FAQ

Liquefied Petroleum Gas – LPG is one of the cleanest, lightest, simplest hydrocarbons in existence, and as a result, is one of the cleanest burning of all fossil fuels!

• LPG is an odourless gas until an odourant is added for safety reasons.
• For safety reasons LPG must always be transported in pressurized tanks.
• 1 litre of LPG is the equivalent of 250 litres of gas.
• LPG has a high energy content making it an excellent fuel for heating, cooking and automotive use.
• There are two sources of LPG：Natural gas processing and crude oil refining.
• LPG can range from 100% propane to 100% butane.

LPG is frequently used for home heating, water heating, cooking, fireplaces, and clothes drying. In outdoor spaces, LPG is a widely used energy source for BBQs and heating for pools and spas.

Depending on your set up, when your gas runs out on one side of your gas regulator, you simply change your change over dial on your gas regulator to point to the other gas bottle(s) and always remember to turn the one(s) in use on and the one(s) or side not in use off.

LPG has a strong, unpleasant smell, like rotten eggs. Odour is deliberately added to help alert customers to gas leaks, which can create a safety hazard.

• Location uncertain?
• Check the entire system for ANY indication of gas leak, such as smell or hiss.
• LPG has a strong, unpleasant smell, like rotten eggs.
• Perform a bubble test.
• Apply soapy water solution to cylinder valves/regulator/connections/pipes and/or any other connections you suspect may be leaking.
• Slowly open the cylinder valve and watch for bubbles.
• Bubbles will form if there is a leak.
• If bubbles appear, close the cylinder valve.
• Tighten any connections and repeat the bubble test.
• If you cannot stop the bubbles, close the cylinder valve and contact a gasfitter and/or appliance dealer for service/inspection.
• NEVER use a match, flame or plain water to test for a leak.
• If the leak has been indoors, fully ventilate the room before further use of appliance.
• Do not interfere with any part of a fixed installation.

• Shut off main gas supply valve
• Stay away until leak has stopped
• Call 111 if required
• Schedule LPG tank and/or appliance inspection

• Being a distributor, we carry a wide range of LPG cylinders. Our range includes 2kg, 4.5kg, 9kg, 12kg, 18kg, 27kg, 45kg & 15kg forklift cylinders.
• For more information, please click here

• Ensure all work on fixed installations whether new or being modified is carried out by a licensed gas fitter.
• Regularly service and check for deterioration in performance and signs of corrosion and leaks.
• Use equipment specifically manufactured and approved for LPG.
• Ensure there is adequate ventilation when using LPG appliances to allow fresh air and burnt gas removal.
• If an appliance fails to ignite immediately turn off gas supply and ventilate to allow any gas to disperse before attempting to reignite.
• When dealing with a dangerous good ensure safety first and take precautions when needed and required.

• Never tamper with the safety valve or any of the cylinder fittings.
• Do not use excessive force to open or close main valve.

Every cylinder must have three important things to be legal and eligible for use:

1. Have a current 10 year test date
2. Have an official New Zealand LAB number
3. Have a correct empty weight

• If any leakage is detected or suspected from a cylinder, turn it off immediately and REFER TO EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.
• LPG cylinders (except specially designed forklift and automotive cylinders) must always be stored and transported in an upright position. This ensures the safety valve is not immersed in the liquid and is located in the vapour space as required by its design approvals.
• Cylinders should be stored in a well-ventilated space and away from possible sources of ignition, excess heat or other compressed gases.
• Always secure cylinders during transport, remove any hose, hose fittings and regulators and attach a sealing plug whenever the appliance is not connected.
• Shut off cylinder valve before disconnecting from appliance and ensure appliances are turned off before connecting new cylinder.
• The filling of any cylinder (other than automotive) from a service station bowser is an offence.

• Installation and maintenance of LP Gas appliances must only be carried out by licensed or authorized LPG installers or service companies.
• The installer is responsible to ensure that new or replacement appliances are connected, tested, adjusted and in safe working order. Appliance operating instructions should be handed to the consumer and explained by the installer.
• LPG appliances must not be connected to other gas supply systems, such as natural gas.
• Adequate ventilation must be provided to allow air for satisfactory combustion and ensure ample dispersal of the burnt gases.
• Installations in caravans, recreational vehicles and boats must comply with the installation code applicable to fixed appliances.
• Cylinder compartments must be sealed from the interior of vehicles/boats and vented to the outside. Cylinder valves must be closed when a caravan is in transit.

