Gas Certificate of Compliance Cape Town
A Gas Certificate of Compliance (officially known as a gas certificate of conformity) is a legal requirement for any property transfer where a gas installation is present. Under Regulation 17(3) of the Pressure Equipment Regulations (OHS Act, 1993), a Gas Certificate of Compliance is mandatory whenever there is a change of ownership — this has applied since 1 October 2009. Even a single gas hob or fireplace triggers the requirement for a Gas Certificate of Compliance. Inspecto’s registered gas inspectors cover Cape Town and the surrounding region.
What Does a Gas Certificate of Compliance Inspection Cover?
Our inspectors assess the entire gas installation against the Pressure Equipment Regulations, including:
- Gas leak check — the installation is pressure tested throughout
- Emergency shut-off valves — must be installed in the correct positions and functioning correctly
- Gas piping, regulator, and valves — must be in safe working condition and free of corrosion
- Gas appliances — must be in safe working condition
For cylinders installed outside the property:
- At least 1 m from doors, windows, and airbricks (openings below the container valve level)
- At least 2 m from any drain, pit or manhole
- At least 3 m from the property boundary (1 m if only 2 cylinders)
- Sources of electrical ignition (motors, air-conditioners, distribution boards) must be outside a 3 m prohibited zone around the containers
For cylinders installed inside (e.g. kitchen cupboard):
- Not positioned directly below the hob
- Cupboard must be vented to prevent gas accumulation
- No electrical connections or plug points in the same cupboard section as the cylinder
Note: Electrical switches and plug points must be positioned at least 200 mm horizontally from the edge of the closest burner on any gas hob, or alternatively at least 1.5 m from the floor.
For more information on LP gas safety standards in South Africa, visit the LP Gas Safety Association of SA (LPGSASA).
Find a registered installer at SAQCC Gas
Common Reasons Properties Fail a Gas Inspection
These issues come up regularly during gas compliance inspections in Cape Town:
- Gas leak detected — even a minor leak on an aging fitting or flexible hose is a failure; have fittings checked and hoses replaced if in doubt
- Missing or incorrectly positioned emergency shut-off valve — must be present and accessible
- Cylinder too close to a door, window, or airbrick — common with retrofit installations
- Cylinder too close to an electrical source of ignition — distribution boards, gate motors, and air-conditioners are common culprits
- Corroded piping or regulator — outdoor installations in Cape Town’s coastal air are especially susceptible
- Gas fireplace in a flat above ground floor — apartments are limited to 9 kg cylinders; many fireplaces require 19 kg to operate, making them non-compliant. Address this before an offer to purchase is signed
- Total gas volume exceeding 100 kg — requires Fire Department–approved plans
If you have a gas fireplace in an upper-floor apartment, discuss this with us before listing your property. A decommissioned fireplace is far less disruptive than a failed CoC during transfer.
Why Book Your Gas Certificate of Compliance Inspection Early?
Some gas compliance issues — particularly apartment fireplaces or cylinder placement problems — take time to resolve. Decommissioning a fireplace or obtaining Fire Department-approved plans cannot be done overnight. Booking your gas compliance inspection early gives you the information you need to make good decisions, not rushed ones. We cover the full Cape Town metro — Northern Suburbs, Southern Suburbs, Atlantic Seaboard, Helderberg, and Winelands.
Why Choose Inspecto for your Gas Certificate of Compliance?
Inspecto has been Cape Town’s trusted name for compliance certificates since 1995. Our inspectors are registered under the OHS Act’s Pressure Equipment Regulations and know the failure points that catch sellers off guard. Estate agents and attorneys across Cape Town rely on us because we’re thorough and don’t create surprises.
Book Your Gas Inspection
To book your gas compliance certificate inspection:
Fill in our online form
Call us on 021 551 4185
We cover the full Cape Town metro including the Northern Suburbs (Bellville, Durbanville, Brackenfell), Southern Suburbs (Claremont, Constantia, Tokai), Atlantic Seaboard (Sea Point, Camps Bay, Green Point, Hout Bay), Helderberg (Somerset West, Strand), and Winelands (Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek).
Also need your Electrical, Water, Beetle or Electric Fence CoC?
