City takes the ‘guess’ out of gas

02 April 2023

As more people explore alternative heating and cooking sources to mitigate the impact of load-shedding, the City’s Fire and Rescue Service urges the public to brush up on safety do’s and don’ts, particularly concerning gas installations. 

The City's Community Fire Safety by-law provides guidance on a number of aspects related to fire safety in buildings as well as gas installations and the storage of flammable substances.

The Fire and Rescue Service has a dedicated Fire and Life Safety section tasked with general fire safety education and awareness, as well as inspections to ensure adherence to the by-law and other applicable legislation.

Fire and Life Safety officers conduct inspections of premises where gas installations require a Flammable Substance Certificate (FSC) – typically gas in excess of 100 kilograms, flammable materials in excess of 200 litres, or where a gas plan has been submitted for approval.

In the current financial year, 61 gas installation inspections have been completed (1 July 2022 – 29 March 2023).

'While our focus is on the bigger installations, it is very important that households too are aware of the requirements and safety guidelines for the use of gas in the home. Should you want to install a gas stove, for example, it's important to use a properly accredited installer. There are very clear rules on the placement of gas tanks and how much gas should be kept on a property at any given time. Even if you're using a small gas appliance, the safe use and storage is incredibly important. And, let's not forget other flammable liquids like paraffin and diesel, particularly as we're seeing an increase in the use of generators. Anything more than 200 litres in storage on a premises requires a flammable substance certificate, and therefore, an inspection by our Fire and Rescue Service.

'We cannot underestimate the importance of staying on the right side of the law, but also general fire safety. Should anything go wrong, you're not only placing your own home and family in harm's way, but also your neighbours. These rules also apply to smaller retailers and corner shops who sell flammable liquids,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Containers should never be located below ground level, or above/on top of any appliance used for cooking or heating

Containers should be located at least 300mm from a gas stove unless protected in an appropriate manner, and must be in a location with adequate floor level ventilation to the outside.

A comprehensive guide to gas use/installations in the home is available here: https://bit.ly/40RK5GH

Some other important points to consider are that:

• All gas installers are required to be registered with the South African Qualification and Certification Committee (SAQCC)
• Each installer is required to have an ID tag with their name, photograph, registration number and category of registration
• A Flammable Substance Certificate is required for flammable liquids in excess of 200 litres
• Anything in excess of 200 litres must be stored in an approved flammable store
• Persons selling paraffin need to ensure that the type, and manner of storage complies with the National Building Regulations and South African National Standards codes
• Paraffin is a heating/cooking source for many households – please be aware of the dangers of this substance. Click here for more information
• More general fire safety tips are available here: https://bit.ly/3a6olBX

In the event of an emergency, please call the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office