• Talk to our team to find out what our currently delivery times are.
• Please note that Winter is our busy season so delivery times will be longer in Winter. Please monitor your gas usage and order a replacement cylinder as soon as one runs out.

• We offer an urgent delivery for $200, delivered within 2 working days of order confirmation

• Yes, we only swap/exchange 9kg gas cylinders.
• Your existing cylinder can either be owned by you, or any other branded gas cylinder.
• Cylinder Exchange Pricing applies
• We will not exchange decommissioned or punctured cylinders.

• We can refill your LPG cylinder while you wait.

• Usually not more than 5 minutes. Occasionally wait times may vary.

• Our Manukau, Mount Maunganui and Christchurch branches can also perform cylinder testing/re-certification

• All our branches accept gas cylinders for safe disposal.

• All branches accept EFTPOS, credit card or cash payments for any onsite LPG refills and services.
• For online payments we accept payment via POLI, bank transfer and credit cards.
• Bank transfer – you can easily pay for your orders, via deposit direct to our bank account. Account Name: Mata International Ltd / Acc No: 02-0208-0045806-00
• Credit cards – We currently accept Visa and Mastercard.

• We hope to make your experience booking online as easy as possible. However, if you would prefer to place your order over the phone, we can certainly assist you.
• Our team is available to help Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm. Simply give us a call and we can process your order and answer your questions.

• Yes.
• For more information about wholesale pricing, please send an enquiry via our
  RETAIL CYLINDER SWAP Form.
• For any business enquiries please send enquiry via LPG FOR BUSINESS Form.
• For any custom large orders please send and enquiry via CONTACT US Form.

• Absolutely! If you find a lower price than what we have quoted, we’ll match it and offer a better deal.
• To get started, simply contact us via CONTACT US Form., with our competitor’s quote or a Online Web Link.

• For any wholesale/business customers on credit term accounts, payments are due by the 20^th of the month following the date of the invoice.

• Monthly rental plan – no partial refunds but a monthly rental invoice may be reversed if it was generated after the cylinders were removed from the property.
• Annual rental plan – rental is charged at the monthly rate for the number of months lapsed since the rental invoice renewed and until the cylinders were removed from the property.

LPG cylinders will come filled to around 80% of the height of the cylinder. This is normal as it allows for the expansion of the liquid LPG inside the cylinder. If you would like to test the level of LPG in the cylinder the safe and accurate way is to:

1. Pour warm water down the side of the cylinder.
2. Wait a few minutes.
3. Run your hand down the side of the cylinder
4. It will feel cold to the touch at the level of LPG.
5. Hand held level detectors may be available from your gas supplier.

Good question, it really does depend on what you are running and how you use it. Use this calculation to work this out:

• 1 kg of LPG contains 50.4 MJ of energy, which means 1 x 45kg cylinder has 2268 MJ of energy (45kg x 50.4 MJ = 2268 MJ). To work out how many hours your cylinder will last, you need to know the total Megajoule rating of all the appliances you are running. This can normally be found on the data plate or in the product manual, and if you don’t have that try Google with the product and model number and look for the heat input rating for the appliance.

Let’s look at an INFINITY® VT 26 as an example:

• Minimum operating 2.4 litres per minute = 14 MJ/hr
• Divide the total energy (MJ) in the cylinder by the total MJ input as above 14 (in MJ/Hr).
• 2268 MJ ÷ 14 MJ/hr = 162 hours of continuous use (per 45kg cylinder)
• Maximum operating 26 litres per minute = 199 MJ/hr 2268 MJ ÷ 199 MJ/hr = 11.39 hours of continuous use (per 45kg cylinder)

So, there is quite a difference between 162 hours and 11 hours of continuous use, so how much are you going to use?

