VSI 27 - LPG/LNG/CNG conversions and repairs

Published: July 2024.
This page supersedes all previous copies of VSI 27.

VSI 27 - LPG/LNG/CNG conversions and repairs (PDF) is the official guideline made under the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021. The content on this page is reproduced from the official guideline. While every effort has been made to ensure consistency, the official guideline must be referenced for approved content.

The information on this page applies to vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4.5 tonne or less. For heavy vehicle requirements please refer to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.

Introduction

Regulation 35 of the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021 requires all modifications to a vehicle to either have specific approval from the Secretary of the Department of Transport
and Planning (DTP) or to be carried out in accordance with guidelines published by the Secretary.

Conversion of an existing motor vehicle to operate on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) is a modification.

This document is a published guideline for the purposes of Regulation 35.

Any LPG, LNG or CNG conversion or repair carried out in accordance with this document is an approved modification.

Requirements

• All LPG installations or repairs must comply with the technical requirements of the version of Australian Standard AS/NZS 1425 current at the time of conversion and be fitted with an acceptable LPG compliance plate if converted to operate on LPG on or after 1 February 1993.
• All CNG installations or repairs must comply with the technical requirements of Australian Standard AS/NZS 2739 current at the time of conversion and be fitted with an acceptable NG compliance plate if converted to operate on CNG on or after 1 August 2000.
• All LNG installations or repairs must comply with the technical requirements of the version of Australian Standard AS/NZS 2739 current at the time of conversion and be fitted with an acceptable NG compliance plate if converted to operate on LNG on or after 16 March 2009.
• The structural integrity of the vehicle and its continued compliance with the standards for registration must not be adversely affected (see Note below).
• The registered operator must notify a VicRoads customer service centre of the change in fuel type using the LPG/LNG/CNG conversion report (PDF).
• All LPG, LNG and CNG installations and repairs must be carried out by a qualified LPG/LNG/CNG gas installer in a workshop complying with the technical requirements of the current version of Australian Standard AS 2746 Working Areas for Gas-Fuelled Vehicles. (A DTP approved provider complies with these requirements).

A vehicle that has undergone approved conversion to LPG requires the LPG container to be re-certified every 10 years from the date of original certification.

A vehicle that has undergone approved conversion to CNG requires the following:

• re-certification of all-steel cylinders conducted every five years
• re-certification of fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) wrapped steel cylinders conducted every three years.

A vehicle that has undergone approved conversion to LNG requires the container to have a visual external inspection every five years and the pressure relief devices replaced at a period not exceeding ten years.

General

An acceptable LPG or NG compliance plate is one issued by:

• DTP (via an Alternative Fuel Systems Assessment and Certification Scheme provider authorised by DTP)
• other recognised state and territory regulatory authorities LPG/LNG/CNG conversions and repairs
• approved volume vehicle manufacturers, e.g. Holden, Ford, etc.

The LPG/LNG/CNG conversion report (PDF) should be presented, completed and signed, at any VicRoads customer service centre to record the fuel type change with VicRoads.

Alternatively you may mail the completed form to:
VicRoads
GPO Box 1644
Melbourne Vic 3001.

A LPG compliance plate isn't required on LPG conversions carried out prior to February 1993, a CNG compliance plate isn't required on conversions carried out prior to August 2000 and an NG compliance plate isn't required on LNG conversions carried out prior to 16 March 2009.

These conversions are approved modifications provided they comply with the technical requirements of the relevant Australian Standard current at the time of conversion.

However, the conversions may not be acceptable to prospective purchasers of the vehicle and may not be recognised in a number of other states and territories.

For these reasons it is suggested that existing conversions be checked and fitted with the appropriate compliance plate.

Note:

If significant alterations to the structure of a vehicle are required then a Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme (VASS) signatory must be consulted.

If the installation of the tank affects one or more of the existing mandatory child restraint anchorage points, acceptable replacements must be installed.

A VASS approval certificate will be required where any changes to the vehicle structure or restraint system have been made.

Decommissioning of LPG/LNG/CNG systems

In the case that a vehicle will no longer be running on gas, the system must be decommissioned and the compliance plate removed. Go to a VicRoads customer service centre to notify them of any changes made to the vehicle.