Gas guide
Gas installation regulations in South Africa
Gas installation regulations in South Africa come from the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its Pressure Equipment Regulations, with SANS 10087-1 as the standard for domestic LPG installations. The work must be done by an installer registered with SAQCC Gas, tested before use, and handed over with a certificate of compliance.
Who is allowed to install
Only a registered gas practitioner can legally install, alter or certify a gas installation. Registration is through SAQCC Gas, in categories for the type of work. Ask the installer for their registration details before work starts.
Where cylinders must stand outside
SANS 10087-1 (2008 edition) requires outdoor cylinders to be on a firm, level, well-drained base, protected from tampering, animals and vehicles, and at least:
| Distance | From |
|---|---|
| 1 m | Any opening into the building below the level of the cylinder valve — doors, windows, airbricks |
| 2 m | Any drain, pit or manhole |
| 3 m | The property boundary, unless there is a firewall (reducible to 1 m with only two cylinders) |
| 3 m | Any opening directly above the cylinders, unless a non-combustible roof is between them |
The installation also carries safety signage: no smoking, no naked lights, no unauthorised entry.
Gas cylinders indoors
The same edition limits cylinders kept inside a building: a maximum of 9 kg per flat and 19 kg in total for a house. Cylinders must never be below ground level (cellars, basements), never on top of a cooking or heating appliance, at least 300 mm from a gas stove, and must have floor-level ventilation to outside air. Most installations we do keep the cylinders outside.
The regulator and pressure
A domestic low-pressure regulator delivers about 2.8 kPa. The standard's performance test expects the pressure not to fall below 2.7 kPa with every burner on, and not to exceed 3.4 kPa with only the smallest burner on. The tightness test holds the installation at pressure for 10 minutes; a drop of more than 25 mm water gauge means a leak.
Gas geyser installation regulations
A gas geyser needs a flue that takes combustion gases to open air, and must not be installed in a small, poorly ventilated space. Vent-free space heaters are not allowed in enclosed bathrooms. See gas geyser installation for how this plays out on a real wall.
Electrical clearances
Light switches and plugs at least 200 mm from any burner; no electrical connection below a gas hob; an electric oven next to a gas hob on an isolator switch above hob level, not a three-point plug.
The certificate of compliance
Before commissioning, the installer inspects and tests the installation and issues a certificate of compliance. You'll need it when you sell the property. Gas certificate of compliance explains what we check.
Which edition applies
The figures above are from SANS 10087-1:2008 (Edition 5). The standard has been revised since; the current edition governs, and a registered installer works to it. Where a detail matters for your property, ask us to confirm it on site.
Get it installed or certified
- Gas geyser installationSized, mounted, piped, certified
- Gas stove installationStove, hob or oven, tested
- Gas certificate of complianceInspection, test, COC
- Get a priceCall 083 498 1693 or use the form
More gas guides
- How a gas geyser works
- Geyser types compared
- Gas vs electric stove
- SAQCC Gas explained
- Gas cylinder sizes
- Checking for a gas leak
Part of Gas Wizards — gas installers in Johannesburg and the West Rand.
Quick answers
Can I keep a 48 kg gas cylinder inside my house?
No. The 2008 edition of SANS 10087-1 caps cylinders inside a house at 19 kg in total; a 48 kg cylinder belongs outside.
Can I install gas myself?
No. Gas installations must be done and certified by a registered gas practitioner.
Does a gas installation need a certificate of compliance?
Yes. It is issued after inspection and testing, before the installation is used.