When it comes to maintaining safety and efficiency within industrial settings, often it seems like a bit of a minefield. Pressure relief valves, however, are the unsung heroes of this. These valves play an important role in safeguarding equipment by being able to prevent overpressure scenarios.
However, it isn’t uncommon for the popular question to arise: How often should pressure relief valves be tested and replaced in the UK? Here at Fluid Controls, we thought we’d put together this helpful article to answer this popular FAQ in more detail.
As distributors of pressure control products, we know and understand the importance of getting the right balance between compliance, safety, and cost-effectiveness so read on and let us impart our wisdom to you!
Within industries, pressure relief valves are considered to be guardians of pressure-sensitive systems. They are commonly found in a wide range of processes and equipment, from boilers and pressure vessels to pipelines and hydraulic systems.
Pressure relief valves automatically release excess pressure to ensure that the internal pressure within the system remains within safe limits. Through this release of pressure, they prevent disastrous failures, explosions, and other hazardous situations that could potentially lead to injury, damage to property, and/or environmental harm.
Just as the tires on your car require regular checks to ensure they are inflated to the right level and have a decent amount of road grip, pressure relief valves require frequent checks to ensure they are functioning correctly when the pressure’s on. Regular checks serve several important purposes:
The frequency of pressure relief valve testing depends on a few factors and are often tailored to your specific application. The key considerations are:
While testing extends the life of your pressure relief valve, like all things, these valves have a certain lifespan. Replacement times are influenced by factors such as:
As a general rule of thumb, we’d say that pressure relief valves should be tested every 12 months and replacements should take place every 3 to 5 years.
We hope this article on testing and replacing pressure relief valves has helped you to better understand the citation and given you some good insights. So, when it comes to the question of how often should pressure relief valves be tested and replaced in the UK, we’d always say as often as necessary to uphold the highest standards of safety and operational excellence.
Here at Fluid Controls, we offer relief valves, pressure regulators, and many other valve types for maximum efficiency in your application.
We also stock a wide range of flow control and measurement components gauges and sensors. If you’d like to speak to a qualified expert about the product range at Fluid Controls, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
If you have any questions on valve test equipment. We will give the professional answers to your questions.