Regarding the storage issue of LPG cylinders in village houses, the EMSD and the LPG cylinder trade have recently discussed and reached a consensus for a series of improvement measures. The relevant operational safety guidelines have also been incorporated into the Code of Practice for LPG Cylinder Distributors (Seventh Edition) for the trade’s reference and compliance. The main measures include:

Measure (1): Promote the use of a common gas supply system that can be shared by households on various floors for replacement of the existing commonly used independent gas supply system for individual floors, and adoption of the shared common gas supply system in new village houses.	Measure (2): Provide outdoor storage chambers for LPG cylinders.
Measure (3): Distributors switch to use LPG cylinders of smaller capacity.	Measure (4): Urge users not to store extra gas cylinders for spare use, and distributors should also replace used LPG cylinders for village house customers as soon as possible.

Often placed in hot and moist environments, gas installations in food premises with high usage are prone to corrosion. In view of previous incidents caused by aged gas appliances in Hong Kong, we are concerned about the safety hazards related to aged gas installations in food premises. The Gas Standards Office (GasSO) recommended that gas users of food premises should arrange regular safety inspection (RSI) once every 12 months. We also arranged gas safety inspectors to visit food premises in various districts to explain the importance of conducting timely RSI of gas installations in their premises and encourage them to make such arrangements as early as possible. In addition to stepping up gas safety inspections of restaurants and safety promotion work, we collaborated with the trade and introduced a new gas installation "Quick Check" scheme for the food premises that used LPG cylinders in 2019. We also collected a body of data through outreach visits and a questionnaire survey, and applied a risk-based approach to promote RSI at these premises in a more focused manner.

A professional survey contractor was commissioned to survey all food premises in Hong Kong in November 2019. The survey aimed to gauge gas utilisation at food premises and assess their gas safety situation based on the research findings, thereby identifying the targets that require priority attention.

The GasSO has completed the survey on gas utilisation of all food premises in Hong Kong in early 2021. The survey contractor collected gas utilisation data from over 15 000 licensed food premises and identified some of the food premises as priority targets. The respective registered gas supply companies of those establishments had followed up on those cases to offer "Quick Checks", and upgrade or replace the aged gas installations accordingly. Utilising limited resources to enhance the overall safety and reliability, "Quick Checks" allowed important gas installations and fittings to be inspected within a short period of time and were therefore widely accepted and adopted by the trade.

The database set up through the survey exercise has given us a comprehensive picture of gas utilisation situation at all licensed food premises and licensed clubhouses across the territory. The information collected, including the type of gas used, the serviceable life span of gas installations and the RSI status, has facilitated our ongoing work in promoting gas safety among food premises.

To ensure gas safety, RGCs shall take appropriate steps and measures in carrying out gas installation work and observe the following points:

1. Every part of the gas pipe and fitting shall be of good construction and sound material and of adequate strength and size to convey the relevant gas safely under the operating pressure.
2. Before conducting gas installation work or tests, hoarding shall be erected and notices be posted on the work in progress in the vicinity of the sites to prevent members of the public from entering the areas.
3. Before commissioning the gas pipes, to ensure that they are structurally sound and gastight, procedures such as pressure test, pneumatic leak test and purging shall be conducted. Upon completion of work that might affect the gastightness of the gas supply system, e.g. replacement of service risers, test in relation to the gastightness of the system, covering at least as far as the nearest gas valves upstream and downstream, shall be conducted immediately.
4. Clear marking shall be provided to indicate that the installed gas pipes and fittings are live gas installations.
5. Before resumption of gas supply, the registered gas supply company shall be contacted for inspection of the gas supply network/system and the gas supply conditions of indoor gas users to ensure the operation of the buildings’gas supply system and the integrity and safety of individual gas pipes have not been affected.
6. Records of the completed gas installation work, including the test reports, shall be maintained for at least two years.

Please note that RGCs and RGIs shall carry out the gas installation work in a proper and workmanlike manner. Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of the Gas Safety Ordinance is liable to a fine of $5,000 upon conviction.

Section 6C of the Gas Safety (Gas Supply) Regulations (Cap. 51B) specifies that the owner of a notifiable gas installation (such as liquefied petroleum gas storage installation) shall ensure that the installation is inspected by a competent person at intervals not less than once every year to ascertain that the installation has been maintained and operated in accordance with regulation 6B. At the same time, the owner shall also keep a statutory inspection report of the installation and submit a copy of the report to the Gas Authority within 4 weeks after each inspection. Failure to timely submit a copy of the inspection report is an offense and liable on conviction to a fine of $5,000.

Case: The original exhaust flue was not replaced when a new gas water heater was installed for replacement.
Recommendation: Registered gas installers must follow the instructions of gas appliance manufacturers in conducting installation.
Court decisions and disciplinary actions:

• The registered gas installer was fined by the court for contravening the statutory requirements (Regulation 30(1)(c) of Cap. 51C).
• The registered gas contractor was held responsible for the offence committed by its employees (Section 30 of Cap. 51) and was fined by the court.
• The Gas Authority imposed disciplinary actions against the installer and the contractor.

Section 30(1)(c) of Cap. 51C:
Where a person installs a gas appliance at a time when gas is being supplied to any premises in which such appliance is installed, he should ascertain that such appliance has been installed with due regard to its manufacturer’s instructions, if any, accompanying such appliance./p>

Case: Supplying gas to a unit when the gas water heater is not connected to the flue.
Recommendation:

• Before supplying gas, registered gas installers must follow the gas supply and testing guidelines of registered gas supply companies to carry out testing, examination and adjustments.
• Keep work records and photos.

Court decisions and disciplinary actions:

• The registered gas installer was fined by the court for contravening the statutory requirements (Regulation 30(3) of Cap. 51C).
• The registered gas contractor was held responsible for the offence committed by its employees (Section 30 of Cap. 51) and was fined by the court.
• The Gas Authority imposed disciplinary action against the installer and the contractor.

Section 30(3) of Cap. 51C:
No person shall supply gas to such appliance in a premise unless he has caused such testing and examination and adjustments as specified to be carried out.

As continuing professional development schemes are available for other E&M trades, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department also hopes to set up a voluntary continuing professional development scheme for registered gas installers.

If the trade has any comments on the EMSD's proposal mentioned above, please contact Mr. Chan on 2808 3228 or email to gasso@emsd.gov.hk.

As approved camping gas cylinders are disposable LPG cylinders, do not refill them!