Gas appliances – online marketplaces

Overview

Online marketplace operators can help eliminate unsafe gas appliances being sold in Australia by requiring sellers to provide the following information in listings for gas appliances:

• Gas type
• Manufacturer/Brand name and model number
• Certificate/approval number
• A photo of the appliance and its gas compliance mark.

Requirements for Type A gas appliances

Gas appliances are classified as either Type A or Type B appliances. This guidance applies to the sale and supply of Type A gas appliances only.

Type A gas appliances must be certified at the time of manufacture by an authorised Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) and display a gas compliance mark (figure 1) as well as the CAB’s proprietary mark (figure 2) before they can legally be offered for sale or hire online. These certification requirements extend to the sale of second-hand appliances in most jurisdictions.

Type A appliances

Type A appliances are appliances (including second-hand appliances) that were certified at the time of manufacture by a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB).

This category of appliances includes common domestic, commercial catering and light industrial appliances, such as cookers, barbecues, space heaters, central heaters, water heaters, catering equipment and leisure appliances where there is an authorised certification standard published.

Type A appliances must be certified to the relevant Australian gas standards which may include:

• AS/NZS 5263.0 – Gas appliances and others in the AS/NZS 5263 series
• AS/NZS 2658 LP Gas – Portable and mobile appliances
• AS 4563 Commercial catering gas equipment

Overseas certifications are not sufficient for the sale of gas appliances in Australia. For example, CSA (North America) or CE (Europe).

Figure 1 – Gas compliance mark

Figure 2 – Conformity Assessment Body proprietary marks

Note: The IAPMO have recently updated their proprietary mark.

Best practice for selling a Type A gas appliance online

We recommend marketplace operators require the following information to be included in listings for gas appliances on their platform. This will help ensure that sellers are complying with their obligations and prevent the sale of unsafe gas appliances.

Information to include in an online listing

We recommend marketplace operators provide separate, compulsory fields for the following to ensure listings include this information:

• Gas type
• Manufacturer/Brand name
• Model number
• Certificate/approval number

These details are found on the attached compliance plate and should match the corresponding field in the Gas Technical Regulators Committee (GTRC) database. These details enable Gas Technical Regulators and consumers to easily determine if a Type A appliance is certified.

Figure 3 - Example of an items description on the GTRC database

The sale or supply, or offer to sell or supply, a Type A appliance that does not display a compliance plate is an offence. By requiring this information in listings, marketplace operators are helping assure only approved appliances are available for sale through their platform.

Photographs which include a gas compliance mark

We recommend you require sellers to include an image of the appliance which clearly displays the gas compliance mark and the propriety mark of the Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) who certified the appliance. This demonstrates that the appliance complies with the Australian certification process and relevant standards.

Figure 4 – An example photograph showing the gas compliance mark and the CABs proprietary mark

Additional requirement for gas appliances that use electricity

If a gas appliance also uses electricity, it must meet the necessary Australian electrical standards and requirements. Appliances that have been approved for sale will display the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).

Online marketplace operators must ensure any electrical equipment sold through their platform includes an RCM (figure 5). We recommend online marketplace operators have a process in place to verify the product has been approved for sale, prior to being made available for sale on the platform.

Figure 5 – Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM)

Prohibited appliances

Type A appliances may be prohibited in Australia on a national or state level. It is an offence to sell, or offer to sell, a prohibited appliance. Where possible, you should ensure sellers on your platform are aware of any prohibitions.

Open-flued space heaters are currently the only type of appliance prohibited from sale (regardless of if they’re new or second-hand) in some Australian states.

Note: Some other products may be subject to sale prohibition in specific jurisdictions. Sellers should contact the GTRC to be aware of the latest list of prohibited products.

Open-flued space heater prohibition in Australia

A small number of open-flued space heaters are exempt because they meet newer performance requirements. The GTRC has provided further guidance on the requirements for open-flued gas space heaters.

Non-compliant listings

Authorities may request marketplaces remove listings where they have:

• Identified the appliance is prohibited
• Identified the appliance is not certified for use in Australia

Authorities may also request these issues are communicated to the seller.

Non-compliance, including relisting without addressing identified concerns or continued non-compliance, may result in enforcement action being taken against the seller or supplier, including the issuing of infringements or prosecution.

More information

If there are questions about specific listings or appliance types, or if you suspect a seller is supplying a gas appliance that is unsafe or is not suitable for sale in Australia, please refer to GTRC Contacts for ‘Gas Appliances’ or ‘Gas Appliances Domestic and Commercial’ depending on the jurisdiction.

Gas Technical Regulators Committee

Energy Safe Victoria is a member of the Gas Technical Regulators Committee (GTRC). This guidance is also available on the GTRC website.

The GTRC was established to help gas technical regulators from Australia and New Zealand work together, share information, improve gas safety, and promote consistent approaches to gas regulation across jurisdictions.

Energy Safe administers the GTRC National Certification Database on behalf of the committee and its members. The database allows regulators, businesses and consumers to check whether gas appliances have been certified for use in Australia.