British Standards for Check / Non-Return Valves

Fuzzbox 100 · Feb 23, 2022

I've been tasked with updating a UK Company's process piping spec. This hasn't been done for some time and numerous 'BS' references are 'out of date'. With regard to check (or non-return) valves, these are specified as needing to be to:
- BS 1868 Specification for steel check valves (flanged and butt-welding ends) for the petroleum, petrochemical and allied industries
That's fine, this is still as far as I can tell, a current standard.
But there are a number of other 'check valve' standards within the 'BS' portfolio including:
- BS EN ISO 15761:2020 Steel gate, globe and check valves for sizes DN 100 and smaller, for the petroleum and natural gas industries,
- BS EN ISO 16767:2020 Industrial valves. Metallic check valves.
- BS EN 13709:2010 Industrial Valves. Steel globe and globe stop and check valves. (This one might possibly not be relevant as a 'globe stop and check valve is a very specific type of valve that partially perform a 'check' duty as part of its operation).

My question, therefore, is what standards are people generally using for check valves? Is BS 1868 still in use or has it (despite it still being a current standard) been 'superseded' by one (or more) of the others I've mentioned?

Also, has anyone ever done a comparison of these various standards to highlight the 'pros' and 'cons' of each?

(I realise that this is a job I may well have to do myself but if someone has already done it then it would save a heap of time!)

Note that I originally posted this over on 'Piping' but it was suggested that this particular Forum might be more relevant.

Many thanks!

Fuzzbox 100 · Feb 23, 2022

As my post on 'Piping' is likely to be deleted (as it's essentially a duplication of this one), I thought I'd 'cut and paste' Hoxton123's very useful comments so they don't get lost.

BS 1868 is a current standard but the BSI SHOP website

https://shop.bsigroup.com

says it is ‘under review’ - strange since there seems to be no committee allocated to review it! The preview of the standard on BSI shop should show the committee responsible for the standard, the field is blank. The standard was issued in 1975 and was last amended in 1990. They are reviewed on a five year cycle, perhaps no one wants to change it.

I searched for a committee dedicated to valves, there is one: PSE/018 Industrial valves, steam traps, actuators and safety devices against excessive pressure.

They are responsible for a few standards, but none of the ones you refer to. They seem to be focused on steam valves.
What I did find is that two trade associations are members of this BSI Committee:

BVAA - British Valve and Actuator Association

https://www.bvaa.org.uk

EEMUA - The Engineering Equipment & Materials Users' Association

https://www.eemua.org

BVAA seems to have a forum, the other one could have one as well. This could be a way to get assistance.

In case you didn’t know BSI is obliged to adopt all European standards (ENs) developed by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI and to withdraw any exiting British Standards that conflict with them. This obligation does not apply to international standards (ISO, IEC), although there is a general presumption that BS will adopt them unless there are strong reasons for not doing so.

So BS EN denotes a European standard taken into BS
BS EN ISO denotes an international standard taken into EN then into BS

Fuzzbox 100 · Feb 23, 2022

To add a further comment. The organisation I'm working for is a member of EEMUA. As such, they have access to the EEMUA suite of documents. There is one that is relevant namely EEMUA Members Information Sheet No. 60 'Special requirements for non-return valves (check valves) used for machine applications'.

This can be obtained by EEMUA members here (I'm not sure if it can be purchased).

https://www.eemua.org/News/New-EEMUA-Members’-Information-Sheet-on-non-return.aspx

There is some useful information in it but it doesn't quite answer the questions I'm asking, hence this 'reach out' to the Eng-Tips community.

Nick_Gray_88 · Feb 25, 2022

Just because the company is in the Uk doesn’t preclude specs which aren’t BS or BS EN. The only specs which actually cover this valve type are API specs.
You’d be better off requiring coverage from on of these specifications.

Fuzzbox 100 · Feb 28, 2022

Thanks Nick.

But not quite sure what you're saying? The BS EN standards I've referenced very much do cover check valves of the type in question?

I will investigate API in due course but prefer to stick to BS standards (as per the general requirements of my UK based operator) at this moment in time.

That's also getting away from my original question where I was asking about the 'pro's and 'con's of the various (three!), all apparently relevant British Standards.

I've reached out to colleagues at EEMUA - they may have a link into committee PSE/018 as per Hoxton123's comments.

Kind regards.

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