Prior to 2010, any work carried out on a gas installation connected to a cylinder of 15kg or less was not considered as ‘gas fitting’ and therefore not governed by the then NZ Gas Safety & Measurement Act.
In reality, this meant anyone could legally repair a BBQ, install a cooktop on a boat or caravan – or even in a domestic property. In 2010 the Act changed.

Since 2010 any gas installation or appliance that’s a permanent fixture in a vessel, caravan or building now comes under the NZ 2010 Gas Safety & Measurement Act and any work carried out on such installations has to be carried out by a licensed gas fitter.

Install a hard-wired gas detector with an audible alarm and solenoid shut off in the gas locker (BEP gas detectors are the current standard that I would recommend.)
Fit gas detectors into your bilge area with two sensors, one in the vicinity of your gas appliances, and one at the lowest point where gas is likely to accumulate (usually in the bilge away from water damage).
Cylinders should always be stored and used upright – definitely not on their side (unless designed to), and secured to prevent movement from the boats' motion. Ideally, secure them in a permanent, dedicated gas locker.
The locker should have a sealed door and a 19mm drain hole (minimum) at the bottom so any leaking gas will flow overboard, above waterline, and free from water build up in the drain.
Gas hoses should not be fitted with jubilee clips – or worm clips as they are sometimes known. All hoses should be permanently crimped to the pipework. Again, the gas hose should be date stamped. Ideally, they should not be more than 7 years old – although this is a recommendation rather than a legal requirement.
If you have a gas califont on your bat it probably has been installed incorrectly or illegally (as 99 percent of califonts installed inside of boats are), we recommend to most customers to remove the califont from the boat and install a hot water cylinder.
If you have a rubber hose running through your boat this does not meet current regulations. The type of pipe material that complies with the current regulations for connecting a regulator to appliances is a plastic-coated annealed copper tube. This coating protects the copper from corrosion and chafing, so it’s ideal for a marine environment.
Every gas appliance on a boat must have a flame-failure device fitted to every burner. This prevents the uncontrolled release of gas. These devices close down the gas supply in the event of ignition or flame-failure.
Clearances around a gas cooking appliance should also be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or the gas code.
Insist that any gas work is done by a qualified installer

These are some of the main problems people have with their gas installation on their boats.

It is also a legal requirement for any gas work carried out on a boat, (because Energy Safe considers it to be high-risk gas work), must have a gas safety certificate issued by a Certifying Gas Fitter and the details of the work must be lodged on the Energy Safe website (www.energysafety.govt.nz).

Gas certificates do not expire. As the gas certificate get older they become less relevant as the gas codes and gas Act can get altered.

I would recommend for boats to get a gas safety certificate every 2-3 years for a domestic vessel and for a commercial vessel you should have a maintenance plan in-place for your specific vessel.

What are the dangers?

A gas leak on a boat has a greater risk of causing an explosion because liquid propane gas is heavier than air, and if it leaks, will act the same as water and fill the boat from the bilge up. The gas can leak, and you will not smell the gas until it is nose height, and by then you have a major problem on your hands.

If you have gas on board your vessel, treat it with respect, take steps to maintain the equipment just as you would with any other aspect of your boat, and it will serve you well.