What is the LCC27 Fitting?
The LCC27 is a new gas cylinder connection, replacing the existing Type 21 (or POL) fitting on common 4-kilogram and 9-kilogram LPG gas cylinders for BBQs and leisure gas appliances. This new fitting has an impact on both the cylinder valve and gas hose fittings.
Why do we need it?
POL gas fittings have always posed a risk of gas leaks, where:
- A safe connection was entirely dependent on the user tightening the connection adequately,
- The thread was counterintuitive, in that it tightened in the opposite direction to most other threaded connections used in everyday life, and
- Gas could flow whenever the valve was opened, regardless of whether an appliance was attached.
All these things increased the risk of a poor connection, resulting in a gas leak.
Credit: Gasmate
What does the new fitting offer?
The LCC27 fitting increases safety, is much easier to use, and features:
- An integrated ‘check-valve’ that does not allow gas to flow when the valve is opened, unless an appliance is securely attached to the cylinder,
- A gas seal achieved at the connection point prior to the check-valve being opened by the fitting of the appliance, irrespective of how tightly the ‘nut’ has been fastened by the user,
- An intuitive and visible external right-handed ACME thread, far easier to connect and tighten with a large plastic ‘nut’, and
- A large plastic ‘nut’ designed to soften in the event of a fire at or near the cylinder. This allows the appliance fitting to eject, in turn triggering the check-valve to stop gas flow.
Which LPG cylinders have the new LCC27 fitting?
This change impacts the 9kg and 4-4.5kg cylinders that currently have a POL valve connection. Camping cylinders with upright 3/8 BSP fitting and large 45kg domestic cylinders are not impacted. This change is not applicable to Natural Gas or small disposable Butane canisters.
For more information on gas cylinder types and fittings, see here.
When will the change to LCC27 valves occur?
There has been a staged approach to this change, which negates the need to update everything straight away.
From April 1, 2021, gas cylinder suppliers began fitting the LCC27 valve to new LPG cylinders – but by October 1, 2021, it became mandatory. New LPG cylinders with the POL valve could no longer be sold, but cylinders that were in circulation could retain the POL fitting until their re-test date was reached. At this point, as part of the re-test process, they are required to have the LCC27 valve fitted.
It was also as of October 1, 2021, that manufacturers could start fitting the LCC27 fitting to new gas appliances and hoses at the time of manufacture; this became mandatory by April 1, 2022. New appliances in circulation with the POL fitting could and still can be sold, compatible with cylinders fitted with the LCC27 valve.
What does it mean for POL appliances and hoses?
If you have an appliance and cylinder with POL fittings, you can continue to use it as normal until your cylinder reaches its 10-year testing date, at which point it will need to be fitted with a new LCC27 valve. The LCC27 valve is backwards-compatible, so you can continue to use the POL fitting on your appliance.
New appliances with the LCC27 fitting, however, will not connect to a cylinder with a POL valve. This is important to note if you utilise an exchange program for your cylinders, as there may be a mixture of valves available for swap until they have all surpassed their 10-year re-testing requirements.
Credit: Gasmate
There is likely to be a mixture of LCC27 and POL valves available at cylinder exchange services for years to come – so if you have an appliance with the new LCC27 fitting, make sure you swap your cylinder for one with the LCC27 valve.
If your POL fitting is the type with a rubber ‘nose’ on the end, check to ensure it doesn’t get left behind in the LCC27 valve when the hose is removed. This can jam the valve and render your POL hose fitting useless the next time you wish to use it.
Theoretically, flexible gas hoses should be replaced every 10 years, before they start to crack and leak. If yours is older than this, it’s a good time to switch over to the new LCC27 fitting.
Can adaptors be used with the LCC27 valve?
Any adapter added into the system is a potential leakage point, so it’s recommended to avoid the use of them where possible. Further to this, for gas installations in caravans, campers, and motorhomes covered by the standard AS/NZS 5601, adaptors are specifically prohibited.
Portable recreational appliances that are attached directly to a cylinder, i.e. camp stoves and BBQs, are not covered by this standard, but the use of adaptors is still a bit of a grey area.
It is commonly stated that adaptors must not be used to connect an appliance with a new LCC27 connection to a cylinder with a POL valve. The primary concern here is that the change of thread direction on the LCC27 valve means that tightening one side of the adaptor could potentially result in the loosening of the other side.
An adaptor will work to connect a small appliance with a 3/8 BSP fitting to the new LCC27 valve via a POL – 3/8 LH BSP adaptor… but consider that once you have attached the adaptor to the LCC27 valve, you have opened the check valve and gas will flow anytime the valve is opened. For this reason, it’s recommended to remove the adaptor for transport.
