comprehensive
standards for training
Maintain gas fitter competency
around topical technical issues
Issue gasfitter defects,
infringement, consumer
disconnect and rectification
notices
Ensure compliant gas fitting
and licensing standards
Ensure that competent persons
undertake all forms of gas fitting
work
Ensure gas installation compliance
and standards providing adequate
level of consumer safety
Ensure gas installation safety
standards for consumers
Ensure safe gas fitting and
licensing standards
Gas Appliances and Installations
Investigated uncontrolled
gas incidents on in situ and
portable gas appliances
Collaborated with national
gas technical regulators on
gas appliance safety
concerns and initiate
actions in respect to
appliance certification
bodies, suppliers and
consumers
Implemented policy for gas
installations at public
events
Implemented carbon
monoxide education
program
Identify causation of incidents
and review technical standards
Minimise the likelihood of
death or injury from exposure
to unsafe gas appliances
Minimise the likelihood of
inadequate installation and
design
Minimise the likelihood of
death or injury from exposure
to carbon monoxide
Prevent reoccurrence, produce
education materials, web
information and implement product
withdrawal standards
Protection of consumers
Ensure a transparent safety model
is implemented for consumers and
the public
Prevent reoccurrence and provide
education
28
Activity
Function
Safety Outcome
Continued to research,
review and adopt relevant
technical standards and
codes for gas appliances
Develop, in conjunction with
GTRC, appliance certification
scheme rules
Ensure a consistent and robust
national appliance certification
scheme that effectively delivers
safety outcomes for ever
increasing imported products
Continued to develop and
Ensure gas storage systems
implement gas safety
installations achieve
management planning for
acceptable levels of risk
LNG, CNG, Bio Gas
control and emergency
Storage
preparedness
Continued to develop and
Ensure installations achieve
implement gas safety
acceptable levels of risk
management planning for
control and emergency
flare and waste gas
preparedness
removal systems
Gas Technical Standards and Working Groups
Contributed to national and
Australian Building Code
Development of best practice
board agenda for inclusion
and ensure net gain for the
of on-site gas fitting work in gas fitting industry.
National Construction Code
Engaged gas supply
Develop industry procedures
industry stakeholders
and communication protocols
following out of
in the event of reoccurrence
specification gas incident
Continued to research,
review and adopt relevant
Ensure consistent national and
technical standards and
international standards apply
codes for emerging
to Tasmanian gas industry
technology
Ensure evolving type A and B
Participated in development
appliance design achieve
of industrial appliance
acceptable levels of risk
safety standards
control
Manage consequences and
inherent risks
Manage specialised surveying
services to contain inherent risks
Alignment of prescribed gas fitting
technical requirements with the
greater construction industry
standards
Ensure safe and reliable supply of
natural gas to vulnerable
consumers
Ensure currency of intrinsic safety
in the gas industry emerging
technologies
Set contemporary appliance
design specifications
Stakeholder Relations
Facilitated stakeholder
meetings for the
management of buried
infrastructure
Continued to facilitate gas
entity meetings for the
management of safe gas
infrastructure
Contributed to national Gas
Technical Regulator
Committee programs
Committed to GTRC audit
program for external
authorities.
Participated with State
Growth Natural Gas Supply
Emergency Coordinating
Committee
Development of safe work
procedures for work adjacent
to buried infrastructure
Ensure worker safety, recording
and quality of location information
Maintain adequacy of
management communications
Ensure safety and reliability of
Tasmanian NG supplies
Harmonise gas product and
legislative outcomes to
national and COAG standards.
