Process Valve Qualification Procedure

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 591 SIXTH EDITION, APRIL 2019

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Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms and Definitions 2

4. Manufacturer Quality Management System Evaluation 4

   1. General 4

   2. Record and Documentation Review 4

   3. Right of Access 4

   4. Document Control 4

5. Valve Qualification 4

   1. Data to be Provided by Manufacturer 4

   2. Valve Qualification Facility 5

   3. Selection of Valves 6

   4. Required Examination and Testing 6

   5. Documentation of Examination and Test Results 9

6. Post Qualification 10

Annex A (normative) Selection Quantities for Examination and Test of Valves Made in

Accordance with API Valve Standards 11

Annex B (normative) Strength Tests for Stem/Shaft-to-closure Element Connections 15

Annex C (informative) Suggested Minimum Acceptable Casting Radiographic Results

for Wall Thickness 17

Annex D (normative) Examination and Testing Tables 18

Figures

B.1 Torsional Testing 16

Tables

1 Material Examination Table 8

1. Valve Selection Material Groups 11

2. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Each Type Check Valve

   (Single Plate, Dual Plate, Swing Type) Made in Accordance with API 594 or ASME B16.34 12

3. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Each Type Plug Valve

   (Lubricated, Non-lubricated, Elastomer Lined, Wedge Type) Made in Accordance withb API 599) 12

4. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Steel Gate Valves Made in Accordance with API 600 12

5. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Flanged Steel Gate Valves Made in Accordance

   with API 602 12

6. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Threaded/SW Steel Gate Valves Made

   in Accordance with API 602 13

7. Suggested Size, Class and Type to be Tested for Steel Globe and Check Valves Made

   in Accordance with API 602 13

8. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Steel Gate Valves Made in Accordance with API 603 13

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   Contents

9. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Each Type Ball Valve (Floating Type: End Entry, Split Body, Three Piece and Top Entry; Trunnion Type: Split Body, Three Piece)

   Page

   Made in Accordance with API 608 13

10. Suggested Size and Material Type to be Tested for Butterfly Valves (Materials

    per Table A.1, Ductile Iron, Grey Iron) Made in Accordance with API 609 (Category A) 14

11. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Each Type of Offset Butterfly Valve

    Design Made in Accordance with API 609 (Category B) 14

12. Suggested Size and Class to be Tested for Steel Globe Valves Made in Accordance with

ASME B16.34 or API 623 14

C.1 Accepted Casting Radiographic Results 17

1. Dimension and Finishes Table 18

2. Visual Examinations 20

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Process Valve Qualification Procedure

1. Scope

   
   

   This recommended practice (RP) provides recommendations for evaluation of a manufacturer’s valve construction and quality management system for the purpose of determining a manufacturer’s capability to provide new valves manufactured in accordance with the applicable standards listed in Section 2. Testing per this RP that does not have an established requirement in the applicable standard is for information only.

   
   

   Qualification of valves under this RP is “manufacturing facility specific” and does not cover valves manufactured by other manufacturing facilities, whether owned by the same manufacturer or a third party.

   
   

2. Normative References

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies, except that new editions may be used on issue and shall become mandatory upon the effective date specified by the publisher or 12 months from the date of the revision (where no effective date is specified).

API RP 578, Material Verification Program for New and Existing Alloy Piping Systems

API 594, Check Valves: Flanged, Lug, Wafer, and Butt-welding

API 598, Valve Inspection and Testing

API 599, Metal Plug Valves—Flanged, Threaded and Welding Ends

API 600, Bolted Bonnet Steel Gate Valves for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries

API 602, Steel Gate, Globe and Check Valves for Sizes DN 100 and Smaller for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries

API 603, Corrosion-resistant, Bolted Bonnet Gate Valves—Flanged and Welding End API 607, Fire Test for Quarter-turn Valves and Valves Equipped with Nonmetallic Seats API 608, Metal Ball Valves—Flanged, Threaded, and Butt-welding Ends

API 609, Butterfly Valves: Double Flanged, Lug- and Wafer-type

API 623, Steel Globe Valves-Flanged and Butt-welding Ends, Bolted Bonnets

API 624, Type Testing of Rising Stem Valves Equipped with Flexible Graphite Packing for Fugitive Emissions

API 641, Type Testing of Quarter Turn Valves for Fugitive Emissions

ASME B1.1 1, Unified Inch Screw Threads (UN & UNR Thread Form)

ASME B16.5, Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 Metric/Inch Standard

1 ASME International, 3 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016-5990, www.asme.org.

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