BVAA Hot Spot NWIP Ballot ISO 15848-3 Classification System and Qualification Procedures for Type Testing of Stem Seals for Valves

What is it?

The new work item proposal is to create a new ISO standard ISO 15848-3 Measurement, test and qualification procedures for fugitive emissions — Part 3: Classification system and qualification procedures for type testing of stem seals for valves. This standard is the third part of the ISO 15848 family concerned with the measurement and performance of stem sealing systems for valves intended for application in volatile air pollutants and hazardous fluids. If the proposal is accepted, the standard will be developed by ISO TC153 WG 5 with Colin Zegers from the Netherlands as project leader.

The draft document in question specifies testing procedures for evaluation of external leakage of valve stem seals (or shaft) of isolating valves and control valves. End connection joints, body joints, vacuum application, effects of corrosion, and radiation are excluded from this document. The document is primarily intended for use by seal manufacturers to standardise classification systems and qualification procedures for type testing of valve stem sealing.

Why is it Important?

The purpose of this part of ISO 15848 is to establish a uniform procedure for evaluation of process valve stem packing using a standardised test fixture and Helium as the test medium. The testing approaches defined provide a method for evaluating packing systems allowing valve manufacturers to compare the relative performance of different packing systems.

Currently the most widely used type test standard of this type is API 622, which uses methane as a test gas and is focussed on oil and gas applications. The use of methane is not widely adopted by the global valve industry partly due to health and safety concerns. This document specifies the use of helium as a test gas and is aligned with the rest of the ISO 15848 fugitive emissions standard family. It is likely that it will become the preferred global general purpose testing standard for evaluating stem / shaft sealing systems due to the widespread preference for using helium as a test gas.

If you have any comments concerning the attached proposal, please submit them to the secretariat by 18/6/2021 to allow them to be reviewed by the BVAA Fugitive Emissions TEG and submitted to BSI for consideration in the ballot. Please note that the default UK vote is to abstain so please make your comments in plenty of time if you support this proposal. If you are not already a member, please also indicate if you would be interested in joining the BVAA Fugitive Emissions TEG to support the work on developing this standard should it be approved.

Please note: this Hotspot is for information purposes only. We invite comments from BVAA members only. Please also note that at time of publication ballots may be closed. For more information please contact the Secretariat: enquiry@bvaa.org.uk

Published: 28th May 2021