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Pipes, valves & fittings


www.heatingandventilating.net


An example of a safety valve


Safety valve testing


Les Littlewood of Albion Valves (UK)


in the workplace to the fore, shining a light specifically on the dangers associated with working around pressurised systems, such as central heating and chilled water systems. It is a well-known and sobering fact that industries such as construction and building services, along with industrial processing and manufacturing, suffer the highest occurrences of workplace injuries and fatalities. Within building services installations, the most


Safety first N


ew guidelines introduced by the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) have once again brought the issue of health and safety


It is important to realise that the liability for using a non-conforming product rests with the installer


EU’s Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) to guarantee safety. “The guidelines will also help ensure engineers


common system failures that bring the safety measures into action include blocked outlets, uninsulated external pipe runs heated by an external source, thermal expansion, failure of boiler temperature controls, faulty pipework and control valves failure. However, by adhering to a few simple steps it is possible that selecting the appropriate parts and not cutting corners, can help avoid catastrophic risks associated with using the wrong valve for overpressure protection. The SAFed guidelines address the issue of


replacing valves in high-pressure systems and make the case for getting it right first time. The guide focuses on areas such as optimal set pressure, discharge capacity of valves and design temperature of valves.


It also highlights the risks of using pressure relief valves instead of safety valves, an issue which has become increasing problematic in recent years. Les comments: “There has been a lot of confusion in the building services industry regarding the appropriate technology to use in pressurised systems, with many contractors using pressure relief valves. “In a pressurised system both safety valves and


pressure relief valves are used as the last safety device, however engineers need to be mindful that requirements can vary significantly from system to system, and increasingly valves must now meet the


18 August 2018


are meeting their insurance conditions and not making false economies by sourcing cheaper and potentially unsuitable valves.” Within heating and chilled water systems,


excessive system pressures are caused by the failure of control valves, the failure of temperature and pressure sensors within the system, sensors stalling during start up and human error. To help promote safer working environments, specifiers should be vigilant and ensure they have the correct accreditations – be it ATEX or PED or by ensuring the valves are anti-static if the environment requires it.


The majority of Albion’s distributors have customers operating in workplaces where explosive atmospheres are commonplace. This includes environments where combustibles such as dust, chemicals or gas are present. As such, Albion has added a range of fire-safe, anti-static, stainless steel ball valves to its portfolio, designed to prevent the leakage of hazardous substances from the valve in the event of a fire. Anti-static valves are suitable for installations


where there is an increased risk of explosion if substances leak during a fire. The anti-static device fitted on the valve, ensures that friction caused by the operation of the valve does not cause a build-up of static, which could


Les Littlewood, sales director of Albion Valves (UK) discusses how choosing the right kit can boost safety in the building services industry


potentially spark and have disastrous consequences. The API 607 standard, which certifies the valves


as fire-safe, looks at the performance of valves by establishing limits of acceptable leakage when they are exposed to defined fire conditions. Valves that meet the API STD 607 requirements should be able to retain the pipeline media long enough for the fire to be extinguished – to avoid fuelling the fire further. Fire-safe valves are also required to be operational after exposure to fire in order to move from the ‘open’ to the ‘closed’ position. Similarly, another industry safety net is ATEX. The


ATEX certification mark is designed to minimise the risk of fire or explosion arising from the ignition of dangerous substances in the workplace. As SAFed recognises, high-pressure systems


operating above 0.5 bar pose a significant safety threat to engineers and industrial staff. In this instance pipework, valves and fittings are required to be compliant with the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) to ensure the equipment is able to withstand pressure and prevent systems from bursting. A common and potentially lethal occurrence in this situation is when relief valves are specified to do the job of a safety valve. Safety valves are the last line of defence in a pressure system, however engineers need to be mindful that requirements can vary significantly from system to system. In applications where PED is applicable, it is mandatory to use safety valves with the appropriate approvals. If a valve without type test approval is installed there is no guarantee that required blow-off at 10% would be reached, which poses a big safety risk. Les concludes: “It is important to realise that the liability for using a non-conforming product rests with the installer, and that contractors can be in breach of insurance conditions by installing any non-compliant parts. This is why Albion recommends using a certified safety valve wherever possible and making safety a priority.”


www.heatingandventilating.net


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