A plan to improve the safety of gas heaters has taken a step forward with the opening of consultation on setting a minimum servicing standard.
Opening the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for consultation, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said the servicing standard would apply to gas appliances such as stoves and cookers, heaters and hot water services from 1 June.
“In Victoria, there is currently no mandated minimum standard for the servicing of gas appliances, particularly gas heaters,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“The lack of minimum servicing standards is not acceptable,” she said.
“It increases the risks associated with ineffective servicing, including the potential carbon monoxide poisoning.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said the mandated standard would reduce the risks to householders associated with ineffective servicing, including carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Minister said the move to mandate servicing standards was the latest measure to improve gas appliance safety across the State.
“New standards effectively ban new open flued gas space heaters by ensuring that they are no longer certified from 1 January 2022, and laws introduced last year require safety checks for gas appliances installed in rental properties,” she said.
Ms D’Ambrosio said people could contribute to the RIS until 22 March.
Further information on the proposed servicing standard, including how to have a say, can be accessed at this PS News link.
