Appliance acceptance submissions

Find out about the ESV acceptance certification scheme that ensures the safe design, installation and sale of Type A and Type B gas appliances in Victoria.

The ESV acceptance certification scheme ensures the safe design, installation and sale of Type A and Type B gas appliances in Victoria.

Acceptance procedure for appliances

ESV must ‘accept’ the safe design of a gas appliance before it can be legally supplied, sold or installed in Victoria. Acceptance for appliances typically used in residential and light commercial settings is generally through a certification scheme run by either the Australian Gas Association, SAI Global or IAPMO R&T Oceana Pty Ltd.

Application is to be made direct to one of those certifying bodies.

Other appliances, such as those for use in industrial or manufacturing premises are only accepted on application to ESV.

ESV adopts the relevant Australian Standard for acceptance of a gas appliance. Where no relevant Australian Standard is available, ESV can specify appropriate standards.

Every accepted gas appliance is required to have a 'data plate' affixed to it, showing essential details (type of gas, energy consumption, etc). That data plate should show the Certificate Number If found, that number is evidence of acceptance.

Type A acceptance safety scheme for new appliance

The Australian Gas Association Appliance Approval Scheme is the only independent scheme accepted by ESV.

Under the Gas Safety Act 1997, Energy Safe Victoria - by a notice published in the Government Gazette - is empowered to declare any acceptance scheme for appliances or any part of the scheme specified in the notice to be authorised for the purposes of the Act (see Division 5—Appliances and gas installations, section 68: Authorisation of acceptance scheme).

Currently the appliance acceptance scheme operated by The Australian Gas Association (AGA), A.C.N. 004 206 044, SAI Global A.C.N. 050 611 642 and IAPMO R&T Oceana Pty Ltd A.C.N. 78 121 986 169 are all authorised by Energy Safe Victoria. Gas safety regulators in all other states and territories have also accepted these schemes.

The AGA certification scheme operates to ‘Rules Governing’ published by AGA. Each model certification relies on a technical assessment of a representative sample product by an approved test laboratory using relevant safety standards, nominated by AGA.
For individual appliances that are supplied in very small numbers (under 10), an ‘as installed’ assessment is made under a Second Tier procedure by or on behalf of AGA. Second Tier acceptance is site-specific.

Serial manufacture is subject to regular product and process audit by AGA to verify continued compliance. Certification may be suspended or withdrawn if certain conditions are not met. The AGA scheme includes a schedule of fees.

The AGA scheme provides for a wide range of new gas appliances. Find out more about the AGA’s list of certified gas appliances and gas components, and information on certifying an appliance or component.

The appliance acceptance scheme operated by AGA is subjected to periodic review by ESV, based on a declaration by AGA of the ongoing integrity of the scheme.

The SAI Global gas safety certification scheme operates under a System 2/3 certification scheme where compliance to the relevant standard is confirmed through independent testing and review of test reports. Ongoing compliance of the certified product is demonstrated via an annual product evaluation.

Type B Appliance accepted safety case

Division 3 of the Gas Safety Act 1997 provides that ESV may permit the manufacturer of a class of Type B appliance intended for use in manufacturing or industrial premises to submit a Safety Case for supply and installation of those gas appliances.

Application must be in writing, specifying the safety management system to be followed.

Refer to GSA Section 53 for details.

ESV will discuss requirements for a Safety Case on request.