When selecting appliances make sure they are made to an appropriate Australian Standard (certified by a Technical Regulator approved certification body), and are designed to run on natural gas. Appliances must be labelled to show certification.

If you buy a second-hand appliance, always check the ID plate to ensure it is a natural gas appliance, and have it serviced by a licensed gas fitter when it's installed.

Unflued gas heaters may be fixed with rigid pipe or plugged into bayonet fittings. The rigid pipe and bayonet fittings must be installed by a licensed gas fitter. If you have bayonet fittings, it is especially important to check that the heater will run on natural gas. Unflued gas heaters can only be used in certain room types and sizes - check their suitability before buying. Ventilation is required in the room (10cm² per megajoule per hour at both high and low level). It is extremely dangerous to operate these heaters without adequate ventilation or in an under-sized room.

Upon request, the Office of the Technical Regulator can supply a safety bulletin on the correct selection and installation of unflued heaters.

Never connect an LPG appliance to a natural gas supply unless it has been converted to run on natural gas - not all LPG appliances can be converted to run on natural gas. Conversion of gas appliances from one fuel to another must be done by a licensed gas fitter or the appliance manufacturer. Check with the appliance manufacturer to see if an appliance can be converted to an alternate gas.