Planning to import or manufacture gas appliances and fittings in the European Union? This article provides information about the Gas Appliances Regulation requirements, including CE marking, documentation, harmonised standards, and testing requirements.
Content Overview
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What is the Gas Appliances Regulation?
The Gas Appliances Regulation (GAR) establishes a framework and sets appliance-specific requirements for importers and manufacturers of gas appliances and their fittings.
Specifically, the regulation specifies the safety requirements of covered products. It also sets energy efficiency requirements for those products unless more specific eco-design legislation applies (e.g. the Ecodesign Directive).
Product Scope
The Gas Appliances Regulation covers appliances that burn gaseous fuels for purposes that include:
- Cooking
- Air conditioning
- Refrigeration
- Space heating
Gas appliances examples
Here we list some examples of covered products:
- Gas ovens and grills
- Gas heated catering equipment
- Gas-fired central heating boilers
- Gas-fired storage water heaters
Fitting examples
The regulation also covers fittings either designed for incorporation into an appliance or connected to comprise an appliance, such as the following:
- Safety devices
- Controlling devices
- Regulating devices
- Sub-assemblies thereof
Exemptions
The Gas Appliances Regulation does not cover appliances that are designed specifically for:
a. Usage in industrial operations on industrial establishments
b. Usage on aircraft and railways
c. Temporary lab-based research purposes
Harmonised Standards
Harmonised standards provide a presumption of conformity with requirements set by specific directives or regulations. As such, products compliant with relevant harmonised standards can be assumed to conform to the regulation’s technical requirements.
For example, importers and manufacturers can use the following harmonised standards to meet the Gas Appliances Regulation requirements for ovens, outdoor barbeques, and other products:
a. EN 498 – Specification for dedicated liquefied petroleum gas appliances — Barbecues for outdoor use
b. EN 203-2-2 – Gas heated catering equipment — Part 2-2: Specific requirements — Ovens
c. EN 1106 – Manually operated taps for gas burning appliances
d. EN 13278 – Open fronted gas-fired independent space heaters
e. EN 203-2-4 – Gas heated catering equipment — Part 2-4: Specific requirements — Fryers
f. EN 203-2-11 – Gas heated catering equipment — Part 2-11: Specific requirements — Pasta cookers
Essential Requirements
Manufacturers should construct gas appliances and their fittings such that the appliances operate safely and as intended. The appliances should also pose no danger to people, pets, or property. As such, those products should adhere to the essential requirements set in Annex I of the regulation.
These requirements consist of three categories:
- General requirements
- Materials
- Design and construction
The Gas Appliances Regulation provides the full set of essential requirements. We list just a few of those below.
General requirements
The Gas Appliances Regulation generally requires manufacturers to select the most relevant solutions by applying the following principles:
a. Ensure the product is safely designed and constructed by removing or decreasing risks as much as possible
b. Take precautions for hazards that cannot be fully eliminated
c. Warn users of any remaining risks, and provide them with appropriate precautions
Materials
Materials that are used to manufacture appliances or fittings should suit their intended purpose and withstand conditions to which the appliance might be subjected, such as:
- Mechanical conditions
- Chemical conditions
- Thermal conditions
Design and construction
The Gas Appliances Regulation provides design and construction requirements for appliances, divided into seven subsections. We provide an overview below.
General
This section covers general requirements (e.g., an appliance should not explode due to external fires).
Unburned gas release
This section covers requirements related to gas leakage (e.g., the appliance should be designed to limit the gas release to prevent a hazardous buildup of unburned gases).
Ignition
This section covers requirements regarding an appliance’s ignition (e.g., the appliance should provide for ensure cross-lighting, smooth ignition, and reignition).
Combustion
This section covers requirements related to stable combustion (e.g., the appliance should not accidentally release combustion products).
Rational use of energy
This section covers requirements regarding the rational use of energy (e.g., an appliance should ensure sensible energy usage).
Temperature
This section covers requirements relating to temperature regulation (e.g., parts of appliances meant for installation or placement near surfaces should not reach dangerous temperatures).
