Unlike most other valves, eg isolation, control valves etc, the Safety Valve is designed into systems in the expectation (and hope) that they will never be called into action. The function of the Safety Valve is to protect life and property against failure to control system pressures, ie it offers the last means of reducing system pressure before total failure.
Within heating and chilled water systems, excessive system pressures are caused by, amongst other reasons:
BS EN ISO 4126-1:2013 – Safety devices for protection against excessive pressure. Safety Valves.
This European Standard superseded BS EN ISO 4126-1:2004 which again superseded the older British Standard BS 6759. BS 6759 was divided into 3 sections;
In 2004 the new, well new in 2004, EU Standard brings together the Safety, Pressure Relief, Safety Relief Valves into a single Standard – Safety Valves. Interestingly, the American Standard ASME / ANSI still divide these three functions. Due to the potential risk to life caused by failing systems, most nations around the world have a National Standard covering Safety Valves.
Safety Valve Operation
Safety Valves used within the Building Services Industry follow a design that uses an applied force (a spring) to directly oppose the system force.
This valve design utilises three states;
P System
P system
P System
Safety Valve Sizing
The sizing of Safety Valves is particularly important.
NABIC have a sophisticated programme to ensure correct selection.
Safety Valve Installed Position
Safety valves should only be installed in a vertical position with the spring chamber, ie the bonnet, in an upwards position. An isolation valve between the safety valve and the system is strictly prohibited.
The installation should avoid:
Safety Valve Maintenance
Typical System Failures
Within Building Services, there are four typical system failure modes that bring the safety into action:
Typical Terms
Set Pressure
BS EN ISO state ‘The pressure at which the valve is about to open, ie the equilibrium state. In practice, it’s not possible to find ‘when the valve is about to open’, only when the valve is closed or just opened. ASME state ‘The pressure at which the valve starts to open’. In practice this position is easier to establish than the BS EN equilibrium position, ie ‘about to open’.
Overpressure
A pressure increase over the set pressure, usually expressed as a percentage.
Accumulation
The pressure increase over the maximum allowable working pressure of the system during discharge through the safety valve, expressed as a percentage of pressure.
Blowdown
The difference between the actual set pressure and the actual reseating pressure, expressed as a percentage of pressure.
Backpressure
The static pressure existing in the discharge system ‘from’ the safety valve.
Boiler
Water Heater / Storage
Heat Exchanger