The objective of the AS/NZS 5263 series of Standards is to provide manufacturers, designers, regulatory authorities, testing laboratories and similar organizations with uniform minimum requirements for the safety, performance and use of gas appliances.

An appliance-specific part (Part 1.X) of the AS/NZS 5263 series may supplement or modify the corresponding clauses of Part 0 (this document) to provide the relevant requirements for each type of appliance. The numbering of clauses in Part 1.X is consistent with the numbering in Part 0 for related requirements.

Thus, for example, the combination of AS/NZS 5263.1.1 and AS/NZS 5263.0 specifies the requirements for domestic gas cooking appliances.

This document is not to be regarded as a design specification or as an instruction manual. Consideration has been given to —

(a) continuity of satisfactory operation;
(b) the prevention of fire hazards and explosions;
(c) the prevention of injury to persons or property;
(d) gas rules and regulations now in force; and
(e) relevant International Standards.

AS/NZS 5263.0 contains minimum requirements for safety, performance and use common to many gas appliances. AS 3645 specifies which parts of the AS/NZS 5263 series are applicable to particular types of gas appliance.

The AS/NZS 5601 series of Standards provides essential requirements, performance-based requirements and means of conformance for gas installations. Any reference to AS/NZS 5601 in the AS/NZS 5263 series of Standards should be considered as reference to the appropriate part of the AS/NZS 5601 series of Standards (i.e. AS/NZS 5601.1 or AS/NZS 5601.2).

The major changes in this edition are as follows:

(i) There are additional definitions, design requirements and performance requirements for appliances incorporating gas/air ratio controls.
(ii) A new requirement for resistance to vibration, and an associated test method, have been added for application to appliances that are suitable for caravan installation.
(iii) Additional temperature hazards requirements and testing have been added for appliances fitted with air circulating fans.
(iv) The requirements and test method for sealing of room sealed appliances have been amended to clarify the requirement and to limit the test to those parts of the combustion circuit carrying flue gas and in contact with room air.
(v) The term “overload gas consumption” has been replaced with “excess gas consumption”, which is specified in Section 3.
(vi) The definition “turndown gas consumption” has been deleted and replaced with a requirement in Section 3.
(vii) Requirements previously written as part of the definitions for “normal test gas pressure” and “test gas” have been relocated to Section 3.
(viii) Updates to the terms and definitions clause, including several new terms.
(ix) The requirement for “Means for gas pressure measurement” has been expanded to cover higher test pressures.
(x) A requirement for the guarding of fan impellers has been added.
(xi) The requirement for provision of a gas pressure regulator has been amended.
(xii) The requirement for the design of the flue connection has been clarified.
(xiii) The design requirement for burners with granular media has been amended to disallow their use in portable and mobile appliances.
(xiv) The permissible classifications of gas hose assemblies have been specified.
(xv) The requirement for flame tracking on ignition of a burner has been expanded.
(xvi) The requirement for performance of multi-port pilots has been deleted.
(xvii) The performance requirement for flue spillage systems has been restructured to correct an error in the previous edition of the document.
(xviii) The performance requirement for flue cowls for open flued appliances has been deleted and replaced with a design requirement referencing AS 4566.
(xix) An additional “Danger” label has been defined for use on multi-energy appliances.
(xx) The drawing of the bubble leak detector in Figure A.1 has been updated to agree with AS 4627.
(xxi) In several test methods, the testing of appliances for installation in a masonry flue is to be carried out with a flue fitted.
(xxii) The test method for “Ignition at reduced supply pressure test” has been updated and clarified, particularly for application to intermittent and interrupted pilots.
(xxiii) The “downdraught, updraught and blocked flue” test method has been amended to clarify the sampling positions.
(xxiv) The test methods for testing of burner ignition and pilot ignition under limiting conditions have been revised to clarify the test procedures.
(xxv) The test method for the sooting test has been amended to clarify the repetition of the test.
(xxvi) The test methods for the oxygen depletion system and for operation under vitiating conditions have been amended to correct errors in the calculations of corrected readings.
(xxvii) Many changes to marking requirements have been made, including new markings for open flued appliances and for appliances that are suitable for boat or caravan installation, and their packaging.
(xxviii) A requirement has been added for a maintenance schedule to be included in the service instructions.

The terms “normative” and “informative” are used in Standards to define the application of the appendices to which they apply. A “normative” appendix is an integral part of a Standard, whereas an “informative” appendix is only for information and guidance.

Originated as AS 5263.0-2013. Jointly revised and redesignated as AS/NZS 5263.0:2017. Second edition 2023.