Maximise safety and economic
outcomes to gas consumers
Provide verification of external
authority outcomes
Ensure consumer safety and
quality of approved gas appliance
on the Tasmania market
Preparation and prevention
strategies for pipeline
operations
Facilitate and enhance natural gas
supply protocols to ensure public
and emergency worker safety
29
Activity
Function
Communications and Education Management
Provide targeted guidance in
respect to ground works
Provided industry specific
adjacent to buried gas
training presentations
infrastructure, and appliance
safety performance in respect
to Carbon
Facilitate stakeholder and
Administered a gas specific
consumer access to gas
internet site and gas safety
technical standards and safety
publications
information
Contributed articles to
Improve stakeholder and end
Connections magazine
user education on gas safety
Issued Guidance Notes
Provide stakeholder advice
following investigations
Educate type B gas fitters on
Commenced planning for
changes to prescribed
Type B appliance industry
standards and provide
forum
opportunity for open forum
Business Administration
Administered, reviewed and
identified opportunity for
business management
improvement
Commenced review of
document standards for
web viewing
Continue development of
contemporary business unit
models
Safety Outcome
Manage public risk by ensuring
relevant industry stakeholders are
aware of their obligations and
safety expectations
Provide timely delivery of industry
communications products
Enhance gas education policy and
expand audience
Enhance safety of civil and gas
workers
Safe and compliant type B
appliances and planning to meet
industry needs
Efficiently administer all business
processes
Improve industry efficiencies
Enhance timely delivery of
services
Ensure adequacy of regional
safety and technical coverage
thus improving output in line
with industry and community
expectations
Ensure acceptable staff workloads
and enhance timely delivery of
services
Commenced review of Act
and Regulations
Ensure adequate and
improved regulatory
requirements to facilitate safe
outcomes in an evolving
industry
Provide consistent and
contemporary gas safety
framework
Refined gas storage
approvals systems and
administration program
Ensure adequacy of all gas
storage facilities
Enhance levels of public risk and
reliability
Commenced targeted
recruitment
Policy Development
30
5.2
Inspection Program
Inspections of complex and prescribed standard gas installations and type B appliances increased
again this reporting year in line with the increased industry demand for these acceptance
programs. To ensure appropriate management of resources, the Director’s office examines the
inherent risk of individual installations and appliances to drive and enhance its field-based
inspection programs. Refer figures 11 and 12
As a result of statistical analysis of historical incident data derived from both Tasmania and
nationally, the Director of Gas Safety continues to believe that standard gas installations and
portable appliances are the greatest organisational risk confronting GSS. Subsequently GSS
intensified, its proactive regional ‘standard’ gas installation inspection schedule.
The Director of Gas Safety is conscious not to undermine technical and safety effectiveness
already realised in respect to high risk complex and prescribed standard gas installations, and
type B appliances. Therefore when considering the increased standard gas installation inspections
realised as a result of this additional focus, compared as a proportion of actual installations
installed, it demonstrates that standard gas install inspections continue to be primarily performed
on a reactionary basis, following complaint or incident.
Figure 11 – Field Inspection Activities
Figure 12 – Type B Appliance Field Activities
31
5.3
Technical Standards Development
Development of safety and technical standards for the Tasmanian gas industry is ongoing to meet
emerging trends and technology expansion. Consultation between WorkSafe, industry
stakeholders, end users, interstate regulators and gas industry organisations is ongoing to ensure
currency, relevance and completeness of Tasmanian gas standards. Adoption of international
standards is growing as unique appliances and appliance applications enter the local market.
The Director’s office routinely provides technical comment and feedback to Australian Standards
committees in respect to proposed amendments and drafts (refer Table 8).
The Director is represented by GSS on Australian Standards committees AS 3814 Industrial gas
appliances (AG-001-00-05) and AS 1596 The storage and handling of LP Gas (ME-15).
Considerable resources have been allocated to these committee roles and to providing input into
other evolving standards as they are amended to manage ongoing appliance, gas storage and gas
infrastructure technological advances – including in particular gas turbine operational control and
safety.
Considerable resources have also been allocated to the consultative process with the Australian
Building Code Board in respect to the inclusion of on-site gas fitting in the National Construction
Code. This process is in the initial stages of development – primarily investigating the merits of the
inclusion of gas fitting, in line with COAG directives, and the scope of on-site gas fitting work for
inclusion in a standalone gas-fitting code of Australia. A consultation paper to stakeholders is
expected to be released for comment in the latter half of 2015.
