Buying and Selling Appliances
Buying New Appliances
New appliances are more likely to be equipped with the latest safety features. Suppliers and installers of gas products are required to ensure the appliance meets all New Zealand safety standards. They are also required to lodge a declaration of safety on the Gas Appliance Supplier Declaration Database. This information is publicly available on this site.
To ensure the safety of any gas appliances or other equipment in your home it is essential it is installed by a licensed gas worker. This will usually be a gasfitter or a craftsman gasfitter. You should always ask to see their current license.
A craftsman gasfitter will ensure that your gas appliance or installation is connected correctly, has adequate ventilation, is appropriately flued and is in good working order.
Buying Second-Hand Appliances
Only buy appliances which have been tested for safety. Take care if you are considering buying a second-hand appliance. Make sure that the seller will give you a written guarantee and always ask for a copy of the installation and use instructions. A gasfitter will not install an appliance he considers unsafe.
If the appliance was first supplied (by the importer or New Zealand manufacturer) after November 2002 there is a legal requirement that the seller (and installer) determine whether there is a Supplier Declaration for it before they sell (or install) the appliance. Apart from "one off" appliances most of these declarations may be found on the Energy Safety Supplier Declaration database. The installing gasfitter may not install a post-2002 appliance if it is not a declared appliance.
In many instances the service history of the appliance is non-existent and it is not clear that the safety features have been maintained. The presence of a Supplier Declaration is no guarantee of safety in this situation.
Selling Second-Hand Appliances
The legal requirements applicable in New Zealand relating to the safety of second-hand appliances that are offered for sale are contained in the Gas Regulations 1993. Among other things, a second-hand gas appliance cannot be sold or used unless it meets certain fundamental safety requirements which are set out in the NZ gas appliance standard, NZS 5262. The seller (and installer) must have taken all practicable steps to ensure that the appliance is safe under all reasonably foreseeable circumstances.
Some criteria for checking that the appliance you are selling properly meets the legal requirements are:
- Free from mechanical hazards
- Adequate means of support and shall be stable or remain safe when subjected to external forces
- Any gas leakage shall not give rise to a hazardous situation
- Parts shall not reach temperatures which create a hazard
- Remain safe under New Zealand climatic conditions
- Operate safely at all specified gas supply pressures
- Not cause a dangerous situation to develop when subjected to an overpressure
- Suitable for the gas type specified
- Products of combustion shall be of a composition, and be discharged in such a manner, as to present no health or fire hazard
- Burners shall allow reliable and complete ignition, reignition and cross-lighting
- Shall have no flame abnormality (flame lift, lightback, yellow tipping or sooting)
- Have instructions for the safe installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance
- Have an appropriate data plate
- Be electrically safe
If the appliance was first supplied (by the importer or New Zealand manufacturer) after November 2002 there is a legal requirement that the seller (and installer) determine whether there is a Supplier Declaration for it before they sell (or install) the appliance. Apart from "one off" appliances most of these declarations may be found on the Energy Safety Supplier Declaration database.
In many instances the service history of the appliance is non-existent and it is not clear that the safety features have been maintained. The presence of a Supplier Declaration is no guarantee of safety in this situation.
The original sale requirements for the appliance's data plate have changed over the years but on resale, for fixed appliances, the data plate should provide information on make; model; gas type; minimum and maximum supply pressure; burner pressure and input rating.
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