This is the Health and Safety in Employment (Pipelines - Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, Suspension, and Abandonment Requirements) Safe Work Instrument 2023.

This safe work instrument specifies the design, construction, operation, maintenance, suspension, and abandonment requirements for pipeline operations for the purposes of regulation 8(1) of the Health and Safety in Employment (Pipelines) Regulations 1999.

Application of standards under the safe work instrument for pipelines 

Introduction 

• The Health and Safety in Employment (Pipelines - Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, Suspension, and Abandonment Requirements) Safe Work Instrument 2023 (the SWI) took effect on 22 June 2023.  
• Inspectors from recognised inspection bodies apply the standards specified in the SWI in their annual surveys of pipelines.  
• Pipeline operators have 12 months to conform with the standards from the date of their last annual survey. This is subject to engagement with the inspector, who may impose limitations or conditions on the operation where necessary, if conformance takes longer than 12 months. 
• In situations where the standards listed in the SWI aren’t applicable to a pipeline or parts of a pipeline, the operator must ensure that the pipeline or parts of the pipeline conform with generally accepted and appropriate industry practice. For example, operators could use the latest version of a revised standard if it is necessary and appropriate to do so before the 2023 SWI has been updated.

How the standards apply 

1. Operation requirements 

All currently operating pipelines, including existing pipelines designed to different standards, should conform with the following standards listed in the SWI: 

• AS 2885.3-2022, Part 3: Operation and Maintenance, and  
• AS/NZS 2885.6-2018, Part 6: Pipeline safety management. 

2. Design and construction requirements 

Retrospective application for existing pipelines

AS 2885.0-2018 prescribes procedures and practices for dealing with retrospective application of, and non-conformance with, the AS/NZS 2885 series. An update to a specific part of the AS/NZS 2885 series may not require modification of existing physical assets that were constructed to a previous standard. However, operators of existing pipelines should note the following:  

• They will need to carry out a ‘gap analysis’ to identify any gaps between the standards that previously applied and the standards listed in the SWI. If any critical health and safety risks are identified, the operator needs to apply additional controls to ensure the risk is as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). These controls should be documented by the operator and accepted by the recognised inspection body when certifying the pipeline. The recognised inspection body may impose limitations or conditions if the pipeline or equipment no longer complies with the relevant certificate of fitness.
• Any new realignment or major modifications to a pipeline (for example due to the Fit for Purpose (FFP) Assessment required by AS 2885.3-2022) must be fully in conformance with the current AS(/NZS) 2885 series. 

New pipelines

Pipelines that were designed or constructed after the SWI took effect on 22 June 2023 should comply with the applicable standards listed in the SWI. Preference should be given to the cited AS(/NZS) 2885 standards as these are best practice for pipeline operations in New Zealand.  

However, where ASME B31 applies to particular types of pipelines (e.g. geothermal pipelines), it can be used in conjunction with the relevant parts of AS(/NZS) 2885.      

Geothermal pipelines

For geothermal pipelines, operators should still give preference to using AS/NZS 2885.1-2018 (and any other relevant parts of the AS(/NZS) 2885 series) as these standards cover specific issues which are not captured by ASME B31. These include pipeline corridor and external interference protection management, land stability and seismic design, special construction for above ground piping and provisions regarding threat assessment. It is important that these issues are addressed to ensure the highest levels of protection and safety controls for geothermal pipelines and to demonstrate that any critical health and safety risk is reduced to ALARP.

Where the requirements of the AS/NZS 2885 series are not reasonably practicable for some geothermal pipelines or where there are gaps, ASME B31 should be used to address these deficiencies. For example, the pressure testing requirements of AS 2885.5-2020 are not practicable for certain geothermal pipelines due to potential damage of lining and other hazards during testing. Instead, the requirements in the provisions for “Alternative to Hydrostatic and Pneumatic Testing” of ASME 31.1-2022 may be considered where practicable to eliminate or minimise risks to ALARP.

Hydrogen pipelines

Operators must ensure the pipeline conforms with generally accepted and appropriate industry practice. As no relevant New Zealand or Australian standard exists for hydrogen pipelines, operators could use ASME B31.12-2023 Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines as a benchmark for hydrogen, or other approved new international standards or codes of practice that may be published later.  

The selected standard or code should be applied in conjunction with an appropriate gap analysis comparing the standard or code and the AS/NZS 2885 series to identify and address any areas the standard or code does not adequately address. 

Material incorporated by reference 

The Health and Safety in Employment (Pipelines-Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, Suspension, and Abandonment Requirements) Safe Work Instrument 2023 incorporates material by reference.

Accessing incorporated material 

The standards incorporated by reference in the safe work instrument are subject to copyright and can be purchased from their publishers or viewed at WorkSafe New Zealand.

A list of the standards and their publishers can be found in the Gazette notice:

Viewing incorporated material at WorkSafe

The location of the WorkSafe New Zealand office has changed since the Gazette notice was published.

The standards are available for inspection, at no charge, between 9.00am and 5.00pm from Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) at WorkSafe New Zealand, located at 8 Willis Street, Wellington 6011.

To arrange a time to view the standards, email WorkSafe at regulatory.frameworks@worksafe.govt.nz