Gas installations

It has become very commonplace for owners to convert to gas stove installations and/or even gas water heating appliances. Property owners need to be aware that the installers themselves must be approved. The installers must provide a compliance certificate for each installation. As from 2024, amendments to SANS 10087, it is now a requirement that existing installations be inspected at regular intervals, not exceeding five years, and updated CoC required. This is because there are perishable components, most especially rubber piping.

It is important to note that no more than a 9kg bottle of gas may be stored internally and must not be in a confined space. Larger gas bottles (19kg x 2) are usually stored outside (common property) on a flat surface; they should be kept out of direct sunlight and locked with chain/padlocks. These larger gas bottles should be housed in a mesh cage structure with a solid roof cover to provide shade. This would also prevent children/people from tampering with the gas bottles. Correct and cautionary signage must be displayed, e.g. No smoking / Caution: Gas bottle storage. If possible, to store in an enclosed Exclusive Use Area (EUA) yard not accessible by the public, it would be easier/less onerous.

What are the rules when installing gas?

The installer of the appliance may not issue the compliance certificate until these precautionary measures are adhered to. Further to the above mentioned, in terms of SANS 10087, the following rules (but not limited to) also apply:

• Bottles must not be placed closer than 1 meter to a door.
• Bottles must not be placed closer than 2 meters to an open drain or depression, where the gas can gather if the bottle leaks.
• Bottles must not be placed closer than 5 meters to an electrical switch, motor, generator, pool pump, etc.
• Bottles must not be placed closer than 1 meter to the side of a window unless there is at least 300mm between the bottom of the window and the top of the bottle, and a non-combustible roof has been placed between the window and the bottle.
• Bottles cannot be placed closer than 1 meter to a boundary wall, unless the wall is a double brick ‘firewall’ of 1,8 meters tall; there can be no ventilation gaps in the wall.
• Copper pipes used must be greater than class 1 or 0.7mm wall thickness and any copper pipe passing through, or embedded in a wall, cement or ground, must be covered with a protective sleeve.
• Reinforced “orange” hose piping connecting appliances cannot be longer than 2 meters, the hose cannot have any joins, and it cannot pass through any walls or partition.

Bottom line: Insist on the installer’s compliance certificate for the record in each case. Trustees may consider making this a rule. Any works/installations required on common property would require consent from the trustees (Prescribed Management Conduct Rule 4.1 applies)