Contact with food and water intended for human consumption
This section covers requirements regarding the materials and parts used to construct an appliance coming into contact with food or water meant for human ingestion (e.g. those parts and materials should not compromise the food or water’s quality).
Conformity Assessment
According to Article 14 of the Gas Appliances Regulation, manufacturers of gas appliances and fittings must submit their product to a notified body for one or more of the conformity assessment procedures listed below before placing said product on the market.
Note that all modules require a Declaration of Conformity while all modules, excluding module B, require the CE marking. You can find the full set of requirements regarding conformity assessment procedures in Annex III of the Gas Appliances Regulation.
MODULE B: EU TYPE-EXAMINATION — PRODUCTION TYPE
Manufacturers applying for an EU type-examination certificate must include the following information in their application:
a. Name and address of the manufacturer (and if relevant, the authorised representative)
b. A written declaration stating that the manufacturer has not sent an application to another notified body
c. Technical documentation (e.g. product descriptions, concept design, list of harmonised standards, test reports, instructions)
d. Representative product specimens
e. Supporting evidence that their technical design solution is adequate
f. Declaration of Conformity
g. Fittings documentation (if relevant)
A notified body performs a Module B assessment to analyse the appliance or fitting’s technical design. Its goal is to verify and confirm that the product’s technical design conforms with the Gas Appliances Regulation applicable requirements.
After this, the notified body should issue an EU type-examination certificate to the manufacturer, provided that the product is compliant with all requirements.
Besides complying with the requirements of Module B, manufacturers should also comply with the requirements of one of the five modules listed below.
MODULE C2: CONFORMITY TO TYPE BASED ON INTERNAL PRODUCTION CONTROL PLUS SUPERVISED PRODUCT CHECKS AT RANDOM INTERVALS
Manufacturers who choose Module C2 should fulfil requirements such as the ones listed below:
a. Ensure that the manufacturing process complies with applicable requirements
b. Allow the chosen notified body to carry out annual product checks
MODULE D: CONFORMITY TO TYPE BASED ON QUALITY ASSURANCE OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS
Manufacturers choosing to comply with Module D should fulfil its requirements, which include:
a. Apply for the chosen notified body to assess a quality system (for production, final product inspection, and product testing)
b. Operate an approved quality production system
c. Allow the chosen notified body to carry out surveillance at the manufacture, inspection, testing, and storage locations
MODULE E: CONFORMITY TO TYPE BASED ON PRODUCT QUALITY ASSURANCE
Module E includes requirements such as:
a. Apply for the chosen notified body to assess the quality system that shall ensure product compliance with the regulation’s requirements
a. Operate an approved quality system
c. Allow the notified body to surveil the inspection, manufacture, testing, and storage locations
MODULE F: CONFORMITY TO TYPE BASED ON PRODUCT VERIFICATION
Module F includes requirements such as the following:
a. The manufacturer should ensure the uniformity of each batch of appliances and fittings, and submit said batches of appliances and fittings for verification by the notified body
b. The chosen notified body should carry out verification examinations or tests to ascertain the conformance of appliances and fittings with the regulation’s requirements
c. The notified body should issue a Certificate of Conformity
MODULE G: CONFORMITY BASED ON UNIT VERIFICATION
Module G mandates requirements that include the following:
a. Manufacturers should set up a manufacturing and monitoring process to ensure conformity
b. The chosen notified body should carry out relevant examinations and tests
c. The notified body should issue a Certificate of Conformity
Summary
We summarise requirements for importers and manufacturers of gas appliances and fittings in the table below.
| Module Name | Requirements |
| MODULE B |
|
| MODULE C2 |
|
| MODULE D |
|
| MODULE E |
|
| MODULE F |
|
| MODULE G |
|
Documentation
The Gas Appliances Regulation mandates importers and manufacturers to provide the required documentation when requested, as evidence of their product’s compliance with the regulations.
