Provides a specification for general purpose natural gas. Natural gas meeting this specification is suitable for transportation through pipeline systems and is safe for use in natural gas appliances and equipment and for use as fuel in natural gas vehicles.

1.1.1 General
This specification sets out requirements that ensure that general purpose natural gas that is transported and supplied is safe for use in natural gas appliances and equipment and for use as fuel in natural gas vehicles.
Gas complying with this specification is safe for general purpose use but is not necessarily fit for purpose in all applications. General purpose natural gas is subject to contractual requirements between buyer and seller and in some cases to National or State requirements as to quality, including allowable excursions from the specification.
1.1.2 Inclusions and exclusions
The specification covers gas for general purpose use but is not intended to apply to gas supplies where no “general purpose” users are connected to the supply system, eg. a dedicated supply to an industrial user. General purpose natural gas can be formed by blending gas from different supplies. The hydrocarbon dewpoint limit in the specification may be more restrictive than need be for some general purpose natural gas supply systems that are confined to only one State. For these systems, where gas suppliers could face unnecessary additional expenditure in order to meet the limit, the relevant State regulatory body may provide for a higher limit if local conditions are favourable and it is possible to avoid excessive condensation with the higher limit. Compliance with such higher limit will constitute compliance with the Standard within that State only. In the absence of such provision the limit in the specification shall apply. Certain limits defined in the specification may be temporarily departed from under some circumstances. The issue of such departures is not within the scope of this Standard and is subject to and provided for under relevant gas sales contracts, legislation and/or government guidelines.

First published as AS 4564/AG 864-2003.