• A shower typically uses 10 – 12 litres of water per minute in total. Approx. 6 – 8 litres will be hot; the rest is cold to get your perfect temperature. As a very rough average you may expect to get 40 – 50 hours of continuous showering from 1 x 45kg cylinder depending on the length of your average shower.

Condensation or frosting of cylinders is an indication that the cylinders are unable to deliver sufficient gas to meet the load demand of the appliances you are running at the time. If this happens regularly, contact your gas fitter to check the appliances you are using and the number of cylinders supplying the appliances

The auto changeover is a specially designed regulator that automatically closes the supply from one side and opens the other in order to ensure continuity of the gas supply. To do this, all cylinder valves must be left in the open position, this prevents any loss of supply when a cylinder has run out of gas. Dependent on your consumption rate it is possible for both sides to be emptied, so keep an eye on the actual LPG level in the cylinders. Several types of automatic changeover regulators are available. They all use a visual indicator to show you when it has switched over to the other cylinder. The indicator typically turns red when it switches over to the other cylinder. Do not touch or turn the indicator. When it turns red, that’s your signal to call your gas supplier for a delivery.

Yes, all cylinders in New Zealand are manufactured to government approved standards.

Yes, the LPG in New Zealand is a mixture of propane and butane and is the same from all companies throughout New Zealand.

All LPG cylinders are filled on scales and the filling process is automatically shut off when the maximum filled weight for the cylinder has been reached, therefore it is very unlikely that partially filled cylinders would be delivered to a site. Should you suspect that a cylinder is partially filled you should contact your gas supplier immediately.

• Contact your gas supplier.

• The pigtail has a left-hand thread and can only be screwed in anti-clockwise.

• Yes, it is a mixture of propane and butane.

• Yes, you can, you will be limited to a maximum of 20kg inside the house and the maximum capacity of each cylinder must not be more than 10kg.

• It is preferable to transport your cylinder inside your boot rather than inside the car. Cylinders should be secured in an upright position to prevent possible liquid discharge (which is even more dangerous than a gas leak). Cylinder holders for keeping cylinders upright are available to purchase in our depots. Cylinders should not be left unattended inside the vehicle, particularly during hot weather.

Used wisely, gas is instant, reliable, efficient and safe. However, like other forms of energy, it must be treated with respect to prevent accidents. The main things to remember is to keep combustible material 1 metre away from the heated surface and to ensure there is sufficient ventilation to ensure the appliance has the right amount of air and the combustion products can be removed from the air where the appliance is being used.

Pure LPG has no smell; an odorant is added to the LPG to help detect any leaks. If you can smell gas, it means you may have a gas leak at the cylinder or appliance. If you smell gas keep flames and cigarettes away from the area, do not operate electrical switches or use mobile phones in the area, if possible turn off the appliance and cylinder, open doors and windows to ventilate the area, call the emergency services – 111.

If you suspect a gas cylinder is leaking, check for leaks using soapy water. If you see bubbles then it is most likely that a leak is present. NEVER USE A MATCH to find a leak. Turn off the valve and inform your gas supplier.

If you smell gas inside a building do not operate any electrical switches (on or off) or do anything that could create a spark (or another source of ignition). Turn off the gas supply and get out of the house immediately. Wait for a while (15–30 minutes) until you are confident the gas has dispersed. You can then return and open the windows to ventilate the premises. Check for any obvious source of the leakage and shut any gas valve that may be still open. Call a gas fitter for testing and re-commissioning.

LPG heaters are used widely to warm New Zealand homes and businesses. Used wisely, gas is instant, reliable, efficient and safe. However, like other forms of energy, it must be treated with respect to prevent accidents. In small rooms (for example bedrooms and bathrooms), a permanently installed gas heater may only be used in certain restricted circumstances. Ask a licensed gas worker for advice. Don’t use unflued gas appliances, such as LPG cabinet heaters or instantaneous water heaters in small rooms or in bedrooms and bathrooms. Always keep your heater at least 1 metre away from anything that could catch fire. Put a safety guard around your heater if you have young children in your home or there is a lot of foot traffic. Keep a window open when you use your unflued heater, to help remove heater emissions (combustion products) and to keep the air fresh and reduce condensation.

