Who can lodge a technical submission?

The ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) administers an accreditation scheme for gas appliance workers (technicians). The technicians are divided into two classes: Type A and Type B (which is commonly referred to as advanced or restricted levels). The Type B accreditation criteria are:

1. A technician with Type B accreditation can lodge a technical submission for any size and complexity of appliance.
2. A technician with restricted Type B accreditation can only lodge a technical submission that has been prepared by the manufacturer of the appliance. (Note: the manufacturer can not lodge the technical submission directly to ACTPLA unless the manufacturer holds an accreditation).

When do I have to lodge a technical submission?

New appliance

Whenever a new gas appliance (that is not approved as a Type A gas appliance) is about to be installed in a premises, an accredited Type B technician must lodge a technical submission that meets the Guidelines for lodgement of a Technical Submission for Type B gas appliances.

The technical submission must be accompanied by the GA2 - Application for a Technical Submission for a Type B Appliance (Gas) form.

(Note: Refer to AS3814 – Industrial and commercial gas-fired appliances for the definition of a Type B appliance).

Renewal of an appliance

When an appliance is replaced (whether it’s exactly the same model and size or a larger size), an accredited Type B technician must lodge a technical submission that meets the requirements of the guidelines for lodgement (GA2).

Relocating an appliance

When an appliance is physically relocated to another location in the same room or from one premises to another, an accredited Type B technician must lodge a technical submission that meets the requirements of the guidelines for lodgement (GA2).

What is an additional identical appliance?

The application for a technical submission (GA2) form requires the applicant to provide information about the installation including additional identical appliances. This information is required so applicable fees can be determined.

The technical submission relates to the building in which the appliance(s) are to be installed and commissioned. A reduced fee for an additional identical appliance applies to an installation when appliances, which are the same model and size nominated by the manufacturer (i.e. consuming the same amount of gas and operating in an identical manner) are to be installed in the same room, typically a plantroom or the same building. Sites that include separate buildings over an area, e.g. a hospital or a university, will require technical submissions for each building.

When do I have to lodge a variation to an appliance?

The definition of a variation

A variation is when work has been performed on an appliance and that work has required replacing a component of the appliance with a component that is not exactly the same (like for like) and the new component may cause the appliance to operate differently to its original design.

Examples might be:

• replacing an electronic flame safeguard (burner controller) with another unit that is not the same classification
• replacing an automatic safety shut off valve (SSOV) with another SSOV that is not the same class of valve
• replacing an automatic safety shut off valve (SSOV) with another SSOV that has a different flow rate throughput.

Note: Changing a burner from an on/off operation to a modulating operation or changing the gas start rate on a burner would require a new technical submission.

If ACTPLA reviews a variation and determines that a new technical submission is required, the accredited Type B technician will be instructed to do so. It is advisable to contact ACTPLA beforehand if you are unsure.

Who can certify a Type B appliance?

Your class of accreditation determines whether or not you can issue an Appliance Approval Certificate for different size and types of appliances.

1. A technician with Type B accreditation can issue an Appliance Approval Certificate for any level and complexity of appliance.
2. A technician with restricted Type B accreditation can only issue an Appliance Approval Certificate for an appliance that consumes less than 2000 mj/hr if that appliance is an atmospheric type appliance and can only issue an Appliance Approval Certificate for an appliance that consumes less than 500 mj/hr if that appliance utilises a forced draft burner system.

Maintenance

The size and type of appliance you can perform maintenance on depends on your class of accreditation.

1. A technician with Type B accreditation can perform maintenance on any level and complexity of appliance.
2. A technician with restricted Type B accreditation can only perform maintenance on an appliance that consumes less than 2000 mj/hr if that appliance is an atmospheric type appliance and can only perform maintenance on an appliance that consumes less than 500 mj/hr if that appliance utilises a forced draft burner system. (Note: Where a restricted level Type B technician is directly supervised by an advanced level Type B technician, the restricted level Type B technician may perform maintenance work on all appliances).
3. A technician with trainee Type B accreditation can only perform maintenance on an appliance whilst under the supervision of a technician who holds either a Type B accreditation or a restricted Type B accreditation.

For more information, contact the Gas Administration Officer on 62050517.