Domestic Type A Gas Work

• Gas appliances
• Certifying Type A gas appliances   
• Information for gas installers

 Gas Appliances

When selecting appliances make sure they are made to an appropriate Australian Standard, certified by a type A appliance approving body, and are designed to run on LPG. Appliances must be labelled to show certification.

LPG is not the same as natural gas and must never be used in natural gas appliances, and vice versa.  Operating an appliance on the wrong type of gas can be hazardous.

Installation of domestic LPG appliances, or service and maintenance work on any part of the gas system must only be done by a licensed gasfitter holding a Queensland gas work licence.  Licensed gasfitters may also be plumbers but not all plumbers are licensed gasfitters.  (Look in the Yellow pages under plumbers and gasfitters).

The gasfitter is required to issue a Gas System Compliance Certificate to the appliance owner for new installations or alterations/extensions to existing gas services.  This is also the case for installation work on caravans, boats and fixed gas BBQs.  It is very important the owner obtains and keeps this certificate.

There are a number of gas retailers supplying reticulated or piped gas to households throughout Queensland.

Certifying type A gas appliances

Type A gas devices can only be offered for sale, installation or use if the device has been approved by the Chief Inspector, Petroleum and Gas or by a person or body approved by the Chief Inspector under s733(2) of the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004.

These persons/bodies approved by the Chief Inspector, Petroleum and Gas are called approving authorities.  Separate approving authorities exist for type A appliances (ie white goods such as hot water heaters, cookers etc) and Type B gas devices (industrial gas burners etc). A list of Type A gas device approving authorities accepted in Queensland is available.

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Information for Gas Installers

Anyone who undertakes gas work (installs, removes, alters, repairs, services, tests or certifies) on the gas system of a type A device must have a gas work licence. Type A gas devices include appliances used for producing heat, light or power or for refrigeration where gas is the fuel. Essentially this includes certified (badged) appliances such as stoves and hot water systems.

Gas work licences are issued by the Chief Inspector, Petroleum and Gas. They may be issued for all gas work or the licence may be endorsed or restricted, for example, to gas servicing (Type A gas devices), or caravan servicing and certification.

A Fact Sheet on gas work licence (general gas fitting) (PDF, 69 kB) has been developed which summarises what you need to know about obtaining a gas work licence to do general gasfitting work on appliances (Type A gas devices).

Information Sheet on Composite pipe information and requirements for gas fitters (PDF, 110 kB)

Applying for a licence

If you want to apply for a gas work licence you will need to fill out a Gas Work Licence Application Form (PDF, 185 kB). It is very important that you read the guidelines (Queensland Gas Work Licence Notes 2008 (PDF, 258 kB)) to assist you in filling out the form and understanding the requirements you will have to meet to obtain a licence.

To obtain a gas work licence, applicants will need to demonstrate the required competencies (these are detailed in the Appendices of the Queensland Gas Work Licence Notes 2004). In most cases you must:

• have satisfactory completed a TAFE trade course in gas fitting;
• apprentices must have completed their apprenticeship; and
• possess the relevant standards and legislation.

An interim licence (1-2 years) may be issued to someone who has obtained the minimum competencies and once they demonstrated they have obtained remaining competencies and completed any necessary logbook a full licence can be issued.

Non plumbing/gas fitting apprenticeship trade qualified applicants are required to complete the Field Experience Form (PDF, 90 kB) to progress to a Full Gas Work Licence.

Interstate licence holders are subject to State and Commonwealth Mutual Recognition Acts.  Equivalence of current licences can be found in the Commonwealth licence recognition website  where you can quickly determine what icence you will be entitled to have in this State.

Gas Work Licence Fees

The current prescribed fees for a Queensland Gas Work Licences are:

Note: If a suitably qualified applicant applies for a gas work authorisation (industrial appliances) at the same time the fees above are waived and only the authorisation fees will apply.

Note: If a suitably qualified applicant applies for a gas work authorisation (industrial appliances) and (motor fuel) at the same time, only one authorisation application fee and annual authorisation fees apply.

Gas System Compliance Certificates

A gas system compliance certificate (Form PGA734) must be completed for every installation, with a copy provided to the owner and one to the gas supplier.  (Copy can be faxed if desired.)  Books of these certificates can be obtained by the licence holder from the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate regional offices (see below)or by using the order form (PDF, 93 kB).

Gas System Defect Notices

Changes to the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 effective from 6 November 2009, obligates a person who undertakes gas work or installs part of, or all of a gas system, to use the approved 'Gas System Defect Notice' when non-compliant work is identified.

The approved form can only be obtained from the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate.  All holders of a gas work licence should have a book of defect notices.  The 'request for certificate books' form can be used to order and purchase these books.

Under the new requirements of s734A, a defect notice must be issued if a non-compliance is found.  In addition, the new provisions require any 'safety concern' (ie where this is imminent risk of material harm to persons or property unless action is taken) to be notified to both the gas supplier and a Petroleum and Gas Inspector.  The designated 24/7 telephone number to contact the Inspectorate for these serious defects can be obtained by contacting the Inspectorate.

Building Services Authority (BSA) Requirements

To undertake gas fitting work in Queensland a gas fitter with a gas work licence must also have a BSA contractors licence or be working for a gas fitting company or trade contractor which has a current BSA licence.  This applies no matter what the value of the work is.

If you do not have a BSA licence or are not working for (as an employee or a sub trade contractor) a BSA licensed gasfitter then you are working illegally and are liable for prosecution by the BSA.  

Information in relation to obtaining a BSA licence for gas fitting can be found on the BSA website at http://www.bsa.qld.gov.au/Home/BuildersContractors/LicensingInformation/NewClasses/GFT.htm

You can do an online search to find out if you or your employer is licensed at http://www.bsa.qld.gov.au/Home/OnlineLicenceSearch/. Note: the BSA licence must relate to gas fitting, not another trade.

To make an application for a BSA licence or for further information go to the BSA website at http://www.bsa.qld.gov.au/Home/ or phone 1300 272 272.

More Information

For licence administrative enquiries phone:

• Southern Region (07) 3238 3725
• Central Region (07) 4938 4683
• North Region (07) 47607402