Portable food steamer gas safety
Gas-fuelled portable food steamers are used throughout the restaurant industry. For public safety reasons, business operators must ensure they do not use or purchase non-compliant steamers (including online purchases) or use other means that do not meet Australian Safety Standards.
If you are using a portable steamer that is not certified, your safety and that of the public is at risk—stop using it immediately (until it can be certified) and source alternative steamers that comply with Queensland regulations for approved devices .
A certified gas-fuelled steamer trolley should carry an approval mark from a certifying authority.
Certifying a device
For second-hand or custom-built devices, the Queensland Gas Association (QGA) is currently the only body approved to certify a device.
The QGA can inspect your device on-site or at the workshop of a designated QGA certifier. The QGA is a separate commercial entity so there will be a cost to have a device certified.
To request a quote or have your device certified, contact the QGA on 1300 792 239.
Refunds on non-compliant devices
If you have purchased a device that is not certified:
- contact the supplier you purchased the device from and ask for a refund
- provide the details of the seller to the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate—we will investigate the safety-related issues of the matter and advise you on compliance requirements
- contact the Office of Fair Trading and lodge a complaint as to the device not being fit for purpose.
The safety of gas devices in administered under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004. We can assist with issues covered by this legislation. If you wish to pursue a supplier for commercial loss resulting from a faulty product you can deal with these matters under fair trading legislation.
Public safety implications
Inspectors at the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy first identified a public safety risk associated with portable steamer trolleys following a serious incident where a hose connecting a portable steamer to its gas cylinder melted, causing a small fire at a Gold Coast restaurant in mid-2016.
Since this incident, the department’s Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate has conducted regular inspections in this area to keep the community safe. Safety Alert 75 promotes the safety message to a wider audience.
Our inspectors are proactively communicating this safety message and ensuring users are forewarned to reduce the risk of further incidents. Consumers can take action to check they meet compliance standards for these portable cooking devices.
A key risk identified with uncertified or faulty gas devices is they have not passed the correct Australian approval process and are not approved for use in Australia. The devices appear to have been manufactured by people ignorant to the safety implications. If you use or sell these products, you could face a fine or be prosecuted for breach of state and national regulations.