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Winter 2020
energysafe issue 58
AS/NZS 5601.1 and
AS/NZS 5601.2 drafts published
By Enzo Alfonsetti, Manager, Type A Gas Appliance and Component Safety
Type 27 LPG cylinder valve connection and revision of AS/NZS 5601.2.
Standards Australia recently published
two drafts relating to AS/NZS 5601.
A public comment draft amendment
4 for AS/NZS 5601.1 was published
on 14 April 2020 and a second public
comment draft for a revision of AS/NZS
5601.2 was published on the same day.
Both drafts include references to
the proposed new LPG cylinder valve
connection which will replace the current
Type 21 (POL) LPG cylinder valve on
leisure cylinders i.e. less than 10kg.
Some gasfitters may have seen a
previous article on the proposed new
LPG cylinder valve on page 10 of Issue
52 of energysafe.
At the time of writing Issue 52, the
valve was referred to as a Quick Connect
Coupling or Quick Closing Coupling
(QCC) valve, as commonly referred
to in the USA and New Zealand.
Since then, various Standards Australia
committees have been working towards
making the necessary changes to
Australian Standards to facilitate the
transition to the new valve.
These changes include amendments to:
» AS 2473.1 and AS 2473.2 ‘Valves for
compressed gas cylinders’ to include a
reference to a ‘Type 27 outlet connection’
» AS 4627 ‘Quick-connect devices for
gas’ to include a reference to a ‘Type
27 quick-connect device’, which would
form part of an appliance connection –
typically on the end of a hose assembly –
or form part of a gas installation such as
on the end of pigtails
» AS/NZS 5363.1.7 ‘Domestic outdoor
gas cooking appliances’, which will cover
the inlet connection to hose assemblies
on appliances such as BBQs
» AS/NZS 1596 ‘The storage and handling
of LP Gas’.
AS/NZS 5601.1 and AS/NZS 5601.2
propose that the connection to the new
valve will be referred to as a ‘Cylinder
quick-connect device’ or ‘Quick-connect
device (cylinder)’.
Main features of the new LPG
cylinder valve and matching
connection
» The cylinder valve incorporates a check
valve that will only enable gas to flow
when a gas tight connection is made.
» The connection is a large diameter right
handed thread that is able to be made
without the use of tools.
» All perishable rubber seals are located
within the body of the gas valve. Unlike
the Type 21 POL connection the new
appliance or pigtail connection does not
include rubber o-rings or bull-nose seals
which are often damaged or are missing.
» The connection incorporates a thermal
fuse that will melt when exposed to heat.
This allows the internal check valve to
close and shut off gas flow in the event
the connection is exposed to a fire.
» The new valve is compatible with
existing appliances that use the Type
21 connection, which will assist in the
transition process.
The transition to the new valve will occur
in line with the 10-year testing regime for
LPG leisure cylinders.
Right hand thread
Left hand thread
Back check valve
In addition to the references to the
new LPG cylinder valve connection, the
revision of AS/NZS 5601.2 also includes
the following proposed changes:
» Introduction of definitions for
‘controlled area’, ‘domestic caravan’,
‘encapsulated’, ‘ignition source’,
‘non-sparking by nature’, ‘quick-connect
device (cylinder)’ and ‘toughened safety
glass’.
» Prohibition of in-situ fill cylinders on
caravans
» Introduction of requirement for orientation
of cylinders on caravan drawbars to
allow for unobstructed relief of cylinder
pressure
» Introduction of a ‘controlled area’ for
clearances from LPG cylinders to
ignition sources on caravan drawbars
and clarification on the type of electrical
equipment that can be used within this
area.
» New requirement for safety shut-off
valves in LPG cylinder compartments
» New clearance height between cookers
and rangehoods for consistency with
clearance requirements in the Australian
standard for rangehoods
» Requirement for CO detectors to
conform with internationally recognised
standards where used in boats
» Additional requirements for thermal
protection of combustible surfaces
» New pipe sizing tables allowing for
more flow capacity
» Additional considerations for gas leakage
tests for appliances with interlocks
» New appendix on purging
» References to a cylinder quick-connect
device.
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