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Why a Gas Plumbing Licence is Important

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Do you need a licensed gas plumber for emergency gas work?

Always use a licensed gas fitter for any installation, repairs or renovations involving gas work. This applies to the installation of hot water systems and gas-fuelled heaters, and for renovations where the disconnection or relocation of gas appliances is required.

Don’t ever undertake gas work yourself or use a tradesperson who does not have specialist gas knowledge and skills.

What is a gas license?

Gas Plumbing licenses in Victoria are recognised in separate classes:

  1. Main Classes
  2. Specialised Classes
  3. Restricted Classes

Plumbers can be licensed or registered in separate categories of each class.

Main Class licenses:

  • Type A Gas fitting
  • Type B Gas fitting

Specialised Class Licenses:

  • Gas servicing Type A
  • Gas servicing Type B

Restricted Class Licenses:

  • Gas mobile homes
  • Gas disconnect / reconnect
  • Gas restricted to Type A appliances

How do I tell if a plumber has a gas license? 

The way to tell if a Melbourne plumber is licensed in the type of gas plumbing work you need is to ask for a copy of their Victorian Building Authority (VBA) plumbing licence, see picture.

VBA Licence

The VBA Plumbing license card will have an identification photo of the plumber who holds the license and a list of the classes of plumbing work they are licensed to carry out, printed on the back of the card.

When your plumber attends your home, ask to check their licence card for their area of expertise, and look at the classes of plumbing work they are licensed to carry out on the back of the card.

What are Type A Gas Appliances?

Type A Gas appliances are typical appliances you’ll find in residential homes, such as:

  • Cookers
  • Space heaters
  • Central heaters
  • Water heaters
  • Catering equipment
  • Leisure appliances

When looking to service and or repair your Type A gas appliances, be sure it’s done by a licensed Type A Gas fitter.

To conduct routine servicing and Carbon Monoxide checks, the plumbers license needs to show the ‘gas servicing Type-A’ (circled in Red above) accreditation.

Learn more about Type A and Type B gas appliances here.

Reasons for Using a Licensed Gas Plumber

  • Training and competency – to be a licensed gas fitter, a person must have undertaken the appropriate training to complete gas work safely. This means having passed exams for competency and being registered with the VBA
  • Licensed gas fitters must have insurance – providing a 6-year warranty on the work they perform
  • Preserve your manufacturer’s warranty conditions – if appliance installation work is carried out by a licensed tradesperson, your manufacturer’s warranty conditions are not breached

What is a Compliance Certificate?

After installing a gas appliance, the licensed gas fitter must give you a compliance certificate.

Your copy of the Compliance Certificate protects you if any problems arise later due to faulty installation. If this occurs, the gas fitter will be required to come back and remedy any installation problem.

You may be offered a ‘cheap’ job excluding the cost of the compliance certificate. This is an offence under the Building Act 1993, denying you a guarantee and prevents the work from being audited for compliance and quality.

How to Find a Licensed Gas Plumber in Melbourne

Google a plumber or gas fitter in your area or try the VBA’s Find a Practitioner service. Or simply call Essendon Plumbing Services on 1300 193 298 , we are available 24/7 for all your emergency gas plumbing needs.

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