Changes are underway to introduce an alternate LPG cylinder valve into leisure-sized LP gas cylinders, including those installed on recreational vehicles.
The current Type 21/POL valve will be replaced by a Type 27 QCC valve on all LP gas cylinders with a capacity up to 25L (nominal 10kg). The new valves first appeared in the market back in April 2021 and became mandatory on new and retested gas cylinders from 1 October 2021.
There are corresponding changes to LPG appliance hose fittings that first appeared in the market from 1 October 2021 and became mandatory from 1 April 2022.
For some years, there has been a significant number of incidents occurring where gas leakage from LPG gas cylinders associated with outdoor appliances has caused fires, explosions, injury and some deaths. Investigations into the causes of reported incidents, arising from high levels of concern among Fire Authorities and State Coroners, have identified a distinct set of failures that could be prevented by the introduction of a cylinder valve with additional protective and fail-safe features. Cylinder valves with such features are readily available in overseas markets and have been shown to provide significant safety benefits.
The focus of this initiative has always been primarily on outdoor leisure appliances. It was acknowledged that the same problems are not evident in recreational vehicle installations and household plumbed appliances, which was attributed to the installation by licenced gasfitters that is required by the relevant gas legislation and Australian Standards for these installations. However, to implement an effective change throughout the gas industry, the new cylinder valve will need to be applied on all gas cylinders with a capacity up to 25L (nominal 10kg), affecting recreational vehicle cylinder installations.
When you next exchange your LP Gas cylinder, you may receive a cylinder with the new valve.
You won’t need to replace your BBQ or outdoor gas appliance, or your caravan pigtail connection, as the new valve, known as the LCC27, will safely and easily connect to the hose on your existing appliance.
Cylinders with the current valve – Type 21 (POL) – may continue to be used. These valves will be phased out over a ten-year period as each LPG cylinder is due for a retest or ten-year change over.
From 1 October 2021, BBQs and gas appliances with new hose fittings, designed especially for the new valve, will also be phased in. The maximum safety benefit of the new cylinder valves is achieved by connection to a matching LCC27 hose fitting, so upgrading your appliance hoses or caravan connections as soon as possible is encouraged.
The LCC27 valve is being introduced to improve safety and reduce the risk of fires and accidental gas leakage from LPG cylinders.
From 1 October 2021, BBQs (and other appliances) with new connections have been phased in.
And from 1 April 2022, the new connection will be mandatory on all new BBQs, patio heaters and other outdoor LPG appliances with a hose assembly manufactured after this date. Refer to the transition timeline below.
The new LCC27 hose connection (refer to the image below) has been designed specifically for the LCC27 valve and contains the thermal cut-out feature to stop gas from flowing if there is a fire.
The new appliance connection attaches to the new valve using the outside thread, rather than the inside. It is easier to attach due to the large plastic nut and is screwed on in a clockwise direction.
If you have a new BBQ or appliance with the new connection, you must not use an adaptor to connect to the old Type 21 or POL cylinder connection.
Adaptors are an additional leakage risk and the change from right hand thread on the appliance’s LCC27 connector to left hand thread on the POL cylinder valve means tightening on one side of the adapter risks on creating a new leak at the other end of the adaptor.
Your current BBQ (or other appliance) hose will connect to the new LCC27 valve.
The new LCC27 valve looks different to the current POL valve (refer to the image below). It has both an inside and outside thread, ensuring it is compatible with all existing BBQ and LPG appliance connections (including caravan pigtail hoses). You do not need to buy a new BBQ to use the new LPG valve.
To connect to your current LPG appliance, simply screw your existing hose end into the inside threaded opening of the valve in anti-clockwise direction, until a tight connection has been made.
If there are no leaks, turn on the gas flow by turning the valve handle (on top) in an anti-clockwise direction. Gas will stop flowing if you unscrew the hose, even if the handle has not been turned off. However, the cylinder valve handle must be closed before disconnecting the hose assembly for replacement or refilling.
Compatibility of the new cylinder valve with current caravan pigtail connections was considered vital to the transition process so that current Recreational Vehicle connections could continue to be used with the new valves. Given the large fleet of RVs carrying gas cylinders, and the legislative requirements that require modifications to the pigtail fittings to be completed by a licenced gasfitter, it was considered essential to have backwardly compatible fittings.
It is important to note, however, that the compatibility does not go the other way – new Type 27 hose connections cannot be used with old Type 21 POL cylinder valves. It is important that the implementation of new fittings is coordinated appropriately in this scenario, noting that the situation is easily resolved with a new or replacement LPG cylinder
It is also vital to note that the use of conversion fittings is prohibited in AS/NZS 5601.2. The use of such fittings would contravene Gas Legislation. Additionally, in practice, overseas experience has shown that the use of conversion fittings increased the occurrence of gas leaks and in some cases to levels that exceeded the original problems.
The LCC27 cylinder valve is backwards compatible, hence consumers do not need to purchase a new gas appliance or alter their caravan connection to continue operating. The Type 21 (POL) valve remains approved for service life, until a cylinder is due for retest and 10-year change over.
Maximum safety benefits are achieved through the use of matching LCC27 cylinder valves and hose connections.
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