Type B gas devices

A type B gas device is any gas device that is not a gas device (type A). This includes devices (appliances) that use fuel gas to produce heat, light or power, for example:

• industrial and commercial appliances
• fuel cell gas systems
• refrigeration devices
• a fuel gas system for the propulsion of a vehicle or vessel.

All gas devices must be approved (certified) before installation or use by the Chief Inspector, Petroleum and Gas, the holder of a gas device approval authority or (in the case of a fuel gas system) the holder of a gas work authorisation.

The approval process for industrial and commercial appliances and fuel cell gas system requires the development of a document to demonstrate compliance with the legislative requirements. This is commonly referred to as a 'technical submission'.

Two guidance documents have been developed to assist with understanding the technical content and format of information required for assessment and approval of these type B gas devices in Queensland:

• RSHQ–Guideline for Gas Safety and Compliance Information required for Gas device Type B approval (Industrial appliance) (PDF, 458KB)
• RSHQ–Guideline for Gas Safety and Compliance Information required for Gas device type B approval (Fuel Cell Gas System) (PDF, 512KB).

Where a type B gas device is being supplied prior to approval, the supplier must provide the Queensland type B gas device approval notice (PDF, 570KB) to the new owner of the device advising of the approval requirements.

How to get a type B device approved

Follow this process to get an industrial type B device approved:

• engage the holder of an appropriate gas work authority (details of installer and commissioning person are required for assessment and approval process)
• develop a technical submission
• submit the technical submission to 1 of the type B gas device approval authorities listed in the public register below whose scope includes the relevant device type
• if compliance is demonstrated in the technical submission, the gas device approval authority will issue a type B gas device approval certificate
• once the certificate has been received, the gas work authority holder can complete the installation and commissioning of the device in compliance with the relevant safety requirements and the technical submission.

Note: If the gas work is undertaken at an operating plant, the process for device approval applies, however the gas work (installing and commissioning the device) may be undertaken under the safety management system (SMS) for the plant where:

• the work is carried out under the safety management system, other than a generic SMS
• the person(s) carrying out the work has been assessed as competent to carry out the work under the SMS.

Gas devices that use a hydrocarbon refrigerant are defined as a gas device (type B). Further information is provided in the Inspectorates guideline.

Additional certification requirements for hydrocarbon refrigeration devices

Certification documentation must comply with the relevant ISO or AS/NZS Standards applicable to the device being submitted for approval.

The appropriate process for mass-produced or multiple appliances is through a type test certification scheme administered by a JAS-ANZ accredited Conformity Assessment Body. Reports from other accredited laboratories certified to assess against the relevant ISO/AS/NZS Standards may be acceptable at the discretion of the Chief Inspector Petroleum and Gas or his delegate.

Certification documents issued by certifying bodies to Underwriter Laboratories (UL) or European Standards (EN) or other country Standards will need to be reassessed/remapped and reissued as a report under the relevant ISO/AS/NZS Standard by an accredited certifying body.

Note: Approvals granted through this process are nationally recognised throughout Australia, New Zealand and, in some cases, internationally.

To get a hydrocarbon refrigerant gas device approved, the manufacturer or owner should either:

• complete and submit the Application for approval of a type B gas device (hydrocarbon refrigerants) (PDF, 788KB)
• or
• apply to 1 of the type B2 gas device approval authority holders listed in the public register below whose scope includes the relevant device type.

For the purpose of a gas fuel system for the propulsion of a vehicle or vessel the chief inspector approves the installation and use of a gas fuel system, where the gas fuel system:

• components comply with the relevant safety requirement(s)
• is installed by an authorised certifier—holder of a gas work authorisation (motor fuel)
• is certified by the authorised certifier as compliant in the approved form (PGA101/102)
• the gas work is conducted at a place that complies with the relevant safety requirement(s).

Gas device approval authorities type B—public register

The following bodies have been approved by the chief inspector as able to approve the supply, installation, or use of industrial type B gas devices.

Note: For a breakdown of the Queensland classes of type B devices (industrial appliances), view Table 4.3 of the Gas device approval authority requirements (PDF, 1.1MB)

How to apply for a gas device approval authority (type B)

To apply for a gas device approval authority (GDAA) type B, a person must have the appropriate qualifications and experience to perform approval work under the authority. Read the Gas device approval authority requirements (PDF, 1.1MB) to identify the qualifications and experience required.

Applications must be made to the Chief Inspector, Petroleum and Gas.

Before applying:

• read the Gas device approval authority requirements (PDF, 1.1MB)
• read the Gas device approval authority holders – Queensland code of practice (PDF, 1.2MB)
• complete the Application to become a gas device approval authority (PDF, 640KB).

To request type B gas device approval certificates, contact the Licensing and Authorisation Unit.