On the flip side, you could also connect a large appliance with an LCC27 hose to a small camping cylinder via a 3/8 LH BSP – POL adaptor, if one becomes available – but it’s not recommended. Firstly, it introduces another potential leak point, and secondly, a small cylinder may struggle to supply enough gas on account of something called ‘gas evaporation rate limitation’. There’s a little more information on that in this article [https://www.snowys.com.au/blog/understanding-gas-for-camping-caravan-appliances/].
Replacement Hoses for LCC27 Valve
Replacement hoses are and will be available; they fall within the same timeframes mentioned above regarding the introduction of the LCC27 fitting on appliances.
Gas Cylinder Re-fills with the LCC27 Gas Valve
There is no change here, apart from the fitting used by gas re-fillers in the decanting process. Gas cylinders with the POL valve that are still in date can be refilled.
Caravans and the LCC27 Gas Valve
Caravans manufactured after April 1, 2022, are required to have the LCC27 fitting. Older caravans should, in theory, have their flexible hoses replaced every 10 years – so the next time you take your caravan to a service centre, it’s worth having the hoses and fittings changed over at the same time. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to change your gas cylinders when you do this… so maybe make sure they are as good as empty first.
More Information
Gas Energy Australia is the national peak body encompassing Australia’s leading gas providers, and is a good reference for rules and regulations on LPG gas. Further to this, most gas providers and state regulatory bodies provide information specific to your location.
There are many good reasons for switching your gas appliances over to the LCC27 fitting, but safety and ease of use are the most significant. Next time you need to re-fill your cylinder, or replace a gas fitting on your leisure gas appliance, consider changing your entire system over to the LCC27 gas fitting.
We’ve discussed gas cooking at the campsite in more detail on the Snowys Camping Show:
A very big thank you to Ben Greeneklee who, with over 20 years of experience in gas appliance manufacturing and testing, assisted with the technical accuracy of the information in this article.
Have you switched to the new gas fitting?
Trekker, surfer, climber, mountain biker, runner, camper. Participator in most things… master of none.
Sounds like a Microsoft move to me. Changing something that already works and was designed that way for a reason.
Just another way to make people spend more money to update their gear. Most of the fittings are probably made of inferior Chinese material as opposed to the old stuff. As far as leak testing goes, “Common sense people.”
They have implemented good safety mechanisms, likely based on those that aren’t careful enough, The new connection almost makes is fool-proofly safe. ~ Ben
Hi. New to the LCC27 v POL scene. I am about to purchase a new BBQ with the LCC27 connector, yet I can’t find any information on whether gas bottle exchange points supply full LCC27 bottles. Please help
There will be a mix of both bottles available until all the POL bottles are phased out, just make sure you are exchanging your empty bottle for a full one with the LCC27 valve.
I just bought a new 4KG bottle which appears to only have the internal thread connection, however it does say it has the LCC27 shutoff valve fitted.
Is this legal?
I haven’t heard of this, as far as I am aware the LCC27 consists of the entire valve, not just an internal modification. I would question the validity of that claim.
I have a POL safety cut out pressure gauge that also shows the amount of gas left in the cyinder. Is there a connection to the LCC27 available? If not it is a $40 unit headed to the dustbin!
With the new connectors is there any gauge available to show the amount of gas left?
Hey Ben, Great info, thanks. I have an RV with the POL system which has a 1/4″ BSP fitting on the end of the hose that srews into the regulator. I see the LC 227 leads all have a regulator on them at the attachment point. Do I need to by-pass my existing regulator or have them both inline and will this affect the working pressures of my stove and hot water heater etc. Again, thats for the info. Cheers KENNY
I purchased a gas mate regulator and hose from Bunnings for an outside gas heater only to find the fittings have changed. What do I need to make it work. Is there an adaptor I can buy? Thanks Nancy
Hi Nancy. I assume you have bought a regulator and hose with the new LCC27 fittings, whereas your gas bottle sports the older POL valve. If your gas bottle is almost empty it might be best to grab a new bottle with the new LCC27 valve. There are adaptors available online to go from POL to LCC27, we don’t stock any as it’s a bit of a grey area around whether you should use these. Technically it’s best to keep adaptors out of your system, and any gas system associated with a camper or caravan is covered by a standard that prohibits the use of adaptors. ~ Ben
Thank you for this article, I didn’t know anything about this until I went to Bunnings today to get a new regulator and hose. As usual, the person in that area knew nothing either, so this article gave me all the info i needed.
Thanks for the feedback, Steve – we’re glad we could help!
The following assumption is completely wrong:
“The primary concern here is that the change of thread direction on the LCC27 valve means that tightening one side of the adaptor could potentially result in the loosening of the other side.”
