Originally published by the Australian Institute of Health & Safety
NT WorkSafe recently issued a safety alert for owners of LP gas appliances that use small portable LP gas cylinders not to use adaptors to connect their gas appliance to the gas cylinder.
The warning was issued following a serious incident in which a Perth homeowner received severe burns while using a barbecue.
Initial findings from the Western Australian investigation found that while the new gas appliance was fitted with the new LCC27 appliance connector, an adaptor used caused the safety valve to not operate.
Type 21 POL has been the standard cylinder connection used in small portable LP gas cylinders in Australia. The Australian Standards were changed on 1 October 2020 to phase out the type 21 POL cylinder connection and transition to the safer LCC27 cylinder connection.
The alert said there were a number of possible contributing factors to the incident:
- LCC27 appliance connectors are not compatible with type 21 POL cylinder connection.
- An adaptor was used to connect the barbecue’s LCC27 appliance connectors which caused the safety valve to not operate.
- The threads on a type 21 POL valve are left handed, while the threads on a LCC27 valve are right handed, which makes it difficult to seal them together.
o There is a risk that tightening the LCC27 appliance connector onto an adaptor may loosen the POL connection at the cylinder due to the opposing threads, which can cause a gas leak.
The alert subsequently recommended a number of required actions:
- Do not use adaptors to connect LCC27 appliance connectors to older type 21 POL cylinder connections and stop using any gas appliance fitted with an adaptor.
o Australian standard AS/NZS1596, which has been called up under the Northern Territory’s Dangerous Goods laws prohibits the use of adaptors in this manner. - If you use the Swap ‘n’ Go exchanges to refill LP gas cylinders, make sure the full bottle you receive is fitted with the LCC27 cylinder connection.
- If you own your portable LP gas cylinders, upgrade your cylinder to one with the new LCC27 cylinder connection which has the following safety features:
o The LCC27 cylinder connection has an internal safety release valve that will only open and allow gas to flow when an appliance connector has been connected.
o The rubber seal is located inside the cylinder connection and protected from exposure, so it is less likely to deteriorate.
o The LCC27 appliance connector has a thermal cut-off which will stop gas from flowing if there is a fire.
