If you've recently had gas work done — or you're about to — you've probably heard the terms Certificate of Compliance and Gas Safety Certificate used interchangeably. They're not the same thing. Understanding the difference matters for your insurance, your property sale, and your legal exposure. Here's what a PGDB-licensed gasfitter actually issues, and when.
What Is a Certificate of Compliance (CoC)?
- A new gas appliance is installed (hob, heater, fire, hot water system)
- Existing gas pipework is altered or extended
- A new gas connection is commissioned
- Gas infrastructure work is carried out as part of a building consent
What Is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
- Following a gas leak investigation where the fault was isolated and no new work was required
- As part of a pre-sale property inspection
- When a property manager or landlord requires documented evidence of gas safety for tenant records
- After a Vector or Bluecurrent meter event where the pipework is confirmed sound
What Happens If Gas Work Is Done Without Certification?
- Insurance: If a gas-related claim is made and an insurer discovers the work was carried out without a CoC, the claim can be declined in full. This applies whether the uncertified work was the direct cause of the incident or not.
- Property sales: Solicitors and conveyancers are increasingly requesting CoC documentation as part of due diligence. Uncertified work can delay or derail a settlement.
- Landlord liability: WorkSafe NZ and Tenancy Services both place obligations on landlords to maintain gas appliances in safe condition. Uncertified or uninspected work creates a documented liability gap.
What the Paperwork Doesn't Tell You
The following reflects our professional opinion based on 17 years servicing gas systems across Auckland — not a regulatory requirement.
A CoC or GSC certifies that a gas system was safe on the day it was issued. It says nothing about the condition of that system two, five, or ten years later. Gas appliances degrade. Seals deteriorate. Connections loosen. A certificate issued on an installation that hasn't been serviced since is worth considerably less than it was on the day it was signed.
The right service interval depends entirely on the appliance and how it's used. A commercial continuous flow unit running 24/7 warrants annual attention. A sealed central heating unit operating three to six months a year may run reliably for two years between services. Context is everything.
What we do know — from 17 years in the field — is that most residential gas appliances in New Zealand will never be serviced in their operational lifespan. The CoC gets issued. The appliance runs. Nothing happens until something goes wrong.
That's the gap between a document and a maintained standard.
If you need a CoC, GSC, or gas appliance service across West Auckland, North Shore, or Central Auckland, New Era's PGDB-licensed team handles residential gas certification and servicing. For commercial assets, visit our Commercial Gas page.
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