Important information about safely using gas appliances to cook, barbeque, heat our homes and outdoor spaces, and go camping.
There are several uses for natural and liquified petroleum gas (commonly known as LP gas, LPG or just a gas bottle), so it’s important you are aware of the potential hazards when using them.
This page includes information on:
- risks and injuries
- safety requirements for gas appliances and LP gas cylinders
- your consumer rights
- how to report a safety concern
- how to report a serious incident
- tips to be a savvy consumer
Risks and injuries
Gas (both natural and LPG) is invisible, tasteless and in its natural state, odourless. To help detect a gas leak, a chemical is added to gas, so we can smell it. This makes it smell a bit like rotten eggs.
While these gases are not poisonous or toxic on their own, they can lead to some serious hazards by displacing the air around you.
Natural gas (methane) is lighter than air, so it can rise in a room if allowed to escape from a burner or leaking fitting. In contrast, LPG (propane or butane) is heavier than air, so it sinks to lower areas in our environment, travelling along the ground or floor, downhill to gullies, trenches and basements.
Gas leaks can cause:
- carbon monoxide poisoning (a result of incomplete combustion)
- headaches and dizziness
- general feeling of being unwell and/or uncomfortable
- nausea
- unconsciousness
- asphyxiation
- permanent injury or disability
- death
- fire and explosion.
LPG concentrations as low as two per cent can ignite the air and result in fire and explosion, while natural gas can ignite with a concentration just over five per cent.
If you smell gas, and is it safe to do so, stay calm and:
- Turn off your gas appliances
- Open all doors and windows
- Turn off your gas cylinder or gas supply and isolate your power supply
- Evacuate the area.
Don’t use lighters or matches to ignite gas appliances or to detect a gas leak. If a gas leak continues, call your gas supplier or a licensed gasfitter.
Did you know? Explosions and fires can occur when LPG cylinders have been carried or left in closed vehicles, such as vans or cars.
Sparks can be triggered by a car’s electrical components like remote locking systems, electric motors (starter motor, wipers, aerial), ignition systems, radios and sound systems and cigarette lighters.
Lighting a cigarette in a vehicle which is carrying flammable gas may also ignite LPG.
Don’t risk injury and death, follow our tips to stay safe.
Safety requirements
The Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 and supporting Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018 helps ensure the safety of gas and electrical goods used by consumers in NSW.
The Act outlines minimum consumer safety standards and requirements for gas appliances and installation.
These include:
- all gas installations must be carried out by a licensed gasfitter
- refillable gas cylinders (LPG) can only be reused if they have a current, legible test mark from a certified gas cylinder test station of no more than 10 or 15 years old:
- if a gas filling station, as part of a cylinder exchange, accepts any cylinder that is not appropriately marked, they will have to either ensure the cylinder is inspected and marked by a test station in accordance with the law before refilling, or dispose of the cylinder. Refer to our gas cylinder safety page for more information.
- all gas appliances (such as space heaters, central heaters, cooktops and ovens) sold must be:
- marked with the type of gas to be used by the appliance
- approved by a certifier registered by NSW Fair Trading, and
- marked with an Australian recognised certification label.
The register of gas certification authorities lists the approved authorities and their approval labels.
Anyone who offers to supply or supplies a non-compliant or unapproved gas appliance risks a maximum penalty of $55,000 for an individual or $550,000 for a corporation for a first time offence, and $82,500 for an individual or 2 years imprisonment or both, and $825,000 for a corporation for a second or subsequent offence.
Your consumer rights
As a consumer, you have the right to expect that the goods you buy are safe. That’s why we’re here.
Australian Consumer Law requires safety standards to be met before certain goods are sold. These standards include:
- the way the good is made
- what it contains
- how it works
- the tests it needs to pass
- whether any warnings or instructions need to accompany it.
Individual suppliers who breach Australian Consumer Law can be fined up to $220,000, while corporations can be fined up to $1.1 million.
Report a safety concern or serious gas accident
IMPORTANT: If there is a fire or you require urgent medical assistance, don’t delay - call 000 immediately or contact your GP immediately.
If you become aware of an unsafe situation or item (including incorrect or absent safety labelling), whether or not anyone has been injured:
- Alert the supplier about the issue.
- You can also report it us by calling 13 32 20 or making a complaint online, or report the matter to Product Safety Australia.
Learn about our complaint handling process and view our complaints register.
Report serious gas accidents to us as soon as possible by calling 13 32 20, by making a complaint online, or by sending a letter to:
Electrical and Gas Unit
NSW Fair Trading
PO Box 972
PARRAMATTA, NSW 2124
You should include information on the accident (where, when and what happened), and provide contact details so we can get in touch with you.
What is a serious gas accident?
A serious gas accident means an accident caused by:
- The use of a gas appliance, gas installation or autogas installation to supply gas, and
- A person dies, suffers permanent disability, is hospitalised, receives medical treatment from a health care professional or is unable to attend work for any period of time.
Be a savvy consumer
Gas leaks
Always treat any gas leak as a potential lethal risk. If you smell gas in your property, exit the building immediately, call 000 and ask for the NSW Fire Service.
You should:
- extinguish all naked flames and ensure cigarettes are not lit
- contact a licensed gasfitter
- contact your gas supplier, their phone number can be found on your gas bill.
If it is safe to do so:
- turn off the gas at your gas meter or cylinder
- open all doors and windows for ventilation
- turn off all appliances (including electrical) and pilot lights.
Gas appliances
- Don’t use any appliance made for outdoor use inside your house or within an enclosed area. Safe use requires more ventilation than what is available indoors or within an enclosed area.
- Gas appliances for sale without an attached recognised approval label might be unsafe. When buying a gas appliance, make sure you ask the salesperson to show you the approval label.
- Do not buy an unlabelled appliance.
- Buyers should be aware that overseas approvals of gas appliances are not recognised in Australia.
- Always have a licensed gasfitter install, repair and service gas appliances.
- It is recommended that appliances are serviced by a licenced gasfitter in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
LP gas
- Ensure LP gas cylinders are transported in the upright position and are appropriately and firmly secured.
- Before purchasing a new or used refillable LP gas cylinder, ask the retailer to show you the current legible test mark and confirm that the cylinder can be legally filled in NSW. If there is no current legible test mark, the cylinder may not be safe to fill. It’s illegal and dangerous. Don’t risk it!
Further information
Browse our Product safety section for more information on a range of product types including baby and children’s products, electrical goods, and other consumer items.
The Product Safety Australia website is managed by the ACCC and has information on gas safety and national recalls.
Suppliers can find out more about their responsibilities on the selling safe products page.
Contact us
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Call us on 13 32 20 or submit an online enquiry.