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Before gas appliances and specified fittings can be offered for sale in New Zealand, they need to be certified by a recognised certification body or certification regime. Certification is a requirement under Section 55 of the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010.

The Gas (Safety & Measurement) Regulations 2010 (GSMR)(external link) set out the obligations for people supplying gas products in NZ. The 2010 regime requires that the supplier (importer/NZ manufacturer) of any appliance imported or NZ manufactured after 1 July 2013 must ensure the following has been complied with (unless the appliance has been endorsed):

  • The appliance must be certified in accordance with Schedule 2A(external link) of the GSMR or must comply with the 2021 Exemption requirements, (see below for more detail),
  • The appliance must have the safety compliance label (flame logo) attached to it,
  • The appliance must be marked with certain data including a means to identify the company making the supplier declaration. This can be, for instance, the trademark or name of the supplier (importer/NZ manufacturer),
  • The supplier must register and make a supplier declaration of compliance (SDoC) on the declaration database.(external link)
  • A copy of the certification issued by the certification body must be attached to the SDoC. (A Declaration of Conformity from the appliance manufacturer or a reference to it in a product manual is not acceptable),
  • The SDoC should list the fuel gas or gases the appliance can safely use and the corresponding fuel gas or gases it has been certified to,
  • The appliance has installation instructions(external link) that, when followed, will ensure the appliance complies with the GSMR and is safe.

Certification requirements

1. European certified appliances

  1. Appliances that were certified to European Gas Directive (2009/142/EC or 90/396/ECC) prior to 21 April 2018 and certified to one of the EN standards listed in Schedule 2A, (external link)subpart 2. (Cabinet heaters must be fitted with a label and notice that complies with Appendices A and B of NZS/AS 3645.2), or,
  2. Any appliance that meets the conditions of Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations—Exemption for European Gas Appliances Notice 2021(external link) provided the appliance is certified to the European Gas Appliance Regulations (EU 2016/426) and one of the standards listed in the exemption notice. Some appliances are excluded from this exemption notice:
    1. Canister/ lunchbox cookers (also known as flat portable gas stoves) which have a horizontally mounted canister inside the appliance,
    2. Portable gas heaters with a similar configuration,
    3. Cabinet heaters

Natural gas appliances must be certified to Group I2H gases and LPG appliances must be certified to either Group I3B/P (30) or Group I3B/P (28-30).

Note: European appliances are often labelled with the full range of gas groups that appliance has been certified. NZ suppliers must be able to demonstrate that the particular appliance they supply has been set up for the specific gas group specified in the schedule. For instance that their LPG appliance is a I3B/P (30) appliance and not a I3+(28/30-37) appliance.

2. North American certified appliances 

  1. North American sourced appliances must be certified (by CSA, or UL) to the standards listed in Schedule 2A(external link), subpart 3, or,
  2. Any appliance that meets the conditions of Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations—Exemption for North American Gas Appliances Notice 2021(external link) provided the appliance is certified (by CSA, or UL) to one of the standards listed in the exemption notice. Some appliances are excluded from this exemption notice:
    1. Canister/ lunchbox cookers (also known as flat portable gas stoves) which have a horizontally mounted canister inside the appliance,
    2. Portable gas heaters with a similar configuration,
    3. Cabinet heaters

 Appliances supplied with mains electricity need to have been tested with 230 Vac 50 Hz.

For LPG appliances there is a NZ variation required to the certification will most likely require additional testing with butane from the certification agency. 

The variation is listed below:

"The appliance or fittings must be certified to the standard specified in subclause (3), subject to the following conditions:

  1. a gas appliance incorporating electrical equipment with a low voltage external supply must be tested for gas safety compliance using a supply of 230 volts, 50 Hz (nominal):
  2. an LPG appliance, other than an appliance for use with non-refillable cartridges, must be tested as follows:

(i) either—

(A) the tests specified in the compliance standard must be conducted with Test Gas D (butane); and

(B) combustion tests, and tests of burner operating characteristics, pilot operating characteristics, and ignition, must also be conducted with Test Gas E (propane) with no change whatever in burner equipment; or

(ii) in the case of an outdoor cooking gas appliance or an outdoor cooking speciality gas appliance, tests for temperature hazards, heat resistance, flame abnormalities, including sooting, and tests in which CO ratios or concentrations are measured must be conducted with Test Gas D (butane) with no change whatever in burner equipment."

3. Australian certified appliances

  1. Australian sourced appliances must be certified (by AGA, SAI Global, IAPMO, or Global-Mark) to the standards listed in Schedule 2A,(external link) subpart 4, or,
  2. Any appliance that meets the conditions of Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations—Exemption for Australian Gas Appliances Notice 2021(external link) provided the appliance is certified (by AGA, SAI Global, IAPMO, BSI Group, or Global-Mark) to one of the standards listed in the exemption notice. Some appliance types have special conditions:
    1. Canister/ lunchbox cookers (also known as flat portable gas stoves) which have a horizontally mounted canister inside the appliance must be certified to AS 2658:2008, including Amendments 1, 2, & 3, plus GTRC Bulletin 10
    2. Portable gas heaters not intended for connection to a cylinder must be certified to AS 2658:2008, including Amendments 1, 2, & 3, plus GTRC Bulletin 12
    3. Cabinet heaters are excluded from this exemption notice.

Natural gas appliances must be certified to natural gas and LPG appliances must be certified to Universal LP gas. Certification to propane only is not acceptable.

4. JAS-ANZ Certified appliances

JAS-ANZ certified appliances may be certified by a certification body that is accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) to certify appliances and fittings to the standards specified in NZS/AS 3645.2: 2010. The appliance must be certified to the standards specified in NZS/AS 3645.2.