If you have the male end of the POL adaptor in an old POL cylinder valve and the LCC27 appliance fitted to the free end, turning the adaptor anticlockwise will TIGHTEN the adaptor to the cylinder and also TIGHTEN the LCC27.
That is exactly how turnbuckles work
My comment relates more to the 3/8 BSP fittings which have LH threads, so going from POL RH to BSP LH could cause issues with one side loosening. Team this up with the design not being the same as turnbuckles i.e. with the central tightening mechanism, means users need to be conscious of checking both sides of the adapter are tight.
I think I’m right here, I went out to our repairs area to see if they had any adaptors for me to test but they don’t have any right now.
Brian,
You’ve completely missed the point here.
What the article says is absolutely correct, in that if you have a (POL to LC227) adapter fitted tightly to an old POL cylinder, then attempt to connect and tighten (clockwise) your LCC27 appliance into the LCC27 side of the adapter which is fitted to an old POL cylinder, it could *potentially* loosen (clockwise) the POL connection between the adapter and the old POL gas cylinder.
Your assumption would only be true in the silly instance that the cylinder and the appliance remain stationary and you tighten the entire setup by simply turning the adapter assembly between the cylinder and appliance anticlockwise (if looking at the cylinder from the appliance side) which is silly, so nobody does it, and wouldn’t work anyway because of the difference in thread length and pitch.
Cheers
the type 21 connection was left handed so dickheads didnt get em mixed up with other gases and were only used on fuel gas cylinders. this is especially important with industrial gases.
yes i can see the advantage of a plastic body fitting that would deform in case of fire and then be ejected. one problem those shutoff valves only work if the cylinder valve is open FULLY a partially opened valve wont it work properly.
many people only partially open the valve. actually it some thing that is taught in the manufacturing/fabrication industry only partially open the valve so its quick and easy to tell is it open or closed and quick to shut in a emergency.
and what bout the body deforming in our hot climates this could create a leak situation.
in some ways it creates as many problems as it solves.
and the new fitting will have the same problems with deteriorating seals being the reason of many leaks as always has been a issue.
Got a Adria caravan 2017 with the old type bayonet fitting. How does a LCC27 fit this so I don’t need to keep taking the gas bottle out of the bunker
You can’t make an LCC27 fitting attach to a bayonet unfortunately, Ian.
I’m making some assumptions about your system here, but LCC27 fittings usually feature a regulator so it won’t work to then connect this to the already regulated gas supply in your caravan. Further to this any stove connected to a caravan gas supply is also required to have a thermocouple safety device fitted, given many applianced with the LCC27/POL fitting don;t have one of these, it is technically illegal to make this connection.
You will either need a bayonet hose straight from your hose to the bayonet fitting, provided your stove has a thermocouple, or utilise a separate gas cylinder for your stove.
Hope that makes sense.
Thanks for informative article on the new gas fitting LCC27. I just have one query which I’m sure many others will have also and was wondering if you would be happy to contact Ben Greeneklee to get his opinion.
The old POL fitting enabled the valve to be turned on for a second, to blow out any dust or grit so that there was no risk of dirt getting into the appliance when fitted. This new LCC27 doesn’t enable that procedure, so there is a high risk of the gas flow being blocked or restricted when dirt is carried into the appliance. I have noticed that cylinders with the new fitting do not have any protective plastic protection, so road grime will definitely find its way into the fitting.
In the meantime I’m planning to cover it with a plastic bag and then brushing out any grime prior to screwing in the connector.
Thank you for any recommendations you can provide.
Hugh Barbour
hughsbarbour@gmail.com
Good question, Hugh, there probably isn’t any need for ben Greeneklee’s input here, it likely just needs some common sense applied as you have already done. Alternatively, the LCC27 fitting still has the same Type 21/POL internal thread, so a regular internal POL cap should still work on the LCC27 cylinders. ~ Ben
Shellite etc stove will work in freezing conditions while gas is very reluctant. Just don’t put the tank directly on the snow/ice.
I have about 5 liquid fuel stoves! They’re great.
I have connected my barbecue POL fitting to the new LCC27 fitted bottle and am somewhat alarmed on how loose the connection is.
Although tight the hose connection wobbles around. Being a Trade person it concerns me, that the internal thread on the new LCC27 is a not the same thread specifications ie type, 21 of the Australian standards 2473–2 but I have been informed by the manufacturer that this is normal.
I haven’t actually attached an old hose to the new fitting to be honest, the internal Type 21 fitting should by all accounts be the same thread specification. I guess the primary concern is whether or not there is any gas leakage so a check with soapy water is important. If it is leaking and you have done it up tight, then I would imagine there is a problem. ~ Ben