Gasfitter
Gold Coast, South Brisbane & Tweed Shire

Gas is the most dangerous utility in a residential property. Unlike water, where a failure causes property damage, a gas failure can cause explosion, fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and death. This is why gas fitting is one of the most heavily regulated trades in Australia, with licensing, inspection, and compliance requirements that are significantly more stringent than general plumbing. Every gas connection, disconnection, modification, and repair must be performed by a person holding a current gas work licence, and every completed installation must be tested to the requirements of AS/NZS 5601 before the gas supply is turned on.

Gas Leak Detection, The Most Safety-Critical Gas Service

Gas leaks are the most dangerous gas fitting issue and the one that demands the fastest response. Natural gas and LPG are both odourised with a distinctive "rotten egg" smell (mercaptan) specifically so that leaks can be detected by smell before they reach dangerous concentrations. However, not all leaks are detectable by smell alone, small, slow leaks in concealed pipes, underground lines, or well-ventilated areas may not produce a noticeable odour. A licensed gas fitter uses electronic combustible gas detectors (sensitive enough to detect gas concentrations well below the lower explosive limit) and soap solution testing (applying soapy water to joints and fittings and watching for bubbles) to locate the exact point of leakage.

Once located, the leak is repaired by tightening the fitting, replacing the gasket or O-ring, replacing the pipe section, or replacing the valve, depending on the cause. The entire gas system is then retested with a standing pressure test (the system is pressurised to a specified level and monitored for any pressure drop over a set time period) to confirm that the repair is complete and no other leaks exist.

Gas Appliance Installation, Getting It Right Matters

Installing a gas appliance is not simply connecting a gas hose and turning on the tap. Each appliance must be connected to a gas supply that provides the correct pressure and flow rate for the appliance's rated input. The connection must use the correct type of connector (flexible or rigid, depending on the appliance and installation location), with the correct gas type injectors fitted (natural gas and LPG have different orifice sizes). Appliances that produce combustion gases (gas heaters, gas hot water systems, gas cooktops) require adequate ventilation, either natural ventilation through permanent openings or mechanical ventilation through a powered extraction fan. Flued appliances (gas storage hot water, gas space heaters) require a correctly installed flue that safely discharges combustion products outside the building.

Gas Compliance Certificates, When and Why You Need One

A gas compliance certificate (also called a gas safety certificate or gas installation inspection report) is a formal document issued by a licensed gas fitter certifying that a gas installation has been inspected and meets the requirements of AS/NZS 5601 and applicable Queensland regulations. You need a gas compliance certificate when: selling a property (buyers and their solicitors increasingly request gas compliance as part of the pre-purchase inspection process); leasing a rental property (landlords have a duty of care to ensure gas installations are safe for tenants); after any gas work is completed (the gas fitter who performed the work must issue a compliance notice); for insurance purposes; and for renovation or building approvals where existing gas installations are being modified or extended.

For related services, see our gas installation services, water heater installation, water heater repair, and our full service range.