G11/AS1 Gas as an Energy Source

Genesis's conditions, not the Building Code's. Where the guide says must, a miss is marked as failing; where it says should, as a warning.

The cylinders

Around them

An openable window, a door, a vent, or any other opening into the building.

A heat pump's outdoor unit, an earthing rod, communication wiring, or anything else that can spark or burn. Give its lowest point: the hazardous area is widest at the ground.

For the driver

What this installation needs

To an opening, sideways

1000mm

Genesis p.2

Or above the valves

150mm

Genesis p.2

Hazardous area at the ground

1500mm

Genesis p.4

1. Cylinders

   Room for 2, at least 2.

   Genesis p.1

2. Gas stored

   90 kg in all, under 100 kg: the lighter of the guide's two drawings.

   Genesis p.2

3. Nearest opening

   1200 mm (1.2 m) sideways from the cylinders, at least 1000 mm (1 m).

   Genesis p.2

4. Nearest drain

   1500 mm (1.5 m) from the base of the cylinders, at least 1000 mm (1 m).

   Genesis p.2

5. Nearest ignition source

   2000 mm (2 m) out from the nearest valve, outside the hazardous area, which reaches 1500 mm (1.5 m) out at 0 mm above the ground.

   Genesis p.4

6. Readily ignitable material

   1500 mm (1.5 m) away, at least 1000 mm (1 m).

   Genesis p.4

7. In front

   600 mm clear in front, at least 600 mm.

   Genesis p.1

8. Above

   The 800 mm by 800 mm space above the cylinders is kept clear.

   Genesis p.1

9. Path width

   900 mm wide, at least 600 mm.

   Genesis p.1

10. From the truck

    20 m from where the truck parks, no more than 75 m.

    Genesis p.1

11. Gradient

    5 degrees at the steepest, no more than 20.

    Genesis p.1

1. Pressure at the appliances With every appliance on the supply running, the pipes keep at least 0.75 kPa at each appliance inlet for town gas, 1.13 kPa for natural gas and 2.75 kPa for LPG.

   1.1.1

2. Pressure drop, low pressure Where the meter outlet pressure is 1.5 kPa or less, no more than 0.075 kPa is lost between the meter outlet, or the regulator outlet where there is no meter, and any appliance, for town gas or natural gas, with every appliance running.

   1.2.1

3. Pressure drop, higher pressure Where the meter outlet pressure is over 1.5 kPa, no more than 10% of the operating pressure is lost between the meter outlet, or the regulator outlet where there is no meter, and any appliance, with every appliance running.

   1.3.1

4. Flow velocity Gas flows no faster than 45 metres a second in a supply filtered to particles of 5 micron at most, and 20 metres a second in an unfiltered one.

   1.4.1

1. Regulator on the supply A regulator on the supply pipe where an appliance has no regulator of its own and the supply pressure can exceed 1.5 kPa for town or natural gas or 3.5 kPa for LPG, or where every appliance has one but the supply can exceed what any of them is rated to take.

   2.1.1

2. Over-pressure protection Over-pressure protection where an appliance regulator's inlet pressure is over 7 kPa, where a regulator's inlet pressure is more than the equipment after it is rated for, or where its outlet pressure is under 70% of its inlet.

   3.1.1

3. What it holds the pressure to The over-pressure device keeps the pressure after the regulator within the rated working pressure of the equipment there, and no more than 35% above the normal operating pressure.

   3.1.2

1. Flue materials Flue materials that comply with AS/NZS 5601.1's section on flue materials.

   5.0.1

2. Flues that need a fan Where a flue depends on an extractor fan: a safety device that stops the gas reaching the burner if the draught is not enough, and a safety shut-off system on every appliance connected to the flue.

   5.2.1

   N/A
3. Fire dampers Automatic fire dampers in combustion air ducts interlocked with the gas supply to the appliance, so the gas shuts off whenever the damper is closed.

   5.3.1

   N/A
4. Under sprinklers An appliance under an automatic fire extinguisher that could put out its flame has either a flame safeguard system that shuts the gas off completely, or a system that shuts off and locks out the gas supply when the extinguisher operates.

   6.0.1

   N/A

1. Keeping other gases out A protective device that stops air, oxygen or other gases getting into the gas supply: a non-return valve, a three-way valve that closes one side before opening the other, a reverse flow detector controlling positive shut-off valves, a normally closed air-activated shut-off regulator, or a flame safeguard system.

   7.1.1

2. Where it goes The protective device as close as it can be to where the other gases could get in.

   7.1.2

3. Low pressure at the meter A lock-out device between the meter and equipment, such as a gas compressor or gas engine, that could pull the pressure at the meter dangerously low.

   7.2.1

   N/A

1. Where the meter goes The gas meter is not in a lift well or lift machine room, a space with electrical switchgear, a vertical safe path or a riser duct, or anywhere it would be in the way of an escape route in an emergency.

   8.0.1

1. Room for the cylinders Room for at least 2 cylinders of the size to be used.

   Genesis p.1

2. What they stand on A firm, level, non-combustible base, not soil, where water cannot gather at the foot of the cylinders.

