Is it required to conduct a fire resistance test on gate valves?

Implement GB/T 12234-2019 \"Steel gate valves with stud-connected valve covers for the petroleum and natural gas industry.\" If the standard doesn’t require it, there’s no need to do it. A gate valve is a gate valve; a ball valve is a ball valve. Everything you analyzed is correct.

The standard GB/T 12234-2019 \"Steel gate valves with stud-connected valve covers for use in the petroleum and natural gas industry\" indeed does not specify any requirements for fire resistance tests for gate valves, whereas GB/T 12237-2021 \"Steel ball valves for use in the petroleum, petrochemical, and related industries\" includes requirements regarding fire-resistant structures and testing. This difference is mainly due to the variations in design and application among different types of valves. For gate valves, metal sealing surfaces are typically used; especially under high temperature and pressure conditions, metal-to-metal contact can provide sufficient sealing performance, and they also possess a certain degree of fire resistance. Therefore, in certain application scenarios, gate valves may not require additional fire resistance testing. As for valves with multiple sealing structures, such as gate valves that include soft seals and metal seal pairs, their requirements regarding fire resistance may be influenced by specific application conditions and safety regulations. For example, if a gate valve is used in flammable and explosive environments or in critical safety systems, it may be required to have fire-resistant properties and must pass corresponding fire resistance tests. For the requirements and tests related to fire resistance, relevant international standards include API 6FA \"Fire Testing of Valves for Use in Oil and Gas Industry Facilities\", as well as ISO 10497 \"Requirements for Fire Testing of Gate, Globe, Diaphragm, Ball, Plug, and Rotary Check Valves for Use in the Oil, Petrochemical, and Natural Gas Industries\". In China, API 6FA can be used as a reference for similar testing and certification. In summary, for gate valves that contain soft-sealing elements, if the operating conditions require that the valve pass a fire resistance test, such valves must comply with the corresponding fire resistance test standards. Which standard to apply depends on the industry norms and the negotiations between users and manufacturers. .

Depending on the engineering requirements, fire resistance specifications can be applied to the gate valve separately, and this is also feasible. It’s not only valves with soft seals or a combination of soft and hard seals that can undergo fire resistance tests. In addition to the internal seal, such tests also evaluate the sealing of the valve’s connection structures as well as the moving parts of the valve stem; they serve as a measure to prevent external leakage of the valve in case of a fire, thereby avoiding further damage.