Cylinder installations should be located such that the delivery of gas can be made safely by one person without excessive manual handling or risk to customers property. In situations where the following conditions cannot be satisfied, other options such as locating the cylinders remotely and piping to the installation should be considered.

1. Cylinder installation must be designed to be capable of accommodating the size of cylinder intended for use, for either exchange or on site (in situ) fill applications.
2. A minimum distance of 600mm should be provided between front of the cylinder installation and other structures to allow adequate access for the cylinder delivery to be made.
3. The cylinder compound should be accessible by cylinder trolley.
4. Paths should have a minimum width of 600mm.
5. Steps should have a minimum of 2: 1 tread depth to tread rise. Maximum tread rise should be 125mm.
6. Steps should not exceed 1.5m total rise.
7. Paths should not exceed 20 degree gradients.
8. Total distance from cylinder delivery truck parking area and cylinder installation should not exceed 75m.
9. It must be possible to legally and safely park the truck while making the delivery.
10. Access route should be firm and compact with adequate grip even in wet conditions.
11. The access route should not be over delicate or decorative surfaces such as terracotta.

The recommended standard installation requirements are set out in the hazardous substance legislation and associated standards for gas installations. In summary these requirements are:

1. Up to 100kg can be installed within one metre of a building (up against the wall of a building) provided there are no openings in the building below the top of the cylinders and within one metre from the sides of the cylinders.
2. Between 100 to 300kg can be installed within 2 metres of a building (up against the wall) provided the walls of the building behind the cylinders and 2 metres either side of the cylinders are vapour tight and constructed of fire-resistant material. There must be no openings in the building below the top of the cylinders or within two metres from the sides of the cylinders.
3. Between 300 to 1000kg can be installed within two metres of a building (up against the wall) provided the walls of the building behind the cylinders and 2 metres either side of the cylinders are vapour tight and are constructed of 60/60/60 fire resistance rated material. There must be no openings in the building below the top of the cylinders or within two metres from the sides of the cylinders.
4. There is a minimum vertical clearance from openings into buildings of 150mm above the valve of any cylinder. This clearance increases to 500mm for onsite filled cylinders.

• For installations of 2x45kg cylinders there must be no openings into a building within 1 metre of the cylinders and there must be no sources of ignition within 500mm above the cylinders and 1.5 metres from the sides of the cylinders.
• For any installation over 2×45 kg there must be no openings into a building within 2 metres from the sides of the cylinders and there must be no sources of ignition within 500mm above the cylinders and 1.5 metres from the sides of the cylinders.
• There is a minimum vertical clearance from openings into buildings of 150mm above the top of any cylinder. This clearance increases to 500mm for onsite filled cylinders.

• The cylinders can be located anywhere on your home provided they are kept 1 metre away from any opening into the home I.e. doors, vents etc. There are some restrictions where cylinders cannot be placed within a building, under a stairway and restricted access for the cylinder delivery person.

• No, all gas suppliers use the same or very similar installation equipment and there will be no need to change anything.

• The outdoor unit of the heat pump must be kept a minimum of 1.5 metres from the cylinders.

• The cylinders can be located anywhere on your home provided they are kept 1 metre away from any opening into the home I.e. doors, vents etc. There are some restrictions where cylinders cannot be placed within a building, under a stairway and restricted access for the cylinder delivery person.

• Yes, cylinders should be installed on a firm, level, non-combustible base, and not resting on soil. The floor or base should be constructed so that water cannot accumulate under the cylinders and within any enclosure or recess.

• The property owner engages a licensed gas fitter to install the gas regulator, changeover valve and the pigtails (cylinder connections). The gas fitter also connects the gas line from the regulator to your appliance(s). These components and the appliances are the property of the homeowner. The gas supplier owns and provides the gas cylinders.

• Yes, any cylinder can be fitted to the installation, they all use same connection.

If you have a complaint, please contact us on 0800 954 427 or email info@matagas.co.nz . If we are unable to resolve your complaint, you can contact the free and independent Utilities Disputes Limited on 0800 22 33 40 or email info@utilitiesdisputes.co.nz For more information, please visit www.utilitiesdisputes.co.nz