Connection is defined by the Gas (Safety & Measurement) Regulations 2010 (GSMRs).

Examples of connection include the fixing of an installation piping to a gas meter or the fitting of a pigtail to an LPG installation.

Regulation 51 of the GSMRs(external link) places obligations on those responsible for connecting a gas installation or part installation to a gas supply. In most cases, the person doing the connection must:

• be satisfied that the gas installation or part installation is safe to connect,
• be satisfied that the required testing (including testing specified in the applicable installation standard) has been done,
• if a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is required for the work, either issue or sight a CoC issued no more than 6 months prior to connection,
• ensure the connection is safe,
• ensure the gas type and gas supply pressure are compatible with the gas supply,
• ensure any safety devices associated with the supply are correctly rated and operational, and
• if the installation or part installation is an imported installation or part installation, ensure that it complies with section 2 of AS/NZS 5601.1 or section 2 of AS/NZS 5601.2, as applicable.

Immediately after connecting a gas installation or part installation to supply, the person doing the connection must ensure the gas installation is operating in a safe manner.

If the person who connects a gas installation or part installation has not done the required testing, he or she must sight documentation, signed by the person who did the tests, that sets out what tests were carried out and what the results were.

A person who connects a gas installation or part installation is entitled (if acting in good faith) to rely on the veracity of relevant CoCs relating to gasfitting work done on the installation or part installation.

Reconnection where no gasfitting has occurred

If the installation was last disconnected or isolated from gas supply less than six months previously and no general or high-risk gasfitting has occurred in that time the person doing the connection must give or sight a certificate issued in accordance with NZS 5255, by a person authorised to certify that kind of work, that:

• was issued no more than 6 months before the date of reconnection or restoration of supply, and
• certifies the installation or part installation is suitable for continued use.

In these cases, the person doing the reconnection may (if acting in good faith) rely on written confirmation from the owner of the installation that no general or high-risk gasfitting has been done since it was last disconnected.

After reconnection or restoration of supply, the person doing the connection must ensure the gas installation is operating in a safe manner, and must immediately disconnect the installation from supply if he or she is not satisfied it is operation in a safe manner.