Safety Valves Standards Overview
Safety valves are used for controlling overpressure and relieving fluid pressure to protect equipment and personnel from serious injury or damage. An important part of safety engineering, safety valves are regulated by standards and codes enforced by governments around the world. This article outlines the major global standards for design and manufacture of safety valves.
American Standards for Safety Valves
The major standard for safety valve design and manufacture in the United States is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard ASME B31.3. This standard is applicable to safety-related valves used in power plants, refineries, chemical plants, and other industrial facilities. It sets forth codes for the design, performance, testing, and maintenance of safety valves, and it operates within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The other major standard for safety valves in the U.S. is the American Petroleum Institute (API) 526 standard. This standard deals specifically with relief valves used in the petrochemical industry. It outlines requirements for the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of these valves to ensure their safe operation.
European Standards for Safety Valves
In Europe, safety valves are regulated by the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). This regulation is set forth by the European Commission and applies to all new safety valves used in the European Union. It sets forth requirements for design, manufacture, testing, and certification of safety valves to ensure their safety, security, efficiency, and reliability in operation.
The PED also sets forth specific requirements for testing and calibration of safety valves. This includes requirements for cycle testing, hydro-static testing, performance testing, and system testing to ensure that the valves operate properly under their intended conditions.
Chinese Standards for Safety Valves
In China, safety valves are regulated by the China National Standard GB/T 16433-1996. This standard is applicable to safety valves used in various industrial applications, including power plants, refineries, and chemical plants. It sets forth codes for the design, performance, testing, and maintenance of safety valves.
The Chinese standard also sets forth specific requirements for system testing to ensure that the valve performs properly under its intended conditions. It also outlines requirements for valve disc tightness, burst pressure, and other performance criteria, as well as requirements for testing for corrosion and cavitation.
In conclusion, the major global standards for safety valves are the ASME B31.3 (U.S.), API 526 (U.S.), the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED, Europe), and the China National Standard GB/T 16433-1996 (China). Each of these standards includes specific requirements for the design, performance, testing, and maintenance of safety valves to ensure their safety, security, efficiency, and reliability in operation.
