Second-hand gas cookers

These guidance notes are designed to answer some of the questions you may have with regard to the law relating to the sale of second-hand gas cookers. It is not an authoritative statement of the law.

What legislation covers the sale of second hand gas cookers?

Since 1 March 1989 the safety of second-hand gas cookers has been controlled by the Gas Cooking Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1989. These Regulations outline a number of safety requirements regarding the condition and operation of second-hand gas cookers.

What does this mean in practical terms?

In practice, the Regulations require that such cookers should satisfy the following requirements:

Gas should not escape (including from the door of the oven)
The products of combustion should not escape in great quantities from the oven door
The burner should light promptly and across all flame ports
The flame from burners must be stable after a period of one minute
Carbon monoxide must not be given off in great quantities
Any cut-off device present must work correctly if the flame is accidentally extinguished
Where there is a shut down lid, any device fitted to shut the gas off automatically should work
Surface temperatures should not cause injury and any heat given off should not cause adjacent walls etc. to become fire hazards
Any glass used must be of such a type, thickness and size as to prevent injury due to it breaking
There should be no sharp edges
The cooker must not topple over when a load of 15kg is placed on an open oven door
Pan supports must not cause saucepans to tip over
It must not be possible for tap handles to be turned on accidentally

Am I required to give instructions for use with the cookers?

Yes. Information for the safe installation, maintenance and operation of the cooker must be provided. This information should be either:

On markings on the appliance, OR
In a document supplied with the appliance

The cooker must also have instructions relating to the following:

Which tap controls relate to which burner and the closed, open and reduced rates for each burner. This should be either on the facia or the tap handles
Where the cooker has a shut down lid but no automatic shut off when the lid is closed, there must be a warning under the lid stating that it is dangerous to close the lid without switching off the burners
The name of the manufacturer or importer. This must be indelibly marked on the cooker on a durable label
All of this information must be in English

Is there anything else I should bear in mind?

Labels stating compliance with BS 5386 Part 3, BS 5386 Part 4 or EN30, or the CE mark may have indicated they complied with safety legislation when they were first supplied but they do not guarantee that they will still comply when supplied as second-hand. Remember that wear and tear over a period of time can affect a cooker's performance.

What will happen if I supply a cooker which is unsafe?

If you supply such a cooker in the course of your business and it does not satisfy the requirements of the Regulations, you will be liable to prosecution by your local Trading Standards Service. Remember that the offence includes having the cooker in your possession for supply and exposing for supply.

What possible penalties could I face if I contravene the regulations?

You can be liable for a fine of up to £5000, a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months or both.

Can I install a second-hand gas cooker in a customer's home?

Only if you are competent to do so. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1984 require that only a competent person can install gas appliances.

Is there any other advice you can give me that will help me comply with the law?

Only supply a second-hand gas cooker with fitting included in the price. That fitting should be by a competent person, as mentioned above and they can check the cooker for any of the above safety defects.

Please note that this information is for guidance only and is not a full interpretation of the law which only a court of law can give.

This page was last updated on 15 December 2011