New block auto-rotates on "BlockReplace"

[MikeSavageF1]

So I have a new block in the game, when it is triggered via gameevents.xml AND it isn't facing the default rotation it will automatically rotate to face the default position rather than preserving it's existing rotation, I have the below:

<action class="BlockReplace">
<property name="min_offset" value="0,0,0" />
<property name="max_offset" value="0,0,0" />
<property name="block_to" value="chestEmpty" />
<property name="allow_terrain" value="false" />
<property name="phase" value="0" />
</action>

The block it exists as before this action is called, is identical just that a small part shows it as closed, rather than open. So a minor cosmetic difference when the model was created. This action is called upon activating the another block, which is just the "closed" version of this one.

Is it possible to maintain the rotation at all? I've looked through all instances of the BlockReplace action and can't find anything in the XMLs