Table 9: Technical Standards Development and Implementation 2014/15
Standard
AS 1596
Title
The storage and handling
of LP Gas
AS 2809
Road tank vehicles for
dangerous goods Tankers for cryogenic
liquids
AS 2885.0
Pipelines—Gas and liquid
petroleum Part 0: General
requirements
AS 3814
Industrial and Commercial
Gas Appliances
AS 3961
Liquefied Natural Gas—
Storage and Handling
AS 4670
Commercial propane and
commercial butane for
heating purposes
Revisions
Ongoing input to Standards committee ME15
agenda items
Following extensive experience in general
cryogenic operations, provide clarification of
where a ‘Trycock’ valve fits into the
requirements of this standard and the
requirements for the use of Internal Safety
Control (ISC) and Excess Flow Valves
Draft amendments including comprehensive
change of focus in respect to general and
technical aspects of integrity management
accountability and approvals.
Major review featuring expanded hazard and
risk requirements in line with international
practice, functional safety of
electrical/electronic/programmable electronic
safety-related systems and contemporary
gas engine requirements
Provide requirements for the design,
construction and operation of installations for
the storage and handling of liquefied natural
gas (LNG), covering installations of
atmospheric-type tanks for supplying marine
terminals, pipeline peak saving, and pressure
tanks
Draft Guideline developed by Gas Energy
Australia as a supplement for the standard
covering management of odorant in the LPG
supply chain
32
Standard
Title
AS 5263
Gas appliances
(parts 0, 1,2,3 & 7)
AS/NZS 60079.10.1
Explosive atmospheres Classification of areas Explosive gas
atmospheres
Revisions
New suite of appliance standards aimed at
providing manufacturers, designers,
regulatory authorities, testing laboratories
and similar organisations with uniform
minimum requirements for the safety,
performance and use of gas appliances
Standards committee MS‐011 proposal to
significantly amend current standard
including removal of industry-based
examples contained in annex
HBxxx
Provide guidance for authorities, drivers,
LPG industry business managers and
supervisors through a tanker operation
handbook
National
Construction Code
Gas-fitting code of
Australia
Consideration of whether the technical
requirements for on-site gas-fitting are better
determined and expressed under current
arrangements through the Gas Acts and
regulations of each State and Territory or
through the National Construction Code
(NCC) as a separate Gas-fitting Code of
Australia, which would in-turn be referenced
by legislation of the States and Territories
NFPA 160
Standard for the Use of
Flame Effects Before an
Audience
Provide guidance to public safety officials,
designers, and operators of flame effects for
the reasonable protection for viewing
audiences and performers of flame effects.
Draft Australian
Standards Handbook
5.4
Vehicle Gas Fitting and Stationary Engines
While the newly implemented vehicle gasfitter worker competency training package for LNG, CNG
and LP gas vehicle gasfitters by Skills Tasmania and the worker licensing scheme by BSOL are
operating effectively, the slowdown of commercial uptake of gas as an automotive fuel has
restricted the implementation of vehicle gas fitting packages this year.
Industry stakeholder consultation is ongoing for the review of automotive gas fitting competency
requirements, standards of work, and records. The Director of Gas Safety held a meeting with the
Tasmanian Automobile Chamber of Commerce and Department of State Growth -Transport to
further develop regulatory and administration cooperation.
Work determinations and licensing development pursuant to the Occupational Licensing Act for
stationary gas engines has been completed and executed. Industry stakeholder consultation is
ongoing for review of competency requirements. No new work was undertaken by the Director’s
office on this matter.
5.5
Gas Committees and Associations
Membership of the national GTRC regularly provides Tasmania with current gas appliance and
gas technical and safety information exchange, including products withdrawn from market, illegal
sales of equipment, and audit results by interstate regulators on appliance certifying bodies.
Member communications frequently result in product warnings to the Tasmanian public, gasfitter
communications or appliance safety investigations.
33
The bi-annual meetings revolve through participating states and territories. The financial capacity
of GSS budget has allowed, for the first time in a considerable number of years, the opportunity
for GSS to attended both GTRC meetings convened during the reporting period – with Tasmania
hosting the November 2014 GTRC meeting in Launceston. This has permitted GSS participation
in the GTRC programs that directly affects the Tasmanian Gas Industry and COAG national
program implementation.
