Fire Safe Vs Fire Tested

[Weko]

Dear All,

I come across the requirement for soft seat valves (ie Ball, Butterfly etc).

Some requirement mention "Fire Safe Design" and some mention "Fire Tested Design".

I am getting confused. If those terms are same or not.

In my humble understanding that "Fire Tested Design" shall be tested (based on ISO 10497, BS 6755-2 or API 6FA) and certified by testing organization such as TUV Loyd etc.

While Fire Safe Design is only designed to be fire safe but not yet having the certificate.

Some advice please if my understanding is correct or not. Thank you

 

[gerhardl]

As a 'non-native' English speaking individual I can fully understand your question. In my (Scandinavian) view the English wording 'fire tested design' is not complete and also a bit unclear.

Normally I read 'fire safe design' as you describe: of design to be firesafe, but not tested for valves completly equal to the one supplied. (Usually supplied by a factory that has references of produced and firesafe tested valves, and can give full traceable certificates on materials and function etc, but not firesafe certificates for this valve)

On the other hand the description 'firetested design' should, in my opinion, have additional information. The information should give additional references to wich norms and firesafe-test type the end user will accept as 'firetested design norm', and exactly what is expected as certification. Firetested design could mean (my personal opinion) something from almost the same as 'fire safe design' up to a requirement of equal valves already firetested at the factory and a copy of the earlier certificate supplied with the valves (earlier certificate valid for the valvetype, pressureclass and size by the given approval authority for the valves now supplied).

On the other hand 'fire tested design' will indicate that a separate(new?)firetest for the supplied lot is not required, if not especially mentioned.