LPG Gas Bottle Testing Adelaide

Are all Gas Bottle Cylinders the Same

Four LPG bottles are available for using Liquid Petroleum Gas in multiple sizes for cooking and heating.

• Steel
• Galvanised
• Stainless Steel
• Composite

Steel and Galvanised Bottles are commonly used in domestic cooking on BBQs and Caravan usage.

Stainless Steel Bottles are commonly found in marine boating environments where corrosion is an issue.

Composite Bottles are found in Motor Homes and Caravans where lightweight bottles are required.

Testing Requirements

Steel, Stainless Steel, and Galvanised Bottles, the test cycle is on a (10) ten yearly basis.

For composite Bottles, the test cycle is on a (5) five-yearly basis.
NB: It should be noted the Composite Bottles have a life cycle of (15) fifteen years from the date of manufacture.

Valve Replacements

The Valve is an important safety aspect of the LPG Bottle and must be replaced at the bottle’s test cycle interval.

• The first safety aspect is the Pressure Relief Valve (PRV), usually found built at the rear of the Cylinder Valve, depicted by a red plastic cap.
  The PRV is intended to operate when the LPG Bottle is subject to intense stress and the pressure builds to the point that the Bottle could face catastrophic failure and rupture.
• PRV will normally operate around 2.58MPa / 2585KPa / 375psi, releasing the Bottle’s gas traffic to the atmosphere, thus preventing the cylinder from rupturing.

Valve Upgrade Requirements Oct 2021

• The second safety feature introduced in 2021 was a new valve called Type LCC27 (Black Cap). This replaced the old style called Type 21 POL Valve (Green Cap).
• The safety aspect of the LCC27, it will not accidentally release LPG into the atmosphere if the Valve Tap is turned on.
• The LCC27 requires the POL connector or an LCC27 connector to be inserted before LPG is released.

If you would like to know more, you can click on this link.

LPG BBQ Cylinder Valve Upgrade 2021

How the LCC27 Valves Work

Safety Video – Checking for Gas Leaks

For any LPG BBQ gas bottle testing Adelaide services, call the team at Fire System Services today!

Gas Cylinder Classification Code

There have been several discussions on various online forums relating to the type of gas bottle required for use on caravans.

However, the comments shared in these forums perpetuate urban myths with no basis.

Specifically, it claims that you can only use gas bottles with specific Coating Classification Codes on a caravan and that using the wrong gas bottle could void your insurance.

There is no truth to either of these contentions.

Caravan Gas Bottle-Cylinder Requirements

In summary:

• No caravan-specific standards, including types of coatings, apply to the gas bottles themselves.

• There are particular requirements on how and where you store the gas bottles in and on a caravan.

• The total number of gas bottles you can legally carry is subject to control and can vary based on state regulations.

• Gas bottle holders must withstand a 4g load.

The Australian Standard Explained

Just to explain, a bit of background is in order.

As with most urban myths, there is a bit of fact mixed in with misinformation.

The paint coatings for caravan-sized gas bottles are covered under AS2469-2005 in Section 11.

This Standard specifies manufacturing requirements for welded carbon and stainless steel cylinders with a water capacity of at least 0.1kg or more than 150kg.

The Standard does NOT reference any applicable restrictions.

There are four Coating Classification Codes in this manufacturing Standard.

The Classification Codes are stamped into the neck ring of the gas bottles.

The numbers 1, 2, 3, or 4 will appear within a 10mm circle, depending on the Classification Code.  The lower the number, the more durable the finish.

The Coating Classification Codes

Classification Code 1:

These are hot-dipped galvanised gas bottles.

This would be the most durable finish, but these bottles could cost 3X what an average caravan gas bottle would cost.

Classification Code 2:

These are abrasive blasted, then coated with a base coat and a zinc-rich top coat.

Classification Code 3:

These are sprayed with a single layer of zinc coating.

Classification Code 4:

These are sprayed with a primer and a polyester top coat.

This would be the minor durable finish.