Necessity of Fire Test Requirement for Metal Seated Valves 4

[ET1983]

Hi all,

In one of our projects, we requested to VENDOR for a Fire test Certificate for the Metal seated check valves. But the VENDOR replied that, metal seated valves are intrinisically fire safe and no fire test is applicable.

But when i had gone through the API 6FA / ISO 10497, they mention 2 types of leakages, which are internal leakage caused by seat failure and the other is external leakages which are visually detected other than the welding joint leak in the valve to pipe connection.

And in both standards, they no where specify the non requirement of fire test for metal seated valves.

Please clarify in the above and also, if it is intrnisically fire safe, how it shall be determined.

ET

 

[JuliusC]

what they mean is that the material or construction of the valve is suitable to withstand the fire temperature, but they did not get the valve tested in the fire. As you already know, API 6FA specifies the requirements of the fire testing of the valve. Many of the valve manufactures already have the certificate, the test is conducted by burning the valve in the fire and see if it is leaking after burning.

The manufacturer should have the test certificate to proof their product is not leaking after burning.

I hope this could be an answer.

 

[bcd]

Some companies believe that the fire test standards are only for soft-seated valves. They believe that metal seated valves will automatically pass the test. But, the standard you mention are for both metal and soft seated valves. And they are partially correct that a metal seated valve should...repeat to emphasize "should" pass a fire test with no problems. But sometimes they do not.

Some of the confusion here is caused by the other popular fire test standard. API-607, which is Fire test of quarter turn valves and valves with non-metallic seals. So unless a check valve has soft seals anywhere in its construction, this standard does not apply. But it does apply to metal seated ball and butterfly valves which are quarter turn. At one time, API-607 and ISO-10497 were exactly the same, but the committees disagree on what should and should not be fire tested, so the API committee changed the scope of 607 back to the former title so metal seated gate, globe, and check valves do not require fire testing.

More than likely, the supplier is thinking API-607 for fire testing applies to their products.