Step 2 - Decide which licence or authorisation you need

Gas work is the work of installing, removing, altering, repairing, servicing, testing or certifying a gas system. You'll need a licence or authorisation relevant to the category of gas device and the type of gas work you intend to do.

To work on a gas device (type A), you need a gas work licence. A gas device (type A) is a device that uses fuel gas to create heat, light or power (including for refrigeration). These are essentially certified (badged) mass-produced appliances such as gas stoves and hot-water systems. Read a full list of Type A gas devices.

To work on a gas device (type B), you need a gas work authorisation. A gas device (type B) is any gas device that is not a gas device (type A). This includes devices such as most industrial gas plant, some commercial gas devices, and fuel gas systems of vehicles or vessels.

Gas work must comply with all relevant requirements under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 (e.g. safety requirements).

Types of licences

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An interim gas work licence may be issued where the applicant has not yet demonstrated that they have the competencies and experience to hold a full gas work licence.

An interim gas work licence authorises you to install, remove, alter, repair, service and test a gas system in relation to a gas device (type A). This allows an interim licence holder to carry out most types of gas work while completing the requirements to progress to a full gas work licence.

An interim gas work licence does not include certifying. The holder of a full gas work licence must check and certify any installation work done by an interim licence holder. Before doing installation work, an interim licence holder will need to arrange a full licence holder to certify the work and should check if they want to supervise the interim holder's work.

A full gas work licence authorises you to carry out all types of gas work on a gas system in relation to a gas device (type A). A full gas work licence may still have some conditions.

A gas work licence (servicing) authorises you to service, repair and test a type A gas device (appliance).

It does not include installing, removing, altering or certifying. For example, it does not include any installation work (such as installing a new or replacement device) or carrying out gas work that changes the design, layout or operating parameters of a gas system.

Gas work under this type of licence may include:

inspecting, cleaning, adjusting and tightening fittings of the gas device
testing to find faults
disconnecting and reconnecting of an existing appliance for servicing only.

A gas work licence (servicing and caravan certification) authorises you to service, repair and test a type A gas device (appliance) and to certify an existing type A gas system installed in a caravan.

It does not include installing, removing or altering. For example, it does not include any installation work (such as installing a new or replacement device) or carrying out gas work that changes the design, layout or operating parameters of a gas system. It also does not include certifying any other gas systems.

Gas work under this type of licence may include:

inspecting, cleaning, adjusting and tightening fittings of the appliance
testing to find faults
disconnecting and reconnecting of an existing device for servicing only
conducting an inspection and certifying a gas system for the purposes of transferring ownership.

A gas work licence (hydrocarbon refrigerant) authorises you to carry out gas work to a gas system in relation to a device that is used (or designed or intended) for refrigeration and for which fuel gas is the refrigerant (a fuel gas refrigeration device).

Gas work under this type of licence may include:

charging, discharging or 'breaking in' to a refrigeration system
carrying out domestic refrigeration work using less than 150 grams of hydrocarbon refrigerant charge in each separate circuit
carrying out any other air conditioning work using less than 1500 grams of hydrocarbon per individual circuit.

Types of authorisations

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A gas work authorisation (industrial appliances) authorises the holder, or a person acting under the holder's authority, to carry out gas work in relation to an industrial appliance, group of appliances or gas system, as stated in the authorisation.

A gas work authorisation (servicing) authorises the holder, or a person acting under the holder's authority, to carry out gas work that involves repairing, servicing and testing a gas device (type B) of a type or group stated in the authorisation other than gas work carried out under a gas work authorisation (motor fuel) or that changes the design, layout or operating parameters of a gas system.

A gas work authorisation (motor fuel) authorises the holder, or a person acting under the holder's authority, to carry out gas work stated in the authorisation for a gas fuel system that supplies fuel to:

the engine of a vehicle (including forklifts and floor sweepers) or vessel
or
a stationary engine capable of consuming fuel gas at a rate of 5GJ/hr or less.

A gas work authorisation (major project) authorises the holder, or a person acting under the holder's authority, to carry out gas work for a project to develop and build an operating plant, or part of a plant, if the total gas capacity of the devices at the plant, or the part of the plant, is 50GJ/hr or more.

Last reviewed: 18 Jun 2019
Last updated: 7 Sep 2021