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Caravan and marine gas fitting is the licensed work of installing, altering, repairing and certifying the LPG system in a caravan, campervan, motorhome or boat. In Queensland it has its own rules, its own standard, and a compliance record you should always walk away with. It is not the same as gas work in a house, and it is not a job for a handyman.
If you are buying a used van, importing a rig from interstate or overseas, fitting a new cooktop or gas hot water unit, or getting a boat galley ready for the season, here is who can legally do the work across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan and Ipswich, what paperwork you need, and how the cost is worked out.
What caravan and marine gas fitting covers
The gas system in a van or a boat is small, but it does a lot: cooktop, oven, gas hot water, a space heater, and often a bayonet for an outside burner. Caravan and marine gas fitting covers all of the fixed LPG work behind those appliances, including:
- Installing or replacing a cooktop, oven, gas hot water unit or heater
- Running, altering or relocating the gas lines and regulators
- Fitting or servicing the gas bottle mounts, changeover valves and hoses
- Leak testing and commissioning the system so it is safe to use
- Certifying the work and, for caravans, fitting the compliance plate
Boats are covered the same way for fixed gas used to cook, heat and heat water. It does not include anything that drives the boat, which is a separate area.
Who can legally do it in Queensland?
Only a licensed gas fitter can carry out and certify gas work on a caravan or boat in Queensland. Like all gas work in the state, it sits under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 and needs a dual licence:
- An RSHQ Gas Work Licence or authorisation (the occupational licence through Resources Safety and Health Queensland), and
- A QBCC gasfitting licence (the contractor licence from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission).
A licensed gas fitter is the only person who can install the appliances, leak test the system, fit a caravan compliance plate, and issue the gas system compliance certificate. Gas work done by an unlicensed person is not just risky, it carries penalties under the Act, and it can void your insurance if something goes wrong. Every gas fitter Call The Plumber Now sends holds the licences the law requires.
The standard: AS/NZS 5601.2
Fixed gas in a house is built to AS/NZS 5601.1. Caravans, campervans, motorhomes and boats have their own standard, AS/NZS 5601.2, which covers LP gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes. It sets out how the pipework, ventilation, appliance clearances and bottle storage have to be done in a moving, enclosed space, which is a tougher job than a fixed home.
That is the whole reason a general handyman or even a home-only installer is the wrong call for a van or boat. The rules are specific, and the certificate only means something when the work was built to the right standard and tested.
Compliance plates and certificates
Queensland changed its plate rules in July 2025. Most gas installations no longer need a physical compliance plate fixed to them. Caravans are the exception. A caravan still needs a gas compliance plate, and it stays the quickest way to see the history of the gas work and who did it.
Alongside the plate, the gas fitter gives you a gas system compliance certificate for the work, the same document you would get for gas work in a home. Together they are your proof that the system was installed and tested by a licensed person to AS/NZS 5601.2.
| You should get gas work certified when | What you receive |
|---|---|
| Buying a used caravan and you are not sure of its gas history | Inspection, and a certificate + plate if work is done |
| Importing a caravan, campervan or RV from interstate or overseas | A compliance certificate before it is used |
| Fitting or replacing any gas appliance in a van or boat | A compliance certificate for the new work, plate updated on caravans |
| Altering, extending or relocating the gas lines | A compliance certificate for the alteration |
Imported and used vans need extra care
An imported caravan, campervan or recreational vehicle must have a gas system compliance certificate issued by a current licensed gas fitter before you use the gas. Overseas builds are often made to a different standard, so the gas side has to be checked and brought up to the Queensland requirement rather than taken on trust.
The same caution applies to any used van. A cheap private sale can hide old hoses, a non-compliant bottle mount or a cooktop that was never certified. A gas check before your first trip is a small cost against the risk of a leak in an enclosed space.
Marine gas: boats and houseboats
Fixed LPG on a boat, a houseboat or a floating setup is covered by the same caravan and boat standard for non-propulsive gas, meaning the cooking, heating and hot water gas, not anything that moves the boat. A galley in a sealed cabin has to vent and drain correctly and keep the bottles stored safely, so the install detail matters even more than on land. A licensed gas fitter does the work, tests it and certifies it the same way.
What does caravan or marine gas fitting cost?
There is no fixed government price. The cost depends on the job, because it is tied to the gas work itself rather than being a set fee. A single cooktop swap is different to a full system on an imported van or a boat galley refit. The honest answer is to get a quote for your specific van or boat so you know the full cost up front. For how gas jobs sit alongside other plumbing work, see our guide to what a plumber costs in Brisbane.
Why a licensed local gas fitter matters
Gas in a small, enclosed space is where mistakes turn serious fastest. Only a licensed gas fitter can legally certify the work, and a local South East Queensland team can get to you across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan and Ipswich instead of leaving you waiting before a trip. If you ever smell gas, follow the safety steps in our guide on what to do in a plumbing emergency first. Using a licensed local gas fitter means the job is done to AS/NZS 5601.2, the certificate is valid, and you are covered if you ever sell, insure or take the van across a border.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licensed gas fitter for gas work on my caravan in QLD?
Yes. Only a licensed gas fitter holding a current RSHQ Gas Work Licence and a QBCC gasfitting licence can install, alter, test and certify gas work on a caravan or boat in Queensland. Unlicensed gas work carries penalties and can void your insurance.
Does a caravan still need a gas compliance plate?
Yes. Queensland removed the physical compliance plate for most gas installations in July 2025, but caravans are the exception and still need one. Your gas fitter also issues a gas system compliance certificate for the work.
What standard covers caravan and boat gas fitting?
AS/NZS 5601.2, the standard for LP gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes. It is separate from AS/NZS 5601.1, which covers fixed gas in homes and businesses.
I imported a caravan. Do I need a gas certificate before I use it?
Yes. An imported caravan, campervan or recreational vehicle must have a gas system compliance certificate issued by a current licensed gas fitter before the gas is used. Overseas builds are often to a different standard and need checking against the Queensland requirement.
How much does caravan or marine gas fitting cost?
There is no set government fee. Cost depends on the job, from a single appliance swap to a full system on an imported van or a boat galley. Get a quote for your specific van or boat so you know the full cost before the work starts.
Book a licensed SEQ caravan and marine gas fitter
If you need gas work done on a caravan, campervan, motorhome or boat, and a valid compliance certificate to go with it, use a licensed local team. Call The Plumber Now handles caravan and marine gas fitting across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan and Ipswich, and every job is done by a licensed gas fitter. Get a quote today, or read more about our caravan gas fitting and marine gas fitting services.
