Gas appliances must do more than operate correctly. They must burn gaseous fuels safely, remain stable under foreseeable operating conditions, prevent dangerous gas release and combustion products, and provide reliable ignition, control and protective functions throughout their intended service.
Regulation (EU) 2016/426 on appliances burning gaseous fuels establishes the European conformity framework for gas appliances and fittings placed on the EU market. Commonly known as the Gas Appliances Regulation, or GAR, it has applied since 21 April 2018 and replaced Directive 2009/142/EC.
The Regulation covers a wide range of products used for cooking, refrigeration, air conditioning, space heating, hot-water production, lighting and washing, as well as forced-draught burners and heating bodies equipped with such burners.
A particularly important feature of the GAR is mandatory third-party conformity assessment. Manufacturers cannot complete the applicable GAR conformity route solely through self-certification.
This GAR Insight explains product scope, appliances and fittings, essential requirements, gas conditions, combustion safety, harmonised standards, testing, EU-type examination, production conformity, technical documentation and CE marking under Regulation (EU) 2016/426.
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Explore GAR scope, appliances and fittings, essential requirements, gas categories, combustion safety, harmonised standards, testing, conformity assessment, technical documentation and CE marking.
Understanding Regulation (EU) 2016/426
Regulation (EU) 2016/426 establishes requirements for appliances burning gaseous fuels and their fittings before they are placed on the European Union market.
The Regulation has applied since 21 April 2018 and replaced the previous Gas Appliances Directive 2009/142/EC.
Which Products Fall Within the GAR?
The Regulation applies to appliances burning gaseous fuels used for specified functions and to fittings intended to be incorporated into such appliances or assembled to constitute appliances.
Cooking
Gas cookers, ovens, hobs, grills and other appliances intended for food preparation.
Space Heating
Gas-fired heaters and other appliances intended to provide space heating.
Hot-Water Production
Gas-fired water heaters and appliances intended to produce domestic or commercial hot water.
Refrigeration
Appliances using gaseous fuel as part of the refrigeration process.
Air Conditioning
Gas-burning appliances intended to provide air-conditioning functions.
Lighting
Gas appliances designed to provide illumination.
Washing
Gas appliances used for washing purposes, including relevant hot-water functions.
Forced-Draught Burners
Forced-draught burners and heating bodies intended to be equipped with such burners.
Associated Fittings
Safety, controlling or regulating devices and certain subassemblies intended for incorporation into gas appliances.
Appliances & Fittings
One of the fundamental distinctions within the Gas Appliances Regulation is the difference between an appliance and a fitting.
Appliance
A finished gas-burning product used for one or more of the functions covered by the Regulation, including cooking, heating, hot-water production, refrigeration, lighting, washing or air conditioning.
Fitting
Safety devices, controlling devices, regulating devices and subassemblies designed to be incorporated into an appliance or assembled to constitute an appliance.
Fittings are subject to conformity requirements in their own right, even though they may ultimately become part of a finished appliance.
Essential Requirements
Appliances and fittings must satisfy the applicable essential requirements established in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2016/426.
These requirements address both general design principles and gas-specific hazards associated with combustion, gas release, temperatures, materials, controls and operating conditions.
Safe Operation
Appliances must be designed and constructed to operate safely when normally used.
Gas Release
Construction must appropriately prevent dangerous accumulation or uncontrolled release of gaseous fuel.
Ignition
Ignition and re-ignition behaviour must not create unacceptable safety risks.
Combustion
Combustion characteristics must prevent unacceptable risks from incomplete or unstable combustion.
Temperatures
Surface, component and surrounding temperatures must remain appropriately controlled.
Materials
Materials must be suitable for their intended purpose and foreseeable operating conditions.
Controls
Safety, regulating and control devices must perform reliably under relevant operating conditions.
Energy
Where applicable, design must address hazards associated with auxiliary energy sources.
Installation & Maintenance
Safe installation, adjustment, servicing and maintenance must be appropriately considered.
Gas Types, Categories & Supply Pressures
Gas appliances are designed to operate with particular gaseous fuels and supply conditions. Those conditions are therefore fundamental to both product design and conformity assessment.
