Owners of barbecues and gas appliances are advised NOT to use adaptors to connect gas cylinders with old Type 21 (POL) valves to appliances with new Type 27 (LCC27) connections.
A homeowner recently received several burns resulting from fire from a gas cylinder in Western Australia. The injured person was hospitalised for further treatment.
It is known that an adaptor was used to convert a Type 27 (LCC27) connection to a Type 21 (Prest-O-Lite) (POL) connection.
LPG barbecue cylinders have also caused significant safety incidents in the past.
LPG cylinder valves and connections
A transition to safer LPG cylinder valves and LPG appliance connections has been made to improve consumer safety in South Australia and around Australia:
- Safer LCC27 cylinder valves were introduced on 1 April 2021 and mandated from 21 October 2021
- Safer LCC27 appliance connectors were introduced on 1 April 2022
All barbecues and gas appliances made after 1 April 2022 must be sold with the new connections specifically designed for the new LCC27 valve on gas cylinders.
Connecting your appliances
The adaptors are connected between newer appliances and older gas cylinders. They connect new Type 27 (LCC27) appliance connections to older gas LPG cylinders with Type 21 (POL) cylinder valves.
| LPG supply valve type | Use to connect to | Appliance connection (hose) |
|---|---|---|
| New Type 27 LCC27 LPG valve | can be connected to | New Type 27 LCC27 appliance |
| New Type 27 LCC27 LPG valve | can be connected to | POL appliance |
| Type 21 POL valve | can be connected to | POL appliance |
| Type 21 POL valve | cannot be connected to | New Type 27 LCC27 appliance |
Why you should NOT use an adaptor
Adaptors that connect the new and safer LCC27 appliance connectors (hose fittings of barbecues and other LPG appliances made after 1 April 2022) with the old Type 21 (POL) gas cylinder valves can cause gas leaks.
The Type 21 (POL) LPG cylinder valve has a left-hand thread. The LCC27 appliance connection has a right-hand thread. This makes it extremely difficult to seal the two together – tightening the LCC27 appliance connections loosens the adaptor for the type 21 (POL) cylinder valve.
These adaptors override the improved safety features of the new LCC27 valves.
What you should do
Users of barbecues and gas appliances with the new LCC27 connections should:
- Stop using any gas appliance connected to adaptors on cylinders with Type 21 (POL) cylinder valves.
- Upgrade any old gas cylinder with a Type 21 (POL) valve to a gas cylinder with the newer LCC27 valve – DO NOT USE ADAPTORS.
- Make sure you know the correct procedures for connecting and operating gas cylinders.
More information
- Download a copy of this information: Office of the Technical Regulator: Warning on the use of LP Gas (LPG) cylinder adaptors (PDF, 301.3 KB)
- Find out more about the LCC27 valve and connection at SA.GOV.AU - LPG cylinders and fittings (www.sa.gov.au)