   Genesis p.1

3. Restraint A chain tight across the cylinders, which the driver can take off and put back.

   Genesis p.1

4. Room to change them 600 mm clear in front of the cylinders, and a space 800 mm by 800 mm above them kept clear of shelves, covers and anything else in the way.

   Genesis p.1, Genesis p.3

5. The delivery path A path at least 600 mm wide, clear of obstacles, firm and with grip when wet, and not over delicate paving; no more than 75 m from where the truck can legally and safely park, no steeper than 20 degrees, and not through a garage or the house.

   Genesis p.1, Genesis p.3

6. Steps on the path Steps with a tread at least 2 times as deep as the rise, a rise of no more than 125 mm, and no more than 1500 mm (1.5 m) of rise in all.

   Genesis p.1

7. Openings No openable window, door, vent or other opening into the building within 1000 mm (1 m) of the cylinders where they hold under 100 kg of gas, or 2000 mm (2 m) where they hold 100 to 300 kg, unless its lowest edge is at least 150 mm above the top of the valves for exchange cylinders, or 500 mm for cylinders filled in place.

   Genesis p.2

8. Drains No drain within 1000 mm (1 m) of the base of the cylinders.

   Genesis p.2

9. Ignition sources No ignition source, a heat pump, an earthing rod or communication wiring among them, in the hazardous area around exchange cylinders: up to 500 mm above each valve and 500 mm out from it there, widening to 1500 mm (1.5 m) at the base.

   Genesis p.4

10. Readily ignitable material The cylinders at least 1000 mm (1 m) from readily ignitable material, such as paper, dry grass or oily substances.

    Genesis p.4

Escape routeDefinitions

A continuous, unobstructed route from any occupied space to a final exit, so people can reach a safe place, made up of open paths, protected paths and safe paths.

Flame safeguard systemDefinitions

A flame detector with its circuits, components, valves and interlocks, which shuts off the fuel to the burner if it fails to light or its flame goes out.

FlueDefinitions

The passage that carries the products of combustion to the outside air.

Hazardous areaGenesis LPG guide Genesis p.4

The space around a gas cylinder kept free of ignition sources, heat pumps, earthing rods and communication wiring among them.

Lock-outDefinitions

The safety shutdown of a control system, which cannot be restarted without a manual reset.

Over-pressure protectionDefinitions

Devices that stop the pressure in the pipes or appliances going above a set value.

Readily ignitable materialGenesis LPG guide Genesis p.4

Material that catches fire easily; the guide names paper, dry grass and oily substances.

RegulatorDefinitions

A device that holds the pressure or volume of gas passing through it at a set level.

Safe pathDefinitions

The part of an exitway protected from the effects of fire by fire separations, external walls, or distance in the open air.

Town gasDefinitions

A manufactured gas.

Sizing the pipes1.2.2, 1.3.2

G11/AS1 gives AS/NZS 5601.1's section on pipe sizing and its Appendix F as the ways to size the pipes. This page does not hold that standard.

Why slower unfiltered1.4.1 COMMENT

The COMMENT says the lower speed protects the regulator from wear by whatever an unfiltered supply carries.

Pipework4.0.1

G11/AS1 names G10/AS1 Piped Services as an acceptable solution for installing the gas pipework. This page does not read it.

Where a flue endsG4/AS1 Part 3

Where the flue ends, and the air a room with a gas appliance needs, are G4's. The G4 page works a flue through the roof.

Mixers with zero regulators7.1.3

Gas and air mixers with double diaphragm zero regulators need no further protection, unless they connect directly to air, oxygen or other standby gases at more than 7 kPa.

Which devices7.2.2

Diaphragm low-pressure shut-off valves worked mechanically or electrically, with a manual reset, are acceptable.

Escape routes8.0.1 d)

8.0.1 sends the reader to C/AS1 to C/AS7 for the rest of what an escape route needs. Those are C/AS1 and C/AS2 now; an escape route's stairs, and how its open path counts them, are worked on the D1 page.

Another acceptable solution9.0.1

Most of AS/NZS 5601.1, the sections and appendices 9.0.1 lists, is another acceptable solution for everything in 1.0 to 8.0. This page does not hold it.

Whose rules these areGenesis p.1

Genesis's conditions for delivering LPG cylinders to a site, adapted from the LPG Association's code of practice. They are a gas supplier's, not the Building Code's, and by the guide's own account not every requirement: the GasNZ code of practice for LPG installations, AS/NZS 1596 and the Health and Safety at Work Regulations apply too.

Gentler than any D1 stairGenesis p.1, D1/AS1 Table 6

The guide's highest step, a 125 mm rise, is lower than D1/AS1 allows even an accessible stair, whose rise may be up to 180 mm. Steps drawn to D1/AS1 alone can be too steep for a cylinder to be carried up.

Cylinders filled in placeGenesis p.4

The guide gives the hazardous area for exchange cylinders only. For cylinders filled where they stand, it has to come from the supplier or the gasfitter.