We are proud to announce that our valves successfully received FM approvals this April and UL Approvals one month later, making us the world’s first pressure reducing hydrant valve manufacturer to hold two honors (FM/UL) at the same time. It is not an easy job because FM and UL have different requirements and preferences. We have differentiated between FM and UL in a previous article for those interested to refer to. Now we’d like to share with you how, in general, our pressure reducing hydrant valves passed the testing conducted by FM and UL.
What is the pressure reducing hydrant valve?
The pressure reducing hydrant valve typically regulates the outlet pressure by maintaining the outlet pressure within a certain range, regardless of the inlet pressure.
1. leakage test
Two main parts, the body and disk, are tested separately to ensure they can withstand pressure to a certain degree without any leakage.
2. body strength test
The body is tested to ensure its high pressure resistance. UL’s requirement is 80 kg, a very high pressure above normal for a valve which looks more like a destructive test. What really matters should be whether any rupture or leakage occurs under high pressure.
3. spring test
The spring plays a mechanically critical role in the valve structure. To ensure its high quality, the spring must undergo the elasticity tests up to 5000 times without causing elastic fatigue.
4. One-year static leakage test
The life expectancy of multiple years requires that each valve undergoes the static leakage test for one year.
5. strength test of stems
The purpose of this test is to see whether the stem is strong enough to function well under high pressure, thus making its resistance (of torque value) very important.
6. Aging test of non-metallic components
Parts not made of metal, such as gaskets, also undergo aging test to ensure their durability. Even a minor damaged non-metallic component might cause water leaks.
Conclusive remarks
The road to getting certifications is never easy. It takes a great amount of time and money. To provide high quality products for our clients, we took on the challenge and managed to pull it off. Please click on the links below to know more about our story of getting UL and FM certifications, or contact us for further information.
