CE-mark for gas appliances: A laugh or a tear?

The title CE-mark is a quality mark for products, assigned by the European Community (EC). One and a half year ago the EC Gas Appliances Directive (GAD) came into force. According to the program 'Europe 1992' the European internal market should have been established by now. In this article the state of the art for gas appliances is given. Attention is paid to the systematics of European verification, the GAD contents, the consequences of a number of other Directives (for low-voltage materials, for electromagnetic compatibility, for efficiencies of central heating boilers, for machines, and for building products), which also affect the use of gas appliances, GASTEC's role as Notified Body, and experiences gained from European certification up to now. 6 ills., 3 tabs