EU Member States communicate the types of gas and corresponding supply pressures used in their territories. Manufacturers must consider the intended destination market and ensure that the appliance configuration is suitable for the declared gas conditions.
Gas Family
The characteristics of the intended gaseous fuel influence combustion and appliance configuration.
Gas Category
Product classification can reflect the gases or gas families for which the appliance is designed.
Supply Pressure
Inlet pressure conditions influence burner performance, combustion and safety-device operation.
Destination Country
Market-specific gas conditions should be confirmed before determining the intended appliance configuration.
Combustion & Gas Safety
Safe combustion is central to gas-appliance conformity. A product must remain safe not only at nominal operation but also under the operating conditions and disturbances addressed by the applicable requirements and standards.
Ignition
Gas should ignite reliably without creating dangerous accumulation before ignition.
Flame Stability
Flames should remain stable within the relevant operating range and foreseeable conditions.
Combustion Products
Appliance design must appropriately control risks associated with harmful combustion products.
Flame Failure
Loss of flame must not lead to dangerous continued release of unburned gas.
Air Supply
Combustion-air requirements must be considered in relation to appliance construction and installation.
Flue Performance
Products connected to combustion-product evacuation systems must operate safely under the relevant conditions.
Materials, Components & Safety Devices
Gas-appliance safety depends heavily on the continued performance of materials and components exposed to heat, gas, combustion products, pressure, moisture, mechanical stresses and repeated operating cycles.
Gas-Carrying Components
Valves, pipes, seals and joints should maintain appropriate gas tightness and durability.
Burners
Burner geometry and construction directly influence ignition, flame stability and combustion quality.
Safety Devices
Flame supervision, limit controls and other protective devices must perform reliably when required.
Heat-Exposed Materials
Components should retain necessary properties under foreseeable thermal conditions.
Electronic Controls
Electronic control systems can form part of safety-related functions and require appropriate evaluation.
Replacement Components
Component changes should be assessed for their potential effect on the certified product design.
Harmonised Standards Under the GAR
Harmonised European standards provide technical specifications and test methods that manufacturers can use to support conformity with the essential requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/426.
Where the reference of a harmonised standard has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, compliance with the relevant provisions can provide presumption of conformity with the essential requirements covered by that standard.
Boilers & Heating Appliances
Product-specific standards address construction, combustion, controls and performance requirements.
Cooking Appliances
Dedicated standards address domestic and commercial gas cooking equipment and associated safety characteristics.
Water Heaters
Standards address gas-fired water-heating products and relevant combustion and operating characteristics.
Burners
Forced-draught burners and related equipment can be subject to specialised technical standards.
Controls & Fittings
Safety and control devices can have dedicated standards relevant to their design and intended function.
Specialised Appliances
Outdoor, catering, heating and other specialised gas products can require specific standards.
Gas Appliance Testing & Evaluation
Testing should demonstrate that the appliance or fitting satisfies the applicable safety and performance requirements for the intended gases, pressures, installation conditions and operating modes.
Gas Tightness
Gas-carrying circuits, joints and components can require leakage and tightness verification.
Ignition
Ignition and re-ignition behaviour can require assessment under specified conditions.
Flame Stability
Lifting, flashback, extinction and other flame characteristics may require evaluation.
Combustion
Combustion quality and relevant combustion-product concentrations can require measurement.
Temperature
Appliance surfaces, controls, components and surrounding areas can be subject to temperature limits.
Safety Controls
Flame supervision, thermostats, pressure controls and other safety devices can require functional verification.
Pressure Conditions
Performance can require assessment across relevant inlet gas pressure conditions.
Electrical Safety
Appliances using electrical components may also require assessment of applicable electrical hazards.
Durability
Components and protective functions may require endurance or repeated-operation evaluation.
Selecting the Correct GAR Conformity Route
Before an appliance or fitting is placed on the market, the manufacturer must complete one of the conformity assessment procedures established by the Regulation.
| Production Situation | Conformity Route | Principle |
|---|---|---|
| Series production | Module B + Module C2 | EU-type examination followed by internal production control plus supervised product checks at random intervals. |
| Series production | Module B + Module D | EU-type examination followed by quality assurance of the production process. |
| Series production | Module B + Module E | EU-type examination followed by product quality assurance. |
| Series production | Module B + Module F | EU-type examination followed by conformity to type based on product verification. |
| Single unit / small quantities | Module G | Conformity based on unit verification may be selected as an alternative route. |
Confirm Scope
Determine whether the product is an appliance or fitting under GAR.
