Source: Compeg
The rapidly
increasing cost of electricity has resulted in a growth in popularity among
many South African home-owners to utilise gas installations in their homes.
However, most homeowners are unaware that there are specific regulations that
they must comply with when installing gas equipment in their homes to ensure
their insurance policy remains valid.
According to
the regulations that were introduced in 2009, all gas installations must have a
Certificate of Conformity according to the Pressure Equipment Regulations that
have been promulgated under the Occupation Health and Safety Act (No 85 of
1993).
While this
may sound like a complex legal document – essentially it is a certificate that
states that the installation has been properly inspected and is determined to
be safe and leak free. It is critical that this certificate is also issued by
an authorised person who is registered with the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety
Association of Southern Africa (LPGAS).
According to
the regulation, any home-owner who has a liquid gas installation installed in
their home must have this certificate, which is usually obtained during the
installation phase. However, all home-owners considering gas installations need
to know that the onus is on them, the homeowner, to ensure that they have this
certificate in their possession, not the installer.
If your home
is damaged or destroyed, as a result of a defective gas appliance – and you do
not have a valid certificate issued by someone registered with LPGAS – the
insurance implications could be significant. An insurance company would be well
within their rights to repudiate a claim, which could have severe financial
repercussions for the home-owner.
Having the
installation inspected and approved is a quick and easy process – provided the
installation has been done correctly – much in line with similar requirements
for electrical installations, which also requires a certificate of compliance
under the Machinery and Occupational Safety Act of 1983.
The
types of gas installations that require this certificate include gas fires or
braais, gas stoves and ovens, as well as hot water systems. It is vital for all
home-owners to realise that such an inspection is not just essential for their
insurance policy to remain valid, but even more importantly, that it is
conducted to ensure that the installation is safe and their family is not put
at risk. If a gas appliance has been incorrectly installed and results in a gas
leak this could have major health implications for a family, not to mention the
huge danger involved of an explosion.
