Fire Safe Test API 6FA and API 607
Fire safe design is important for industrial valves in industries like oil and gas, chemical, and petrochemical.
We often use API 6FA, and API 607 for fire testing. What are the differences between them?
API 6FA is fire test for API 6A and API 6D valves, while API 6FD is for check valves. Regarding API 607, it is for quarter-turn valves and valves with soft seats.
The fire test ensures that the valve has minimal leakage when fire takes place. The valve must withstand a fire (750 – 1000°C) for 30 minutes under the pressure of 75% of the max. working pressure. Then, the leakage should be within limited amount. After the testing, the valve must be able to go through at least one full open and close cycle.
In addition, people often get confused some terms related to fire safe, like "fire safe by design", "fire safe tested" and "fire safe approved and certified".
A "fire safe by design"valve is designed to be fire safe, but hasn’t been tested.
A "fire safe tested"valve may have been tested, but has not been approved by a third party.
A "fire safe approved and certified" valve has been tested, approved and certified by a third party as per standards like API 607, API 6FA, ISO 10497, etc.
We often use API 6FA, and API 607 for fire testing. What are the differences between them?
API 6FA is fire test for API 6A and API 6D valves, while API 6FD is for check valves. Regarding API 607, it is for quarter-turn valves and valves with soft seats.
The fire test ensures that the valve has minimal leakage when fire takes place. The valve must withstand a fire (750 – 1000°C) for 30 minutes under the pressure of 75% of the max. working pressure. Then, the leakage should be within limited amount. After the testing, the valve must be able to go through at least one full open and close cycle.
In addition, people often get confused some terms related to fire safe, like "fire safe by design", "fire safe tested" and "fire safe approved and certified".
A "fire safe by design"valve is designed to be fire safe, but hasn’t been tested.
A "fire safe tested"valve may have been tested, but has not been approved by a third party.
A "fire safe approved and certified" valve has been tested, approved and certified by a third party as per standards like API 607, API 6FA, ISO 10497, etc.
Next: What is a plunger valve?
Previous: What is a diaphragm valve?