Inspecto issues all five compliance certificates required for property transfer. View all compliance inspections →
Also commonly required: Electrical CoC Cape Town | Electric Fence Certificate Cape Town
Gas Certificate of Conformity Training
A gas certificate of conformity is required every time a property with a gas installation changes ownership — not every 5 years as is commonly believed. This training video covers the legal requirements, cylinder placement rules, and common compliance failures. Note: the regulations have been updated since this video was recorded — the corrected requirements are reflected in the text below.
What This Video Covers
- Why a new gas certificate is required for every ownership change — not every 5 years
- Cylinder placement requirements — distances from doors, windows, drains, and ignition sources
- The difference between cylinders installed outside vs inside cupboards
- The 100kg maximum gas volume rule and when it applies
- Gas appliances in flats — the 9kg limit and the gas fireplace problem
- Electrical switch clearances near gas hobs
- How to identify non-compliant installations before they become transfer problems
- Pigtail hose replacement requirements
Key Points from the Training
The “5-year rule” is one of the most misunderstood aspects of gas compliance. The Pressure Equipment Regulations state that gas installations must be inspected at regular intervals not exceeding 5 years — and pigtail hoses must be replaced every 5 years. This has led to a widespread belief that a gas certificate is valid for 5 years. It is not. The same regulations clearly state that a new certificate of conformity is required after every change of ownership. A certificate issued for a previous owner cannot be used for a new transfer, regardless of how recently it was issued.
Outside cylinder placement rules (SANS 10087-1 Ed.7 — current). Gas cylinders installed outside must be: at least 1 metre from any door, window, or airbrick; at least 2 metres from a drain; at least 3 metres from a boundary wall (or 1 metre if no more than 2 cylinders); and at least 3 metres from any source of electrical ignition such as an air conditioner, motor, or distribution board. Note: the ignition zone was reduced from 5 metres to 3 metres in the 2024 edition of the standard — properties that previously failed on the 5-metre rule may now comply.
Flats have a 9kg maximum gas volume — and this causes real problems with gas fireplaces. In any flat above the ground floor, the maximum permitted gas storage is 9kg. Gas fireplaces typically require a 19kg cylinder to function effectively — a 9kg cylinder won’t deliver adequate pressure. This means a gas fireplace in an upper-floor flat is essentially non-functional under compliant conditions. This needs to be disclosed to buyers before they sign the offer to purchase. Decommissioning the fireplace is often the only practical solution.
Electrical switches and plugs near a gas hob have specific clearance requirements. Under SANS 10087-1, electrical equipment (plugs, switches, isolators) near an open gas burner must be either: at least 200mm horizontally from the edge of the nearest burner, or at least 1.5 metres above the floor. The 200mm is measured from the burner edge — not the edge of the hob. If a cooker hood or heat deflector is installed above the burner, electrical points may be placed above or behind it. This is one of the most commonly cited failures on kitchen gas installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a gas certificate valid?
A gas certificate of conformity is required for every change of ownership — it cannot be carried over from one transfer to the next. While the regulations require inspections every 5 years, this does not mean a certificate is valid for 5 years for transfer purposes. A new certificate is needed each time the property is sold.
How far must a gas cylinder be from an air conditioner or motor?
Under the current SANS 10087-1 Ed.7 (2024), the required distance is 3 metres — reduced from 5 metres in the previous edition. If a property previously failed on the 5-metre rule, it may now comply under the updated standard.
What is the maximum amount of gas allowed on a property?
For a freestanding property, the maximum is 100kg — unless approved plans from the Fire Department and Town Planning allow more. For a flat above ground floor, the maximum is 9kg total across all cylinders.
Can a gas fireplace in a flat comply?
In most cases, no. A gas fireplace requires at least a 19kg cylinder to function properly, but the maximum in a flat above ground floor is 9kg. This should be identified and disclosed before the offer to purchase is signed.
How close can plugs and switches be to a gas hob?
Electrical equipment must be at least 200mm horizontally from the edge of the nearest burner — measured from the burner edge, not the hob edge. Alternatively, it must be at least 1.5 metres above the floor. If a cooker hood is fitted, points above or behind the hood are permitted. This is one of the most common kitchen gas compliance failures.
What are pigtail hoses and when must they be replaced?
Pigtail hoses are the flexible hoses connecting the gas cylinder to the regulator. They must be replaced every 5 years — the manufacture date is stamped on the hose. If the hose is older than 5 years, replacement is required before a certificate can be issued.