Define Markets
Identify gases, pressures and destination conditions.
Assess Requirements
Map applicable Annex I essential requirements.
Select Standards
Identify applicable harmonised technical standards.
Test
Complete required safety and performance evaluation.
Type Assess
Complete EU-type examination where applicable.
Control Production
Apply the selected production conformity module.
Declare & Mark
Complete the EU Declaration and CE marking requirements.
The Role of the Notified Body
Notified Bodies perform the third-party conformity assessment activities required by the applicable GAR modules.
For series-manufactured appliances and fittings, EU-type examination under Module B establishes whether the technical design of the product meets the applicable requirements of the Regulation.
Technical Review
The Notified Body evaluates the technical design and supporting conformity evidence.
Type Examination
Representative product samples and technical evidence are assessed against applicable requirements.
Certification
Where conformity is demonstrated, the applicable EU-type examination documentation is issued.
Production Conformity
Depending on the selected module, the Notified Body can perform product checks, quality-system assessment or product verification.
GAR Technical Documentation
Technical documentation must provide sufficient evidence to assess the appliance or fitting against the applicable requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/426.
Instructions, Declaration & CE Marking
Completing technical assessment is only part of the market-access process. The appliance must also carry the required information and be accompanied by appropriate instructions and safety information.
Product Identification
Type, batch, serial or other identification should allow the product to be traced.
Manufacturer Information
Required manufacturer identification and contact information must accompany the product as applicable.
Gas Information
Relevant gas category, supply-pressure and destination information should be communicated as required.
Installation Instructions
Information necessary for correct installation, adjustment and safe commissioning should be provided.
User Instructions
Safe operation, maintenance, limitations and warnings should be clearly communicated.
EU Declaration
The manufacturer draws up the EU Declaration of Conformity after completing the applicable conformity assessment.
The CE marking is applied after conformity has been demonstrated. Where required by the applicable conformity assessment procedure, the identification number of the Notified Body involved in the production-control phase accompanies the CE marking.
Common GAR Compliance Failures
| Common Issue | Why It Creates Risk |
|---|---|
| Incorrect product scope | A product may be incorrectly treated as outside the GAR or a fitting may be treated as an ordinary component. |
| Wrong gas configuration | The certified gas category or supply pressure may not correspond with the destination market. |
| Module B treated as complete certification | Series production also requires an applicable production conformity module. |
| Uncontrolled burner or injector changes | Combustion behaviour and gas input can differ from the certified configuration. |
| Safety-device substitution | Replacement valves, controls or sensors may alter protective performance. |
| Incorrect harmonised-standard assumption | A standard may exist without its reference currently providing presumption of conformity under the GAR. |
| Incomplete combustion assessment | Appliance safety may not be demonstrated across relevant gas and operating conditions. |
| Insufficient technical documentation | The manufacturer may be unable to demonstrate how the certified design satisfies Annex I. |
| Production differs from certified type | Marketed appliances may no longer correspond with the product evaluated during EU-type examination. |
| Incorrect CE / Notified Body marking | Product marking may not correctly represent the applicable conformity assessment procedure. |
From Gas Appliance Design to Demonstrable EU Conformity
Successful GAR compliance begins by defining the appliance or fitting, intended function, destination markets, gases, supply pressures and operating conditions before the conformity assessment programme is established.
The manufacturer can then identify the applicable essential requirements, determine the relevant harmonised standards, establish the test programme and select the appropriate conformity assessment route with a suitably notified conformity assessment body.
For series-manufactured products, conformity does not end with EU-type examination. The manufactured product must continue to correspond with the certified type through the applicable production conformity procedure.
The Safety Question
Does the appliance operate safely with its intended gases, pressures, installation conditions and foreseeable operating situations without creating unacceptable gas, combustion or thermal hazards?
The Conformity Question
Can the manufacturer demonstrate that the appliances or fittings placed on the market remain technically consistent with the design evaluated under the applicable GAR conformity assessment procedure?