A typical chemical plant contains miles of piping and hundreds, if not thousands, of industrial valves that are essential for the plant to operate efficiently and safely. Unlike the simple consumer valves that are used to regulate water flow in your sink, shower or bathtub, industrial valves for chemical plants must be designed, manufactured, tested and maintained for reliable operation in rugged applications. For many applications, valves installed in chemical plants must be of the “severe service,” high-performance type. Valves play a major role in assuring the safety of property, personnel and the public by preventing or minimizing harmful leaks, fires and, in extreme cases, explosions. Specifiers of valves for chemical plants have a serious responsibility to make sure that they select the right valve for the right application. MORE

Safety-relief valves are critical components of any pressurized system. In fact, a functioning safety-relief valve could be the most important piece of equipment on a process pressure vessel or pipeline. These valves essentially represent the last line of defense if something goes wrong in the process. If safety-relief valves are not functioning properly and can no longer achieve what they are designed to do, catastrophic failures can ensue, potentially causing significant financial burden, as well as putting lives at risk. Because of the potentially catastrophic consequences of relief-valve failure, adhering to recommended or mandated maintenance schedules, along with ensuring that proper installation practices are followed, is of utmost importance. MORE