To install LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for a living in South Africa you must be a registered installer holding valid certification from SAQCC Gas (the South African Qualification and Certification Committee for Gas). SAQCC Gas is mandated by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) to register gas practitioners under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The SAQCC Gas registration is the credential, and every fixed LPG installation you do needs a Certificate of Conformity (CoC). Get registered, then sort your kit, channels and pricing.
How to register and get qualified
SAQCC Gas covers four gas sectors: Natural Gas, LPG, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Gas, and Compressed Industrial and Medical Gases. For LPG installers the registration path is:
- Apply for a Temporary Digital Licence so you can work under a Mentor.
- Compile a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) of your practical work on the LPGSA portal.
- Have the PoE assessed for compliance.
- Apply for full SAQCC Gas registration.
- Renew your licence and do a refresher course every three years.
There is no single prescribed national trade qualification for LPG installers. The SAQCC Gas registration itself is the credential. Practical training is typically done through LPGSA-accredited providers, and you must show competence in SANS 10087 (the gas installation standard), the OHS Act, the Pressure Equipment Regulations and safe handling. SAQCC Gas is at www.saqccgas.co.za, on 011 285 0035, or info@saqccgas.co.za. For LPG training contact registrations@lpgas.co.za or www.lpgas.co.za.
Every fixed LPG installation needs a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), issued digitally through the SAQCC Electronic CoC App. This is a legal requirement under the Pressure Equipment Regulations made under the OHS Act. New installations must comply with SANS 10087-1:2024 (Edition 7); existing installations follow the 2013 edition unless major amendments are needed. Key points under the 2024 standard:
- Installations are inspected at intervals not exceeding five years, and an updated CoC is required.
- A maximum of 100 kg of LPG per erf number outside (the fire department must approve more than 100 kg).
- Internal domestic limits: a maximum of 19 kg in houses and 9 kg per flat.
- Cylinder distances: at least 1 m from openings below valve level, 2 m from drains and pits, and 3 m from electrical ignition sources.
Kit and start-up costs
Gas installation kit is modest. Approximate prices, so confirm current costs:
- Leak detection equipment (electronic plus soapy water): about R3,000.
- Pressure gauges and manifold: about R2,500.
- Pipe threading tools and copper tube cutters: about R2,000.
- Regulator installation kit: about R1,500.
- PPE (gloves, goggles, fire-resistant overalls): about R2,000.
- SAQCC CoC app subscription: an annual fee.
- A bakkie: finance.
A realistic launch kit lands at roughly R15,000 to R25,000 before the vehicle. The SAQCC Gas (and SARACCA) new registration and renewal fee is approximately R2,530 including VAT.
What you can charge (estimates)
Public SA gas-installer rates are not well documented, so treat the following as estimates, not fixed published rates:
- A typical domestic gas installation: roughly R2,500 to R8,000 depending on scope.
- A commercial kitchen gas fit-out: roughly R15,000 to R50,000 or more.
- Hourly rate: roughly R350 to R600 per hour.
Confirm your own numbers against the local market before quoting.
Common mistakes
- Working without current SAQCC Gas registration. It is a legal requirement, not a nice-to-have.
- Not issuing the CoC on a fixed installation, or letting registration lapse so your CoCs are invalid.
- Ignoring the SANS 10087-1:2024 limits on cylinder quantities and distances.
- Forgetting the five-yearly re-inspection the standard requires.
- Putting off VAT. You must register for VAT once turnover passes R2.3 million from 1 April 2026, and you can register voluntarily from R120,000.
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