Useful standards for selection , sizing & inspection of PSV :
The API (American Petroleum Institute) is an important authority as regards standards and recommended practices for the use of Safety Relief Valves in the petroleum and chemical industries. For example:
- API Recommended Practice 520 Part I - describes the design, sizing and selection of components for pressure relief systems,
- API Recommended Practice 520 Part II - contains guidelines for piping practices and methods for determining the reactive force created during valve discharge,
- API Recommended Practice 521 gives guidelines for evaluating causes of overpressure and pressure relief systems,
- API Standard 526 - provides an industry standard to manufacturers of flanged pressure relief valves and includes a common set of installation dimensions,
- API Recommended Practice 527 - provides a basis for testing and acceptance for set pressure and seat tightness of pressure relief valves.
- API Standard 2000 - describes venting atmospheric and low-pressure storage tanks.
To order these standards, visit API. Although it is not possible to view the standards via the website, there are some very interesting 'Technical Interpretations' which can be accessed.
Useful standards can also be obtained from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) at www.asme.org. The following have been noted:
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Safety valves for pressure vessels,
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Specification standards for self-operated and power-operated safety-related valves,
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Heating boiler safety valves accreditation package
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Guide to European valves for control, isolation and safety,
In Europe, safety valves are covered by the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED - see also Valve World box). Standards can be obtained via the National Members of the CEN, the European Committee for Standardisation (www.cenorm.be). Of relevance to safety relief valves is the work being performed by Technical Committee 69, Working Group 10, on Safety devices against overpressure:
| PrEN ISO 4126- 1 | Safety devices for the protection against excessive pressure - Part 1 : Safety valves |
| PrEN ISO 4126- 2 | Safety devices for the protection against excessive pressure - Part 2: Bursting disc safety devices |
| PrEN ISO 4126- 3 | Safety devices for the protection against excessive pressure - Part 3: Safety valves and bursting disc safety devices in combination |
| PrEN ISO 4126- 4 | Safety devices for the protection against excessive pressure - Part 4: Pilot operated safety valves |
| PrEN ISO D 4126- 5 | Safety devices for the protection against excessive pressure - Part 5: Controlled safety pressure relief systems (CSPRS) |
| PrEN ISO 4126- 6 | Safety devices for the protection against excessive pressure - Part 6: Application, selection and installation of bursting disc safety devices |
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PrEN ISO 4126- 7
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Safety devices for the protection against excessive pressure - Part 7: Common data
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further tool for locating standards is the NSSN: A National Resource for Global Standards (www.nssn.org). The NSSN is described as: "A cooperative partnership between the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) , U.S. private-sector standards organizations, government agencies, and international standards organizations. NSSN's goal to become a leader in the provision of technical data and information about important developments in a global standardization arena."

