Staff attended the Tasmanian Electrolysis Committee regional meetings. The Committee’s role
identifies the adequacy of cathodic protection systems and design requirements for high pressure
gas pipelines and infrastructure in the vicinity of high voltage electrical infrastructure.
To test, practice and explore industry mechanisms and communications between each of the
major stakeholders during a natural gas supply shortage, the Natural Gas Supply Emergency
Coordination Committee conducted the desk top exercise ‘slow burn’. The exercise involved all
major stakeholders in the Natural Gas industry in Tasmania to confirm whether the Tasmanian
(Natural) Gas Supply Emergency Management Plan adequately describes the roles and
responsibilities during a natural gas supply shortage. All participants derived benefit from the
exercise, including an understanding of the consequences of curtailment decisions on contractual
obligations, and vice versa.
More recently the Director’s office has convened several meetings of members of the Natural Gas
Supply Emergency Coordination Committee. First, a post-incident debrief following a gas quality
excursion, and second, a planning meeting to discuss the consequences of gas rationing as a
result of imminent industrial action at the BHP ESSO gas plant.
Table 10: Participation in committees and organisations
Committee
Member organisations
Gas Technical
Regulators Committee
(GTRC)
All Australian States and New
Zealand gas technical regulators
Committee to
Coordinate the
Response to Energy
Supply Emergencies
Gas infrastructure owners,
GSS, Department of State Growth
Tasmanian Electrolysis
Committee
WorkSafe, Aurora Energy, Tas
Networks, Hobart City Council,
Telstra, Tas Water, Tas Gas
Networks, private consultants
5.6
Committee purpose
Harmonisation of national gas
safety standards and advice to
COAG.
Industry communications.
Requests for appliance condition
and investigations.
Acceptance of external authority
performance audit.
A functional committee to
coordinate across jurisdiction
emergency gas supplies
Functional committee to
coordinate electrolysis standards
for Tasmanian infrastructure
Policy Development and Legislation
Significant resources have been required in undertaking a major review of both the Gas Pipelines
Act 2000 and the Gas Act 2000. The purpose of the review being to separate the
economic/licensing functions administered by the Department of State Growth and the
technical/safety functions administered by the Director of Gas Safety and Department of Justice.
These functions are currently combined in both sets of legislation and in many cases are not clear.
34
This approach is also in line with Government expectations, and consistent with the Government’s
Tasmanian Energy Strategy requiring the elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy that does not
promote safe, reliable gas infrastructure, or provide proper safety and technical standards for gas
installations and appliances in line with community and public safety expectations.
At the end of the reporting period both the Director of Gas safety and Department of State Growth
have prepared and presented drafting instructions and draft bills to the Office of Parliamentary
Counsel.
5.7
Communications and Gas Safety Education
Development of policy and educational information to inform stakeholders of legislative and
technical matters has remained a focus during 2014/15. See Table 11 for outputs of this program.
The Director’s education program delivery has expanded from a model predominately restricted to
the use of electronic media, web publications, Connections magazine, and targeted programs to
stakeholders, to include expos and other public events. This new delivery method is seen as the
primary model for maximum penetration to stakeholders.
The bi-annual Connections magazine has been substituted by a BSOL e-newsletter distributed to
allied trades on a two-monthly cycle. The e-newsletter has been highly beneficial in
communicating specific messages to all building trades, professions and gas fitting industries in a
timelier manner.
Also well received were three regional gas fitting compliance presentations delivered in
conjunction with WorkSafe’s ‘WorkSafe Month’ activities. This year’s sessions targeted the new
content of the recently amended gas fitting standard AS/NZS 5601.
Not so successful was the attendance at a Natural Gas Awareness Seminar for Civil Contractors
working within Tasmanian Road Reserves – where the attendance was very disappointing. This
was despite the sessions being sanctioned and jointly presented by TGN, DBYD and the
Tasmanian branch of the Civil Contractors Federation.
Additional presentations are expected this coming year, including the substantially revised gas
fitting standard AS3814 and continuation of the targeted education program into the dangers of
misused gas appliances and resultant carbon monoxide.
