API 607

Fire Test for Soft-Seated Quarter-Turn Valves

Last updated: November 30, 2010
Standard Edition Section Inquiry # Question Reply
607 Fourth 1.4 The test pressure is not listed for downstream sealing The test pressure should be 30 psig or
Edition, Class 800 ball valves. What should it be? 2 bar, in accordance with paragraph
May 1993 1.4.8.
607 Fourth 4.4 Referring to section 4.4.8, does ASTM A 193, Grade B7 No.
Edition, include ASTM A 193 Grade B7M?
May 1993
607 Fourth 4.4 Referring to section 4.4.8, does qualification if a valve with No.
Edition, B7M fasteners also qualify valves with fasteners
May 1993 conforming to other ASTM specifications listed in Table 1
of ASME B16.34, except ASTM 307, Grade B?

607 Fourth 4.5 Referring to section 4.5.2, may valves qualified by fire Yes.
Edition, testing as specified in the third edition of API 607 be
May 1993 supplied before May 1996 regardless of when fire testing
is done (e.g. 1992, 1994, 1996)?
607 Fourth 4.5 Referring to section 4.5.2, are fire tests done in No.
Edition, accordance with API 607, 4th edition, only valid for 3
May 1993 years?
607 Fourth Table 3 Is a manufacturer permitted to select a test valve other Yes. However, for valves smaller than
Edition, than the size specified in Table 3? NPS 8, the test would only qualify
May 1993 valves of the size tested.
607 Fourth Table 3 Can a valve with a size different than the size of the test No, except a valve NPS 8 or larger
Edition, valves given in Table 3 be used to qualify other valve can qualify valves one size smaller
May 1993 sizes? than the test valve and all sizes larger
than the test valve.
607 Fourth Sub Sec 4.4.1 607-I-01/00 Following a successful fire test of a NPS 4 reduced bore Yes, provided that the materials of
Edition, Class 150 ball valve, will the following sizes and classes construction are the same including
May 1993 be qualified (see 4.4.1, 4.4.2, and 4.4.6): the non-metallic materials and the
valves are of the same basic design
a) 3" full bore / 3" reduced bore (3" x 2-1/2"); Class (see 4.4).
150/300,

b) 4" full bore / 4" reduced bore (4" x 3"); Class 150/300,
and

c) 6" full bore / 6" reduced bore (6" x 4"); Class 150/300?
607 Fourth 4.4.9 607-I-01/01 The last sentence in para 4.4.9 suggests that once a valve No, requalification is required. See
Edition, is qualified, the internal seal materials may be changed para 4.4 and 4.4.9.
May 1993 from VITON to PEEK without the need for requalification.
Is this correct?
607 Fourth Various 607-I-02/01 If the body temperature is not achieved within 25 minutes Yes, however, the maximum time
Edition, from the start of the test, it is allowable to extend the burn extension is not defined.
May 1993 time until that temperature requirement is met and then
continue the burn portion of the test for 5 minutes after
the 1100
deg. F is achieved?
607 Fourth 1.4.8 & Table 1 607-I-03/01 What test pressure should be used for valves that are API 607 scope covers valves that are
Edition, rated at pressures and not classes, that is, 2000 or 3000 class rated. It does not cover valves
May 1993 psi vs class 300 or 600? with a pressure rating such as 2000 or
3000 psi. These valves are covered by
API 6FA fire test standard.

607 Fourth 4.4.8 607-I-04/01 Will a fire test to API 607, 4th edition conducted on a No, see paragraph 4.4.8
Edition, carbon steel body ball valve with 304 stainless bolts
May 1993 joining body and end caps qualify the use of ASTM A193
B7 studs with either A194-2H or A193 -B8M nuts instead of
the 304 stainless bolts?
607 Fourth 1.4 607-I-05/01 Would conducting a fire test of a soft seat quarter turn No. API 607, 4th edition does not
Edition, butterfly valve made of composite body material with an in address non-metallic body materials.
May 1993 tumescent coating to make the valve "fire proof" provide
compliance with API 607, 4th edition?
607 Fourth 4 607-I-06/01 In order to qualify valves of equal design in sizes NPS ½ Yes, per Table 3, a NPS 1/2 test will
Edition, to NPS 1, is it necessary to test more than one valve size? qualify a NPS 3/4, but not NPS 1.
May 1993
607 Fourth 4 607-I-06/01 Do changes in valve cover type or number of bolts used to Yes, per paragraph 4.4.
Edition, fasten the cover constitute
May 1993 a change in "basic design and construction" and
therefore require retesting?

607 Fourth 4 607-I-06/01 Does API 607 place a limit on the number of valves of the API 607 does not address this
Edition, same design that may be tested before one passes? For question.
May 1993 example, if three or three hundred valves are tested and
only one passes does it qualify the valve.

607 Fourth 4 607-I-06/01 If a product line is extended to larger sizes subsequent to No, provided the rules of 4.4 are
Edition, a successful fire test of a smaller size, is it necessary to followed.
May 1993 test the larger size in order to qualify it.

607 Fourth 4 607-I-01-02 ANSI/FCI 70-2, Class IV leakage can exceed the Section No, API 607 does not cover control
Edition, 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 through leakage allowable depending upon valves.
May 1993 size and Cv. Can valves that exceed the leakage rate be
considered to meet API-607, if there is no degradation to
the sealing performance? That is to say, the leakage does
not degrade from the Class IV that it is originally supplied
with.

