What gas certificate of compliance paperwork should you get in NZ?

What is a gas certificate of compliance?

A certificate of compliance is a statement of the safety status of gasfitting work: it identifies the work done and who is responsible for it. WorkSafe describes it this way, and regulation 46 of the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 requires one for all general and high-risk gasfitting. No general or high-risk gasfitting is treated as complete until the CoC is issued.

For low-risk gasfitting, a CoC is optional. The regulations define low-risk work narrowly. It includes swapping a gas appliance for an equivalent one when pipework, flues, pressure, gas type, ventilation and operation do not change, and routine maintenance of fittings and appliances. New pipework, a new appliance in a new spot or a change to the system is not low-risk.

What is a gas safety certificate, and how is it different?

A gas safety certificate covers the installation as a whole, while a CoC covers the gasfitting work itself. Under regulation 52B, after gasfitting is completed, the person who connects the installation must issue a gas safety certificate if they are satisfied it is safe to use and that the work has not harmed any other part of the system.

The gas safety certificate must say whether it covers the whole installation or only part of it, give its location and the connection date, and carry the signer's name and registration number or the employer's licence number. It also counts as the certificate under section 19(1)(e) of the Building Act 2004 confirming the gasfitting complies with the building code, which matters if the work is part of a consented build.

If the person cannot be satisfied the installation is safe, regulation 52C says they must disconnect it straight away. So a gasfitter who refuses to sign and turns the gas off is following the law, not being difficult.

Who can issue the certificates?

In most cases only a person who did the work, or supervised the person who did it, and who is authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board to certify that kind of work can issue a CoC. Regulation 49 sets this out, with narrow exceptions for employer licences, large industrial sites and gas operators.

Certifying is a separate step up from simply holding a gasfitting licence. The PGDB register lets you search by class of registration, including certifier, so you can confirm that the person signing your paperwork holds the right class.

When do you get the paperwork, and how long is it kept?

You should get a copy of the CoC once the work is done, and a copy of the gas safety certificate within 20 working days of it being issued. The rules work like this.

1. Before connecting gas to an installation that has had work done, the person connecting must issue or sight a CoC issued no more than 6 months earlier, under regulation 51. 2. The gas safety certificate must be issued as soon as practicable after connection and no later than 20 working days after. 3. The person responsible must give a copy of the CoC to whoever contracted the work, or to the owner or occupier if that person is not available. 4. The issuer must give a copy of the gas safety certificate to the same person within 20 working days. 5. Both documents must be kept by the issuer for at least 7 years, and you can ask for a copy at any time.

WorkSafe's consumer page says 20 days for the gas safety certificate, but the regulation says 20 working days, and the regulation is the rule. A change that took effect on 15 January 2026 added that, for a non consented small stand alone dwelling such as a granny flat, copies must also go to the owner of the dwelling.

What happens with high-risk gas work?

High-risk gasfitting needs a CoC like general work, and its details must also be lodged on WorkSafe's Electricity and Gas High-risk Database. Regulation 52H says the person who issued the CoC must do this within 20 working days. WorkSafe notes that certain details of the work, but not your personal details, are publicly accessible.

The regulations list what makes work high-risk. Examples include work in a building of more than 3 storeys with 3 or more separate homes, work on an installation with pressure raising equipment, work within 20 metres of a hazardous area, work that does not follow the standard compliance sections of AS/NZS 5601, and work in a caravan or boat that people sleep in. Larger apartment buildings that meet the storey and dwelling test fall into this group, so property managers should expect the database step.

When does the gas supplier need to see a certificate?

A CoC is needed before gas is connected to an installation that has had general or high-risk work. Regulation 51 requires the person connecting to be satisfied it is safe, that testing is done, and to issue or sight a CoC dated within the previous 6 months.

If an installation has been disconnected for more than 6 months and no general or high-risk work has been done, regulation 52A requires a certificate under NZS 5255 confirming it is suitable for continued use before supply is restored. This often comes up when a rental or commercial unit has been empty for a while. Ask your gas retailer what they need before you book the reconnection.

How to check your gasfitter on the PGDB register

Search the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board public register before the work starts. The board's advice is to ask to see the tradesperson's New Zealand practising licence, check its expiry date, and confirm it covers gasfitting rather than only plumbing or drainlaying. The licence can be shown on a phone app or as a card.

The register shows whether a person holds a current registration or licence, their class, any supervision links, and any disciplinary decisions. If the person doing your job is working under supervision, ask who their supervisor is and check that name too.

What to do if you smell gas

If you smell gas, do not use light switches, power points or any flames, and do not use your phone near the smell. Leave the building, and call your gasfitter or gas supplier from outside, well away from the area. Call 111 if anyone is at risk. If you can do it safely on the way out, WorkSafe advises turning off the gas at the meter or LPG cylinder and opening doors and windows.

Stately Plumbing's certified gasfitters install and repair gas hot water, cooktops, heating and pipework across Auckland, and find and fix gas leaks. When the job is done you get the certification paperwork the regulations require. Call 022 159 2013 to book or to ask what paperwork your job needs.