The increase use of gas in South Africa makes industry compliance crucial. As more players make their way into the industry, the need to adhere and enforce regulations increases exponentially. The South African gas industry (Natural Gas; Liquefied Petroleum Gas; Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Gas; Compressed Industrial and Medical Gases) is regulated by the Pressure Equipment Regulations (PER). The regulations encompass the handling, installation, and maintenance of pressure equipment and systems operating under pressure. This requires all contractors and businesses work in the various gas types to register these said employees as gas practitioners.

The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has mandated the South African Qualifications and Certification Committee of Gas (SAQCC Gas) to spearhead this objective. 

Why Registration is Important

You WILL get caught: In the past, the gas industry has faced an intense battle of non-compliance with the general opinion being - no one will know. In 2020, the DEL employed over 500 new inspectors across all 9 provinces to help maintain regulations within the gas industry. These new inspectors were trained by the SAQCC Gas to identify non-compliant gas practitioners.

Issuing a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) upon the completion of every gas installation and/or maintenance is compulsory. SAQCC Gas has made it impossible for non-registered persons to gain access to these documents fraudulently by introducing a digitalised system of issuing a CoC. Only registered gas practitioners have access to this portal. If an individual is not on the SAQCC Gas database, they simply cannot issue a CoC. Should a CoC be issued illegally, the user will be directly implicated, and action will be taken against that practitioner.

The word is spreading. SAQCC Gas runs outreach campaigns where end-users are made aware of the existence of no-compliant gas practitioners. The public is being made aware of the importance of only employing the services of a registered gas practitioner. Through the official SAQCC Gas website, validation of practitioner registration for the end-user is made easier with a national database.   

“If we know someone is practicing in our gas range, we try to help them become compliant and registered with the SAQCC Gas, if they are not keen on being compliant, then we take formal action with the DEL.” - Roy Lubbe SAQCC Gas Director

Space for non-compliance in the gas industry is becoming an increasingly uncomfortable place to be in. SAQCC Gas is currently running an onboarding campaign to help those who need assistance in becoming compliant.