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XCR (80)211
6
- 2
Regulations 62 and 77 of the principal regulations, which also deal respectively with applications for licences to store compressed gas in cylinders and liquified gas in bulk, are to be amended so that appli- cants for licences to operate Category 2 Dangerous Goods stores would be required to provide copies of plans showing the routing and method of fixing any pipeline to be installed for the purposes of distributing gases from the store to any part of the premises in which the store is situated, and the material of which the pipeline is to be constructed. Plans submitted in support of licence applications for Category 2 Dangerous Goods stores should also include details of the design and specifications to which it is intended any distribution pipeline or ancillary equipment should be constructed.
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The proposed new Regulation 78C provides that no alterations or additions should be made to any distribution pipeline leading from a
Category 2 Dangerous Goods Store without the prior written approval of the licensing authority (i.e. the Director of Fire Services in the case of
Category 2 Dangerous Goods). It is also required that pipelines should be maintained at all times in good order and condition, to the satisfaction of the licensing authority.
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The opportunity has been taken to review the maximum penalty for making unauthorised alterations and additions to all Dangerous Goods stores, their fittings, equipment and pipelines. In view of the potentially serious consequences of unauthorised alterations (e. g. gas leaks), it is proposed that regulation 178(3) of the principle regulations should be amended to increase the maximum penalty from the present level of a fine of $2,000 and 1 month imprisonment, to a fine of $8, 000 and imprisonment for 6 months.
Implementation
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In an Information Note XCCI(80)6 dated 25th February 1980: "Appointment of a Gas Safety Adviser", it was stated that steps were being taken to appoint an expert to conduct a thorough examination of the domestic gas industry, in view of the lack of expertise persently available in this field. The present position is that proposals have been submitted to Finance Committee seeking funds for the appointment of a consultancy team to advise Government on all aspects of gas safety. In the interim, however, it is considered essential to proceed with the proposed amend- ments to the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations to close an obvious deficiency in the existing legislation. The Director of Fire Services, as a licensing authority for Category 2 Dangerous Goods, will require licensees to comply with internationally accepted standards for the installa- tion and maintenance of distribution pipelines. The Fire Services Depart- ment has the capacity within its existing resources to implement the proposed amendments.
G.S. 84
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