Source: Worksafe New Zealand
The amended Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 came into effect on 13 November 2025.
Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 | New Zealand Legislation(external link)
Key points
- Updated standards: The amendment updates the standards referenced in Schedules 1 and 2A.
- Gasfitters can choose to use either AS/NZS 5601.1:2013 including Amendments 1, 2, 3, and 4 or AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 including Amendments 1 and 2.
- AS/NZS 5601.2:2020 including Amendments 1 and 2 has been cited for use as appropriate.
- How you do installation verification and appliance safety is changing NZS 5266:2014, NZS 5256:2014 and NZS 5255:2014.
Approximately 100 standards citations have been updated. For a complete list of the changes please see the amendment regulations:
Gas (Safety and Measurement) Amendment Regulations 2025(external link)
What has the amendment changed?
AS/NZS 5601.2
The currently cited version, AS/NZS 5601.2: 2013 unamended changes to:
AS/NZS 5601.2: 2020 Gas installations—Part 2: LP Gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes, including Amendments 1 and 2.
AS/NZS 5601.1
The currently cited version, AS/NZS 5601.1: 2013 unamended changes to:
- AS/NZS 5601.1: 2013 Gas installations—Part 1: General installations, including Amendments 1, 2, 3, and 4.
OR - AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 Gas installations—Part 1: General installations, including Amendments 1 and 2.
This means that gasfitters can choose which of the newly cited versions of AS/NZS 5601.1 they wish to use.
The certifying gasfitter must choose to follow one version of the standard for the whole installation, or part installation, that is being carried out. The work that you do, or supervise, cannot follow a mix of clauses from both versions of the standard.
Multilayer gas pipe can still be installed outside under the 2013 version of the standard. It cannot be installed outside under the 2022 version of the standard.
Existing installations
The amendments do not require old gas installations and appliances to be upgraded. The amendment regulations allow current installations to continue to exist and be repaired so long as they are not unsafe. There is no time limit for this.
If you are modifying, adding, altering an existing installation, you can choose to use either of the new standards from 13 November 2025. There is no requirement to upgrade the current parts of the existing installation to the new standard. Only the parts that you change need to be to the new standards.
If construction begins after 12 November 2026, the work you do needs to comply with one of the new standards.
If work on an installation is started after 13 November 2025, using the old version of the standard, it must be completed by 12 November 2026. If the installation is unfinished by that date, complete a Certificate of Compliance for the work completed up to that date. The rest of the work must comply with the new version of the standard.
If construction on these types of work began before 13 November 2025, the old version of the standard may continue to be used, up to the point that the installation is complete. Theres no time limit on completion for using the old standard in this case.
From 13 November 2025 onwards, the newly cited version of the standard can be used. Work that has already been done can be modified to comply with the new standard.
Construction, in this context, also includes the design phase. This means work can be done to the old standard if the quote or tendering process is already underway.
Repairs
There is an allowance related to the repair or maintenance of an existing installation – the 2013 unamended version of the standard can continue to be used for any repair work. The work must be a genuine repair of the existing installation. If the repair work moves into any alterations or additions, then it must comply with one of the newly cited standards.
New installations
A new installation is one where a gas installation was not already present.
From 13 November 2025 you can choose to use one of the new standards when installing a new gas installation.
All new gas installations, where construction begins after 12 November 2026, must comply with one of the new standards.
If the construction of a new, or part installation, is started in line with old version of the standard after 13 November 2025, it must be completed by 12 November 2026. If the installation is unfinished by that date, complete a Certificate of Compliance for the work completed up to that date. The rest of the work it must comply with the new version of the standard.
The older version of the standard can continue to be used for new installations where construction began before 13 November 2025, up until the point that the installation is complete. There is no time limit on completion for using the old standard in this case.
From 13 November 2025 onwards, y the new version of the standard can be used. Work that has already been done can be modified to comply with the new standard.
Construction, in this context, also includes the design phase. This means it is possible to undertake work to the old standard if the quote/tendering process is already underway.
Clause changes
The Government has made some changes to AS/NZS 5601.1 and AS/NZS 5601.2 in citation:
- AS/NZS 5601.1:2013 Gas installations—Part 1: General installations, including Amendments 1, 2, 3, and 4, subject to the following modifications:
- In clause 4.7.3, delete “compression joints, union joints,”
- Delete clause 5.1.8
- In clause 6.6.5, final paragraph, after “certified”, insert “or endorsed”
What do these changes do:
- This allows jointing compound to be applied to the face of a copper flare, olive, and galvanised steel mac union. This jointing compound can still not be used to compensate for ill-fitting joints.
- This also allows jointing compound to be applied to a compression joint.
- This clause now requires a regulator to be fitted to an endorsed appliance as well as a certified appliance.
In all cases, if you choose to apply jointing compound, it must be a proper jointing compound that is non-setting. A setting thread sealant or silicone cannot be used as the standard does not allow it.
- AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 Gas installations—Part 1: General installations, including Amendments 1 and 2, subject to the following modification:
- In clause 6.6.5, final paragraph, after “certified”, insert “or endorsed”
What does this change do:
-
- This clause now requires a regulator to be fitted to an endorsed appliance as well as a certified appliance.
- AS/NZS 5601.2: 2020 Gas installations—Part 2: LP Gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes, including Amendments 1 and 2:
- Delete clause 2.13.2
- In clause 2.13.3.3(a), replace “2.75” with “3.5”
- In clause 5.2.9, first paragraph, delete “compression joints, union joints,”
- Delete section 10
What do these changes do:
- This allows jointing compound to be applied to a compression joint.
- This allows European and north American appliances to run at the slightly higher pressures they need.
- This allows jointing compound to be applied to the face of a copper flare, olive, and galvanised steel mac union. This jointing compound can still not be used to compensate for ill-fitting joints.
- A gas compliance plate is not required in New Zealand. In New Zealand a person who performs gasfitting work is required to issue a CoC for general and high-risk work, a GSC for all gasfitting work, and place a record of the CoC on the WorkSafe Electricity and Gas High Risk Database for all high-risk work.
In all cases, if you choose to apply jointing compound, it must be a proper jointing compound that is non-setting. A setting thread sealant or silicone cannot be used as the standard does not allow it.
The other standards
From 13 November 2025 other gasfitting work also changes:
- The checks you do on an appliance or fitting after a repair, modification, and adjustment can follow NZS 5266:2014 Safety of gas appliances.
- How you verify an installation that is hired or leased as well as an installation that has been disconnected for 6 months or more can follow NZS 5255:2014 Safety verification of existing gas installations, including Amendment 1.
You can use the old versions of the standards up until 12 November 2026. From this date, you must use the new cited standards.
Gasfitters and plumbers that also hold licenses issued by the Electrical Workers Registration Board to preform prescribed electrical work, for example the associated trade license, should note that the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 have been amended by the Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2025. You can find more about that in electrical specific guidance.
