My house has PEX gas pipe. Is it compliant?

Plastic-based gas pipe surprises a lot of homeowners, who expect gas to run in copper. Multilayer PEX gas pipe (usually a plastic and aluminium composite, often yellow) is an approved gas pipe system in Australia, and it's widely used in newer homes. But it's only compliant when it's the approved product for gas and installed the way its system and the gas standard require. Here's what that means and what we look for.

When PEX gas pipe is compliant

• It must be a pipe and fitting system certified for gas, not water pipe used for gas.
• It has to be installed by a licensed gasfitter to the maker's instructions and the gas installation standard.
• The system's requirements must be met, which commonly include excess flow valves that shut off the gas if a pipe is cut or damaged.
• Where the pipe meets the meter and the appliances, it usually has to change over to metal pipe, known as reversion or transition pipework, rather than plastic running straight to the connection.
• It must be protected from sunlight, physical damage and heat, and sleeved or protected where it passes through walls, slabs and the ground.

Signs it may not have been done right

What we do

We inspect the pipe system, check it's an approved gas product, look for excess flow valves, metal transitions at the meter and appliances, and proper protection, and pressure test it. If parts don't comply, we fix them and provide the compliance paperwork. You get a fixed price before any work starts. See gas compliance certificates.

In southern Eastern Suburbs homes

Newer homes and rebuilt houses in Eastgardens, Pagewood, Little Bay and Matraville often have multilayer gas pipe. When buying or selling, or adding a new gas appliance, it's worth having it checked.

Related help: gas fitting, gas compliance certificates, plastic pipe types and gas safety guide. Local pages: Eastgardens, Pagewood, Little Bay and Matraville.