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Most of the gas used in South African homes is comprised of liquefied petroleum (a mixture of propane and butane). It is a simple chemical structure that allows for safe and clean burning.
“Gas is as safe to use as any other home energy source,” says Waseem Gaffoor of Agasons in Gauteng. “The liquefied gas manufacturing, handling, installation, and service laws and codes in South Africa are so strict that it may be safer for home use than other forms of energy. It is also cheap and readily available with very few shortages,” he explains.
That’s not to say there are no risks. In the worst-case scenario, incorrectly installed gas can cause explosions and fire, which can damage property and endanger human life. There are a number of guidelines in place to improve safety, so be sure to follow these before embarking on gas work in your home.
1. Be gas compliant
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Most of the rules and regulations for safe gas installation can be found in the South African National Standards (SANS) guide under gas usage and installation regulations. This requires permanent installations of gas ovens, hobs, heaters, braais, geysers, or heating systems and even fireplaces to have an up-to-date certificate of compliance.
Should there be a fire in a home, and you do not have a valid certificate of compliance, your home insurance provider may reject any claims. Most compliance certificates (or certificates of conformity as they are sometimes referred to) are valid for five years but some insurers require more regular renewals, so make sure you check your policy.
You will need to obtain a certificate when a new gas installation has been completed or an existing appliance has been modified. You will also need to get a certificate for when you sell your property – to pass on to new homeowners.
A gas compliance certificate must be issued by a competent tradesperson, registered with The South African Qualification & Certification Committee for Gas(SAQCCGas). Each installer should have a registration number, which you could ask to inspect. If you are installing a new appliance in your home, it is important that the installer sends a duplicate copy of the compliance certificate to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa, for their records.
2. Check indoor installations
In South Africa, most of our liquefied gas is stored in a cylinder that can be easily moved around. One of the simplest ways of installing gas inside your home, especially the kitchen, is to insert this cylinder inside a cupboard next to your gas appliance. Only gas cylinders of less than 19kg can be stored inside a home or business.
In order for this installation to correctly follow the legal requirements, it is essential that the cupboard is properly ventilated and also sealed off from the surrounding area.
If you are using the cylinder to supply a hob, the cupboard should not be directly below it, and should not have any electrical connections, plugs or switches inside. The room containing the cupboard, usually the kitchen, must also not contain any electrical distribution boards.
3. Check outdoor installations
The SANS guidelines specify very strict requirements for minimum distances between your gas cylinder and certain features such as doors, windows and electrical points. The cylinder must be a minimum of:
- 1m away from any door or window that is lower than the height of the cylinder valve;
- 2m away from any inlet for an air conditioner, any drain or manhole;
- 3m away from any boundary wall that is not a firewall (a gas cylinder may be installed against a firewall).
4. Act quickly
Remember, if you smell gas, you should extinguish any naked flames immediately, shut off the gas supply at both the safety shut-off and cylinder valve, and let the HOA know. Open as many doors and windows as possible to let fresh air in and move the LPG cylinder outside. You should then check for damage to the cylinder or establish if there’s a leak by looking at the O-ring on the connector that screws into the cylinder. If you are unsure how to do this, contact a registered installer or the fire department.
