Paving the way for renewable gas integration: a new chapter in NZ’s reticulated gas standard
Standards New Zealand, through the work of development committee P4206, has released a major revision to the national standard for reticulated methane-based gas - NZS 5442:2025 Specification for reticulated gas - marking a significant step forward in supporting New Zealand’s energy transition.
Commissioned by WorkSafe New Zealand, this completes the second stage of a major revision to this standard following the publishing last year of an ‘Interim Standard’ that enabled blending of biomethane. This updated version provides guidance for the additional blending of hydrogen.
This updated standard reflects the growing role of renewable gases like biomethane and future proofing for hydrogen in our energy mix. To better align with this shift, the word “natural” has been removed from the title - a deliberate move to acknowledge that blending other gases into the network is now an accepted and encouraged practice.
Key updates include:
- Hydrogen blending limits: Table 2 now specifies a maximum of 10% hydrogen injection within the local distribution system (LDS), consistent with international research and aligned with Australia’s AS 4564:2025 standard.
- We have created new guidance on hydrogen injection: Appendix G offers practical insights for safely injecting hydrogen into the LDS.
- Biomethane flexibility: While no specific blending limits are set for biomethane, the standard supports its integration with relaxed oxygen and water limits introduced in the interim edition (NZS 5442 (Int):2024).
This revision ensures that gas supplied to consumers remains safe, compatible with existing appliances, and fit for purpose, while also enabling innovation and decarbonisation. It provides clarity for appliance manufacturers, installers, and gas suppliers, and sets a clear framework for managing contaminants and maintaining system integrity. Importantly, the standard allows for flexibility in certain conditions provided there is competent technical review and agreement with pipeline operators.
“As New Zealand moves toward a lower-carbon future, this standard plays a crucial role in enabling renewable gas adoption, while maintaining safety and reliability across the existing reticulated gas network,” says Chris Forsman, Standards New Zealand’s Principal Standards Project Manager, who has been leading the development of this important project.
You can get your copy of NZS 5442:2025 Specification for reticulated gas from our webshop:
NZS 5442:2025 Specification for reticulated gas(external link)