Following the fire at Icepak Coolstores (Tamahere, New Zealand), which has exposed shortcomings in the system of certifying the safety of plants using dangerous gases, the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ) has initiated a review of the design of cold storage facilities, reveals NZCSA’s (New Zealand Cold Storage Associations) press release.

Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) was unaware the Tamahere plant had twice the amount of highly flammable propane LPG on site without having had the required safety inspections. Who knew what and when are part of the various investigations under way, as is whether Icepak fulfilled its obligations when it changed from non-flammable freon gas as its refrigerant to propane. Also under scrutiny is New Zealand's regime for ensuring the safe use of flammable gases. Erma administers the Hazardous Goods and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 which took over from the Dangerous Goods Act. Under the old legislation, territorial authorities had a dangerous goods inspector tasked with inspecting such sites. Ensuring sites are compliant now falls to Erma but there are doubts about whether it is sufficiently proactive. There is also criticism that the gas regime with its various laws and regulations has become too convoluted, causing some sites to fall between the cracks.

The Fire Service admitted it still does not know what coolstores throughout the country are using flammable gases such as propane as a refrigerant. The Tamahere disaster prompted the Fire Service and Department of Labour to begin a survey of such plants. According to the New Zealand Herald, Icepak director Wayne Grattan said the safety regime was confusing and the company had thought it had complied, but now realised it didn't have a location test certificate required under HSNO legislation. Garry Cruickshank, head of building services at Unitec New Zealand's Applied Technology Institute, says the complexity of regulations and the spread of responsibility is ripe for confusion and disaster.