Valve and its standards
Valves are used in many kinds of applications through the commercial, residential and industrial industries. Due to its high use there are many regulatory organizations and it provides standards. It provides standards to ensure proper compatibility, functionality and safety for users.
Major standards of valves from all over the world
The major valve standards includes API (American petroleum institute), ASME (American society of mechanical engineers), ASTM (American society for testing materials), and ANSI (American national standards institute and MSS (manufacturer’s standardization society) these all organization above mentioned are launched in United States headquarters. They have today international reach with their surrounding standards all over the world.
Valve standards
Engineers today design a valve for using the valve in the system or product. It is designed for the specific industrial application and it reviews the standard documents. Some of the industry specific valve standards are:
1. API valve standard
2. ASHRAE valve standard
3. ASME BPVC valve standard
4. ASSE valve standards
5. AWWA valve standards
6. ISA valve standards
7. NFPA valve standards
8. SAE valve standards
Valve codes
The valve codes used in the valve industry are ASME B31.1 for power, ASME B31.3 for process, ASME B31.8 for gas transmission and ASME B31.4 for transportation systems. All of the valve codes are listed in tables. ASME B16.34 is the common valve standard. This standard has many positive aspects.
Valve codes and its standards
1. ASME B16.34
This code is used by valve manufacturers. If anyone is concerned with the purchase, training and maintenance this code is very helpful. It pertains to new constructions, testing, measuring pressure ratings, tolerance and dimensions.
2. ASME B31.1
This code is used mainly in cooling and heating power stations such as geothermal and electrical power generations. It is used by power piping systems, designers, owners and manufacturers. It is one of the requested codes and it applies to pressure and boiler systems worldwide.
3. ASME B31.3
Anyone involved in the maintenance and manufacture of process piping should use this code. This code is used for processing piping manufacturers, users, designers and constructors. It is also concerned with the assembly, erection, and inspection and testing of process piping. It is also applied to piping in the chemical plants, paper and cryogenic plants, pharmaceutical and semiconductor plants.
4. ASME B31.8
The standard applies to the piping system within the gas transporting and distribution industry. This code is used for gas pipeline manufacturers, constructors, users, operations, designers and regulation. This code helps users comply with all kinds of safety measures and operational costs.
5. ASME B31.4
This code is applied to the piping system and it transports non-hazardous and liquid slurries. Non-hazardous slurries include the mineral ores, coal and concentrates. It is used by liquid pipeline designers, inspectors, regulators and manufacturers.
Conclusion
Engineers today design a valve for using the valve in the system or product. Valves are used in many kinds of applications through the commercial, residential and industrial industries. Choosing the right valve standard and code is the most important act and it is a little complex.
