On this page
You can reduce the risk of household accidents, fire and injuries by buying appliances that have been safety tested to Australian standards. It also illegal to sell, hire out or install certain gas and electrical appliances that haven't been certified to Australian standards.
Your insurance might not cover damage caused by an appliance if it’s not certified as safe and approved for use in Australia.
Safety certified
Safe appliances have specific markings or labels from a recognised Australian regulator or certifier:
You can also check the national certification databases, using the product certification number, trade name or models details.
Search for:
- certified electrical appliances - Electrical Equipment Safety System
- certified gas appliances - Gas Technical Regulators Committee
Find out professional detail about appliance certification in the electrical and gas trade sections of the Office of the Technical Regulator website.
Follow manufacturer's instructions
By law, household appliances must include manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you read and follow them to use any appliance safely.
Instructions will likely include:
- how to operate the appliance
- safety guidelines for its use and storage
- maintenance and cleaning
- rules about modifications and enhancements
- who is authorised to carry out repairs.
Buying online and overseas
Only buy and use appliances that are tested to Australian standards and are safe to use here.
Make sure you:
- ask for details about the Australian safety approval
- request a copy of the compliance certificate
- check that any certification matches the product's markings and specifications.
You can also check the national certification databases for safe appliances.
Appliances certified overseas can be unsafe to use in Australia because the climate, materials and outputs are different. For example, electrical products might not be tested to our voltage.
Report unsafe products
Contact the Office of the Technical Regulator if you notice a product you bought is not compliant.