GSS also delivered its gas safety and compliance message to industry and a targeted public
audience at selected expos and public events.
Further analysis of cost affective public and consumer education methods is ongoing and will be
priority in 2015/16.
Table 11: Communication products
Program
GSS website
Gas quality curtailment
standards
Complex gas installation
application Type B
appliances
New or Managed Output 2013/14
Target Audience
Maintained a gas safety and technical
standards website
Gas consumers
Gasfitters
Gas workers
Gas distributors
Community
Rural landowners
Infrastructure owners
Final draft approved for Emergency Gas
Supply conditional approval procedure
 Quality specification for distributors
 Gas entity notification protocol
Director’s gas safety management
confirmation policy
WorkSafe
Director
Distribution entity
Retailers
Type B gasfitters
Industrial consumers
35
Program
New or Managed Output 2013/14
Biogas collection and
utilisation
Director’s biogas safety policies
Director’s gas safety management
policy
Presentations
Education
Biogas publications including Fact Sheet
Gas Safety domestic biogas systems,
Guidance Note Gas Safety - Gas
Installations Supplied from biogas
facilities and Guidance Note Gas Safety
- Biogas gas composition certification
Gas safety and technical
publications
Fact Sheet - Gas Safety Badly
Ventilated Gas Flues create safety
concerns for RV users
Information Sheet - Gas Safety - Gas
installation with buried gas pipes within
public land - Reissued
Fact Sheet - Prohibition on the sale of
gas appliances March 2015
Fact Sheet Gas Safety - A guide for gas
appliances air requirements
Expos and other public
events
5.8
AGFEST, HIA Home and Building Expo,
Sustainable Living Expo and various
camping and recreation expos
Target Audience
Gasfitters
Developers
Waste and water
authorities
Gasfitters
Gasfitters
Gas Consumers
Civil Contractors
Gasfitters
Consumers
Community
Gasfitters
Annex manufacturers
RV industry
Consumers
Community
Gasfitters
Consumers
Community
Consumers
Gasfitters
Community
Gas consumers
Gasfitters
Gas workers
Community
Rural landowners
Civil Contractors
RV industry
Staff Development
Continuous development is encouraged for all authorised officers and administration staff. Staff
development and mentoring is ongoing with additional staff training requirements identified in
Table 12.
Staff training is provided in accordance with agreed development plans that provide and develop
individuals’ and Gas Standards and Safety’s growing areas of speciality. Core training including
Type B gas appliance, design assessment, combustion engineering and product monitoring is
continuing. Staffing, training and operational efficiencies are priorities but are severely stretched to
meet all areas of gas industry expansion and development.
Technical library resources also continue to be sourced to ensure Gas Standards and Safety staff
capability for meeting the expected gas industry emerging technology, energy efficiency, fire
hazard analysis and risk modelling and analysis.
36
Table 12: Staff development
Issue or Risk
Rotating appliances
Non-consuming gas equipment
Permitting fuel cells (hydrogen)
Development
Turbine standards adopted
Combustion engineering standards
Adiabatic energy transfer systems - safety standards
Certification and building standards
Reciprocating engines including
automotive gas installations
Internal combustion, work engine safety
Technology and specialist control
equipment
Equipment fit for purpose analysis and incident
investigation. Original equipment manufacturer
programing access certificates.
High pressure gas infrastructure
fabrication and quality assurance
standards
Model to compliment layers of protection philosophy
LNG technical and safety standards
Quantitative risk assessment and layers of protection
philosophy for safety of LNG consuming installations
Societal thermal risk quantitative
modelling
Thermodynamics
Models implemented for qualitative and quantitative
risk assessment
Adiabatic compression or expansion, work engines
Gas storage
Liquid storage, dehydration, and gas vaporisation
Gas measurement
Waste and biogases
Pipeline continuity of supply and public
risks
Purging and inverting
Fire science, fire dynamics and fire
causation
Highly technical incident investigations
including complex causational
relationships with operational
management
5.9
Liquid and gas chromatography, mass measurement
and meter proving
Waste gas quality and safe combustion
Pipeline direct assessment and validation procedures
Steel pipeline corrosion control cathodic protection
Safe purging of large volume vessels
Fire investigation, key technical skills interpreting the
patterns and phases of fire
Precise analysis of incident root cause/s
Gas Supply Management
The Director of Gas Safety is a member of the Natural Gas Supply Emergency Co-ordination
Committee – a sub-committee of the Committee to Coordinate the Response to Energy Supply
Emergencies for the purpose of advising the Minister on how to respond to natural gas supply
emergencies. The Manager of Gas Safety represents the Director on this committee.
