PROCEDURE FOR FIRE SAFE TESTING OF SOFT SEATED BALL VALVES

(API 607 – 2005 –ISO 10497-5 : 2004)

Scope: This procedure is applicable for fire safe type test of soft seated ball valves for
conforming the pressure-containing capability of valve under pressure and after fire test.

WARNING: Fire testing of valves is potentially hazardous and it is essential that the
safety of personal be given prime consideration. Due to the nature of fire test and the
possibility of weakness in the design of the test valve or test equipment, hazardous
rupture of the pressure boundary could occure. Adequate shields in the are of the test for
the protection of personnel are necessary.
Use of this procedure assumes that qualified and experienced personnel shall conduct this
test.

Datas : - Selected sizes and class for Qualification

SIZE TYPE CLASS TO QUALIFY

SIZES CLASS
2” Floating 150 Below 2”,21/2”,3”,4”. 150,300
2” Floating 300 Below 2”,21/2”,3”,4”. 300,400,600
6” Floating 150 6”,8”,10” & 12” 150,300
6” Floating 300-Geared 6”,8”,10” & 12” 300,400,600
2” Trunnion 150 Below 2”,21/2”,3”,4”. 150,300
2” Trunnion 600 Below 2”,21/2”,3”,4”. 600,800,700
6” Trunnion 150-Geared 6”,8”,10” & 12”. 150,300
6” Trunnion 600-Geared 6”,8”,10” & 12”. 600,800,900

All the above valves are full bore. Hence reduce bore qualifies for one size above the
given sizes.

Design : Two piece construction

End connection : Flanged
Materials : To be specified in the test report.

Procedure : Use air as pressure source.

A) Use pretested (seat/body tests) valve for fire testing. Keep stem in horizontal
position.
1) Follow work instruction for various personnel positioned at various points of
testing.
2) Flood the system and release air by opening vent valves keeping valve in half
open position
3) Close the drain and vent valves. Close the valve under testing, close the supply
valve and open the drain valve.
4) Pressure the system 30 psi (2bar) for class 150# & 300# or 70 bar for classes
above 600#.
The above pressure should be maintained during burning and cooling down
period.
5) Record the sight gauge reading and also keep container empty.
6) Adjust system to maintain pressure and temperature required.

7) Open fuel supply and fire, monitor flame temperature throughout the test period
of 30 minutes. Check that the average temperature of the flame reaches 750 º C
within 2 minutes from the ignition of burners. Maintain temperature between 750º
C to 1000º C during the period. Temperature should not fall below 700 º C at any
time.
8) Average temperature of calorimeter shall be 650 º C within 15 minutes of burning
and maintained till end. Body Thermocouple should read above 590 º C for at
least 5 minutes, and bonnet thermocouple should read 650 º C for 15 minutes of
the burn period.
9) Record instrument reading. Pressure gauge, calorimeter, flame & body
thermocouple for every 30 seconds.
10) After 30 minutes shut off fuel supply.
11) Measure immediately collected water in container to establish seat leakage during
burning period. Continue collecting water to establish external leakage rate of
valve during burning and cooling period.
12) Force cools the test valve with water to achieve 100 º C externally.
13) Adjust test pressure. Record sight gauge reading.
14) For low-pressure test, reduce the pressure to 2 bar and measure leakage for 5
minutes for cool down period.
15) Increase the High-pressure test pressure (70 bar for class 600). Close the shut off
valve, operate the testing valve to the fully open position.
16) Stabilize the pressure to the high test pressure.
17) Measure external leakage from the sight gauge over a 5 minute period.
18) Study the leakage through seat during burn period, after cool down, external
during burn and cool down, after operation external leakage and record.
19) The readings should be less than Table 1 given in API 607-2005.
20) Prepare individual test report giving all information.
21) Special marking on valve ISO –F T(which stands for ISO fire-tested).