Staying safe while using LPG gas (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) for your barbecue or portable gas appliance is crucial. That includes using LPG gas bottles that have the correct cylinder valve for your gas appliances. In recent years, there have been important changes to the types of cylinder valves and connections used on LPG gas bottles for barbecues and portable gas appliances in Australia.
This blog post highlights a critical safety warning: owners of barbecues and gas appliances should not use adaptors to connect cylinders with an old Type 21 (POL) valve to appliances with new Type 27 (LCC27) connections.
Here’s why adaptors pose a potential hazard:
Mismatched Threads
There are currently two main types of valves on LPG gas cylinders – Type 21 (POL) and Type 27 (LCC27). These valves have different thread directions:
- POL is an older type of cylinder valve with left-handed thread
- LCC27 cylinder valves are a newer type and have right-handed thread
Barbecues or portable gas appliances manufactured after 1 April 2022 will have the newer LCC27 connection on their gas hoses. Appliances manufactured before then will have the older POL connection.
LPG gas bottles with LCC27 valves will connect to barbecues and portable gas appliances that have both POL and LCC27 connections. However, LPG gas bottles with POL valves can only be connected to appliances with POL connections.
It’s important to check what kind of connection you have on your barbecue or portable LPG gas appliance before you buy or swap your LPG bottle.
It can be dangerous to use an adaptor on a POL cylinder valve to enable it to connect a gas appliance with an LCC27 connection.
This is because the two connections have different thread directions, so as you tighten one connection you can actually loosen the other connection, potentially leading to a gas leak and the risk of fire or injury.
Safety Features Bypassed
The LCC27 valve is designed with improved safety features and protection. It is compatible with barbecues and gas appliances that have both POL and LCC27 connections gas appliances since it has both an internal POL thread and an external LCC27 thread.
However, an LPG gas bottle with a POL valve is incompatible with barbecues or portable LPG gas appliances that have an LCC27 connection. If you have a gas appliance with an LCC27 connection, and your current LPG gas bottle has a POL cylinder valve, you should swap your gas bottle for one with an LCC27 cylinder valve.
The cylinder valves provide connection safety by ensuring there are no points where leakage could occur. Using adaptors overrides the safety seal and can compromise these safety measures, increasing the risk of accidents.
Understanding the Valve Types
POL Valves
These are an older style valves commonly found on older gas cylinders and appliances manufactured before 2022. POL gas cylinder valves use a left-hand thread with a smaller diameter than the new type of gas valves.
LCC27 Valves
Introduced for improved safety features, these valves are now mandatory on all barbecues and gas appliances manufactured since April 2022. The LCC27 gas valve has a right-hand thread and a larger diameter than a POL valve.
The good news is that the LCC27 gas valve is backward compatible, meaning it can connect to both POL and LCC27 gas appliance connections.
Choosing the Right Combination:
- LPG Gas Appliance Age: Barbecues and portable LPG gas appliances manufactured before April 2022 will most likely have a POL connection and can be connected to an LPG gas bottle with either a POL or LCC27 valve. Newer LPG appliances with an LCC27 connection cannot be connected to an LPG gas bottle with a POL valve. Do not use adaptors to connect them.
- LPG Gas Bottle Valve: LPG gas bottles come with either POL or LCC27 valves. If you have a gas bottle with an LCC27 valve it can be used with appliances that have both POL and LCC27 connections. However, LCC27 gas appliances are a new type and cannot be used with a POL gas cylinder.
Here’s what you should do to ensure safe use of your LPG barbecue or portable gas appliance:
- Don’t use adaptors to connect POL gas bottle valves to LPG gas appliances with LCC27 connections
- If you have been using an adaptor, remove it and discard it. Swap your POL fitted LPG gas bottle for one with an LCC27 cylinder valve.
- When you are ready to get a new LPG gas bottle, be sure to check the connection type on your barbecue or portable gas appliance so that you can select the right bottle for your appliance.
- If your LPG gas appliance was manufactured after April 2022, it will have an LCC27 connection and you must only connect it to an LPG gas bottle with an LCC27 valve.
- Barbecues and portable gas appliances manufactured before April 2022 will most likely have a POL connection, and can be connected to an LPG gas bottle with either a POL or LCC27 cylinder valve.
- Do not attempt to change or repair cylinder valves or appliance hoses and regulators if they show signs of wear, damage, or poor condition. Consult a licensed gas fitter to upgrade to an LCC27-compatible valve assembly.
By following these simple steps and avoiding the use of an adaptor, you can significantly reduce the risk of gas leaks and accidents while enjoying the convenience of your LPG gas barbecue or portable gas appliance. Safety should always be your top priority when dealing with LPG gas.
More Safety Information
Refer to the following for more safety information and guidance:
Safety Warning for Use of LPG Adaptors
Summer safety warning for the use of LP gas adaptors (WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety)
LPG Cylinder Connection Guidance information
Transitional requirements for the implementation of the new LCC27 LPG cylinder connection (Gas Technical Regulators Committee)
LP gas cylinder adaptors on converting old POL to LCC27, banned in Western Australia (WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety)
Australian Standards
AS/NZS1596:2014 The storage and handling of LP Gas (Standards Australia)