The Director of Gas Safety has committed to the Tasmanian Gas Emergency Response and Coordination Plan requirements. A staff availability roster is operational for after-hour response to
onshore gas infrastructure and installation incidents, as well as intrastate, interstate and offshore
supply or gas quality issues. Response to 34 installation and supply incidents during the reporting
period and total of 201 over seven years of implementation has been beneficial to Tasmania Fire
Service and Tasmania Police in responding to incidents and ensuring safe procedures for isolation
and recovery.
The Director of Gas Safety’s incident response management system has enhanced enforcement
of real time isolation of uncontrolled gas escapes and gas vapour cloud control of deflagration
events.
37
An out of gas specification incident did not result in gas curtailment to any consumers as a direct
result of preparation due to industry participation in exercises for pipeline emergency management
and recovery planning. The incident did provide valuable learning opportunity with the Director of
Gas Safety facilitating an incident debrief with a licensed gas entities, Department of State Growth,
major consumers and suppliers.
Agreed outcomes derived as a result of lessons learnt from this real life testing of industry
interaction and communication. in particular the contractual arrangements that drove
communications and decisions, will be developed and implement by Gas Standards and Safety
during 2015/16
Aside from testing aspects of the Inter Government Tasmanian (Natural) Gas Supply Emergency
Coordination Plan, this exercise proved constructive for assessing sufficient GSS resources to
manage the information and decision making needs during a natural gas supply emergency. The
review of GSS’s Incident Response Management Plan will receive priority following recruitment in
key positions.
The Director’s office maintains internal emergency communication protocols and contact data for
Tasmanian-based LP Gas, CNG and LNG suppliers. Emergency data exchange with the
Tasmania Fire Service as part of the co-operative program is facilitated by the Director of Gas
Safety.
This data exchange enhances preparedness for industry communication and response protocols
and the Director’s office emergency callout to incidents during after-hours response.
5.10
Emergency Incident Coordination
The Director maintains management plans and internal procedures for GSS ‘on shore’ emergency
gas incident response protocols. Emergency Incident Response Management plans and the staff
availability roster have operated successfully to cater for an expanding use of different fuel gases
and complexity in gas supply chain management.
Documentation for gas appliance, gas conversion approvals and standby liquefied gas storage
approvals during gas curtailment are available for emergency implementation.
5.11
Gasfitter Training and Accreditation
As reported previously, GSS became part of the newly formed Building Standards and
Occupational Licensing in the latter half of 2014; the outcome of a merger of Building Standards,
Electrical Standards, Working With Vulnerable People, and Occupational Licensing and
Accreditation. This amalgamation has realised expected synergies including technical assistance
and policy advice for Occupational Licensing Act administration and licensing scheme for gas
fitting.
A database for recording all consumer gas fitting work certifications is maintained by the Director
of Gas Safety. Records provide interpretative and administrative systems for monitoring the
performance of gasfitters.
WorkSafe Tasmania maintains a database of all self-certifying licensed vehicle gasfitters.
Relocation of these records and auditing of work and compliance monitoring has been identified
through the maintenance of a completed work notification scheme; however, the Director has not
had the resources needed for this particular project.
38
SECTION 6: INTERGOVERNMENT INDUSTRY ADMINISTRATION
Collaboration with the Office of the Economic Regulator ensured a smooth path for pipeline
approvals, licensing and recovery of the Director’s reasonable costs from licensed gas entities.