Declaration of Conformity
Importers and manufacturers should draft a Declaration of Conformity stating that they have met the requirements outlined in Annex I of the regulation. They should present the Declaration of Conformity per the format in Annex V, and provide information such as the following:
a. The appliance’s or fitting’s model (product, type, batch or number)
b. Manufacturer’s name and address
c. A statement declaring the manufacturer’s responsibility for issuing the Declaration of Conformity
d. Identification (and image) of the appliance or fitting
e. A statement declaring the appliance or fitting’s compliance with relevant harmonised EU legislation (e.g., the Gas Appliances Regulation)
f. References to the applicable harmonised standards in use or to additional technical requirements for which conformance is claimed
g. A statement declaring which notified body conducted the necessary intervention, and issued the relevant certificate(s)
h. Instructions for incorporation of fittings into appliances to comply with requirements for finished appliances
i. Additional information, as necessary
j. “Signed for and on behalf of” statement, with the date and place of issue, as well as name, function, and signature of the submitter
Technical Documentation
The Gas Appliances Regulation requires manufacturers of gas appliances or fittings to submit technical documentation, which, according to Annex III of the regulation, should at least include the following information:
- General description of product
- Concept design, manufacturing drawings
- Descriptions and explanations to understand how the appliance or fitting works
- List of applied harmonised standards
- Results of design calculations, examinations
- Test reports
- Instructions for installing and using the finished appliance
- Declaration of Conformity
EU Type-examination Certificate
The notified body should provide the manufacturer with an EU type-examination certificate if the appliance or the fitting type complies with the regulation’s requirements.
The EU type-examination certificate should include the following information:
- Manufacturer’s name and address
- Identifying drawings and descriptions
- Examination conclusion
- Preconditions (if any) for validity
- Obligatory data for determining the approved type (e.g., gas type, appliance category)
Certificate of Conformity
If the manufacturer chooses to conformity assessment procedure outlined on module F or G, the notified body should also issue a Certificate of Conformity concerning the examinations and tests that have been carried out.
The Gas Appliances Regulation doesn’t provide additional details on the information that should be included in the certificate.
Instructions
According to the regulation, manufacturers must issue with the appliance:
a. Installation instructions meant for the installer
b. Product user and servicing instructions
Labelling requirements
The Gas Appliances Regulation mandates importers or manufacturers to label their products by affixing a CE marking and a set of inscriptions onto their appliances and fittings.
CE Marking
The CE marking must be affixed to the appliance, fitting, or data plate in a clear, readable, and permanent manner. If doing so is impossible, importers and manufacturers may place the CE marking on the packaging and the accompanying documents
It should be followed by the notified body’s identification number as well as the last two digits of the year in which the CE marking was placed.
Other marks indicating a particular risk or use may follow the CE marking and the notified body’s identification number.
Inscriptions
In addition to the CE marking, importers and manufacturers must visibly, clearly, and permanently affix inscriptions onto their appliances, fittings, or data plates before selling their products.
They should include the following pieces of information:
- Manufacturer’s name
- Appliance type, batch, or serial number
- Type of electrical supply used (where applicable)
- Appliance category marking
- Appliance’s nominal supply pressure
- Installation instructions
Lab testing
Lab testing carried out by the notified body is necessary for importers and manufacturers to prove compliance with the technical requirements set by the regulation.
Test examples
Below are a few examples of tests relevant to the gas appliances and their fittings:
- Construction tests
- Safety tests
- Rational use of energy tests
- Fitness for purpose tests
Test report
When the appliances or fittings pas the lab testing, the importers or manufacturers receive a test report that proves the product’s compliance with relevant requirements.
Notified bodies
Below we list five notified bodies that offer services concerning the Gas Appliances Regulation, as well as the countries in which they operate:
a. TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH (Germany)
b. BSI Group The Netherlands B.V. (Netherlands)
c. INTERTEK Italia S.p.A. (Italy)
d. AENOR INTERNACIONAL, S.A. (Spain)
e. CERTIGAZ SAS (France)
The European Commission provides a list of notified bodies on this page.