607 Fourth 4 607-I-01-02 If the above answer is no, is there an API fire test There is no API fire test standard for
Edition, specification that would be appropriate. control valves.
May 1993
607 Fourth Various 607-I-01/03 How many thermocouples are required for a Class 600, Per para 1.4.4 and Fig 3, one
Edition, NPS 4 valve? thermocouple on the body and one on
May 1993 the bonnet plus 2 to monitor flame
temperature.
607 Fourth Various 607-I-01/03 What is the purpose of calorimeter cubes? Per para 1.4.4, for valves rated Class
Edition, 900 and higher, cubes are used to
May 1993 measure temperature near the valve.
607 Fourth Various 607-I-01/03 What is the "vapor trap" and what is its purpose? Per Fig. 5, item 9, the vapor trap is a
Edition, configuration of the piping to prevent
May 1993 vapor rising back to the water vessel
(item 4).
607 Fourth Various 607-I-01/03 What is meant by "downstream piping"? Para 2.3 and Fig 5, item 22 defines
Edition, the minimum size required for the
May 1993 piping between the test valve and the
calibrated container, item 20 in Fig 5.

607 Fourth 4.4 607-I-02/03 If a ball valve design uses the same ball for valves with Paragraph 4.4.1 defines that valve
Edition, end flanges per B16.5 ranging from 1/2" to 2" and with size is determined by the size of the
May 1993 ratings from Class 150 to Class 2500, how many individual end connections. Compliance with
tests are required to qualify the entire range? paragraph 4.4.7 Tables 3 and 4 is
required to qualify the entire range.

607 Fourth Various 607-I-01/04 Do carbon steel valves that have been successfully fire No, the 3rd Edition of API 607 does
Edition, tested to the 3rd Edition of API 607 also quality valves not specifically address the
May 1993 made of other materials such as duples steels or stainless qualification of different body
steels? materials. Note that the 4th Edition of
API 607 is the currently applicable
standard.
607 4th General 607-I-01/04 Do carbon steel valves that have been successfully fire No
tested to the 3rd Edition of API 607 also quality valves
made of other materials such as duples steels or stainless
steels?
607 4th 4.4.9 607-I-02/04 Question1 : Does “Modified” PTFE fall within the Reply 1: API 607 4th Ed. does not
qualification given in paragraph 4.4.9, by passing a virgin address "modified" PTFE Reply
PTFE valve? Question 2: If 2: No, provided the additional seals do
the “tested” packing and external seals are left intact not affect the external leakage of the
(exactly as originally tested per 607 4th Ed), but an original seals and the original design
additional bolt-on bonnet, stem extension and separate features including operating device
secondary packing are added which do not come in direct are retained.
contact with the primary packing/seals, is re-qualification
required?
607 4th Various 607-I-01/05 Question 1: In para. 5.6.4, it clearly states the test pressure Response 1: This suggestion will be
requirements for various valves, although the use of the term forwarded to the Subcommittee on
“low test pressure” and “high test pressure” may be confusing Piping and Valves for consideration
and I would suggest just using the term “test pressure”. Soft- for the next revision of API 607.
seated valves up to Class 300 are tested at 2 bar and all other
valves are tested at 75% of the CWP

607 4th Various 607-I-01/05 Question 2: In para 5.6.14, it is stated to do a 2 bar seat test Response 2: Paragraph applies to all
on Class 600 valves and lower. Is this for all types or only soft- valves Class 600 and lower.
seated valves?
607 4th Various 607-I-01/05 Question 3: In para 5.6.15, it is unclear if this is meant for all Response 3: These suggestions will
valves or only for those valves tested at 75% of the CWP, as be forwarded to the Subcommittee on
per para. 5.6.4. If for all valves, then instead of using the term Piping and Valves for consideration
“high test pressure”, the term “75% of the CWP” should be for the next revision of API 607.
used.

For para 5.6.16, I have the same confusion as in 5.6.15.

Another solution would be to use the term “post-burn test

pressure” instead of “high test pressure” in para. 5.6.15 + 16.
Then define “post-burn test pressure” as 75% of the CWP.

607 4th PTFE & PEEK 607-I-01/2006 If a valve is firetested with PTFE seats, will that qualify a valve No
seats with PEEK seats?

607 5th 5.6.14 607-I-01/07 1) Is 5.6.14 applicable when conducting a test at the higher 1. Yes 2.
test pressure allowed by 5.6.4 b)? Yes
2) Paragraph 5.6.4 b) allows testing to 75% of maximum
permissible seat working pressure for non soft-seated valves
when appropriate. Table 1 shows maximum through-seat
leakage rates for both Low Test Pressure and High Test
Pressure during burn. Is Through Seat leakage after cool-
down applicable when testing to the High test pressure and
what are the allowable leak rates?
607 6th Scope 607-2010-1 Does API 607 apply only to quarter-turn (ball and butterfly) API Standard 607 covers fire testing of
valves or linear valves (gates and globes) also addressed in quarter-turn valves and other valve
the standard? types which are equipped with
nonmetallic seats.
607 6th 7.2.5 607-2010-2 In accordance with API Standard 607, Sixth Edition, does a No
fire type-tested valve require a re-qualification, if the
elastomeric sealing material is replaced with an elastomeric
sealing material having a higher melting temperature?