Cooperation with the Tasmania Fire Service in relation to fuel gas industry expansion and the
changed requirements has been limited due to restricted resource capability. Despite this,
notification reliability has significantly increased for incidents and emergencies in which gas is, or
is suspected to be, a contributing factor.
Emergency management, emergency incident response and incident investigation is ongoing, with
sound intergovernmental communications and response capability established between first
notification and response systems.
SECTION 7: CONCLUSION
New installation connections are continuing in all gas networks. Increasing social and political
drivers are encouraging commercial and industrial buildings to undergo retrofitting as energy
efficiency expands the use of clean hydrocarbon fuel gases. Retrofitting of more efficient
appliances and the ongoing emergence of new technology used in production and storage of
compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and biogas has required the office to
broaden the development of product and appliance technology projects.
Increased use of advanced equipment control technology for specialised appliance combustion
control and reduced atmospheric contaminants has required additional administrative review and
acceptance models. Targeted training will be ongoing for specialist type B appliance inspectors
during 2015/16.
The vehicle gas fitting industry has not previously had work standards administered through the
requirements of the Gas Act 2000. This has been identified as requiring specialised resources
within GSS. Notwithstanding Occupational Licensing (Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine
Gas-fitting Work) Determinations, no automotive installation standards program was commenced
in this year.
COAG, through the COAG Energy Council (formally Standing Council on Energy and Resources
is driving national reforms for harmonised legislation in:




gas appliances safety certification standards;
energy (pipelines and networks) technical and safety standard harmonisation and
enhancement planning;
new gas appliance certifying models; and
strategy for carbon monoxide by gas appliance.
The harmonisation of downstream consumer installation standards continues to be driven by the
Australian Building Code Board. The Board has determined to proceed with the scoping of a Gas
Code for onsite building work, as part of a process to help determine the costs and benefits of
developing such a Code for inclusion in the National Construction Code. The Director’s office has
and will continue to participate as a member of a Working Group to scope what a Gas Code for
onsite work would contain, which will then be provided to industry Stakeholders under the COAG
Best Practice Guidelines for Regulation.
Rationalisation of the Gas Pipelines Act 2000 and the Gas Act 2000, separating
economic/licensing and technical/safety functions has substantially commenced. Development of
the Gas Safety Bill and subsequent regulations will be ongoing in 2015/16.
39
Resource planning will need to be provided to meet these challenges. At this stage, all issues to
reach a harmonised approach for all states and achieve across border synergies are being
handled by national working parties.
Gas transmission programs pursuant to the Gas Pipelines Act 2000 have seen a reduced
approvals schedule. However increased involvement in downstream programs has been at the
detriment of proactive programs involving policy and legislative development, education and
communications, and the gas entity safety management systems auditing and review program.
Restrictions and staff movements are inhibiting the delivery of some programs. Reinstatement of
the GSS unit staffing levels has commenced in line with the identified growth areas; this is
required to enable the Director’s capability to meet all current programs and maintain public safety
standards, and ensure supply and reliability standards are achieved as the Tasmanian gas
industry growth continues.
A greater enforcement focus has been introduced and continues to require considerable
resources, in particular those matters involving interference with gas infrastructure, diversion and
abstraction of gas, extended gasfitter work standards, focus to standard gas installations, pipeline
integrity, gas conditioning, gas storage and new compliance standards.
Dale Webster
DIRECTOR of GAS SAFETY
40
APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS
ABCB
AEMO
BSOL
CNG
COAG
Director
GSMP
GSS
GTRC
ISO
kPa
LNG
LP Gas
MAOP
NCC
NFPA
NG
PIG
TGN
Australian Building Code Board
Australian Energy Market Operator
Building Standards and Occupational Licensing
Compressed Natural Gas
Council of Australian Government
Director of Gas Safety
Gas Safety Management Plan
Gas Standards and Safety (Unit of Workplace Standards)
Gas Technical Regulators Committee
International Standards Organisation
Kilo Pascals
Liquefied Natural Gas
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure
National Construction Code
National Fire Protection Association
Natural Gas
Pipeline Integrity Gauge
Tas Gas Networks
41