VIR 33FF Ball Valves Instruction Manual
- June 10, 2024
- VIR
Table of Contents
Ball Valves
Instruction Manual
GENERAL INFORMATION
How to use the VIR ball valves
(Installation, Operating and Maintenance Instructions)
VIR ball valves are produced in a wide range of ratings and connections. VIR
portfolio includes models suitable for HVAC systems, compressed air or gas
distribution. Specific information on pressures and fluids that can be used
(as defined by the Pressure Equipment Directive – Dir. 2014/68/UE) with each
valve are provided in the next paragraph, which also indicates for which
models this manual is applicable.
See VIR valve specific technical sheets for further information.
PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE RATINGS
Mode| Non-shock pressure at temperature range| Application|
PED category
---|---|---|---
33FF, 33MF,
33MM| Water/air: 32bar from -10°C (*) to 85°C, max 10bar at 130°C| Liquids,
group 2
Gases, group 2| SEP ()
310N| Water: 16bar from 0°C to 95°C| Liquids, group 2| SEP ()
322| Water: 25bar from -10°C () to 100°C| Liquids, group 2| SEP (**)
323, 324| Water: 10bar from 5°C to 95°C| Liquids, group 2| SEP ()
328| Water DN≤20: 20bar from 0°C to 80°C
Water DN≥25: 16bar from 0°C to 80°C| Liquids, group 2| SEP ()
330, 333,
338| Water: 25bar from 0°C to 95°C
Air: 16bar from -10°C () to 110°C| Liquids, group 2Gases, group 2| SEP (**)
340, 342,
343, 348,
340J, 340DR| Water/air DN≤50: 40bar from -10°C () to 95°C, max 25bar at 150°C
Water/air DN≥65: 25bar from -10°C () to 95°C, max 25bar at 150°C| Liquids,
group 2
Gases, group 2| DN≤32: SEP ()
DN≥40: Cat. I
340GS,
343GS| Water: 25bar from 0°C to 95°C, max 20bar at 110°C| Liquids, group 2|
SEP ()
340LN,
340LD| Water/air: 25bar from 0°C to 110°C, 16bar from 110°C to 150°C| Liquids,
group 2Gases, group 2| SEP ()
340 Solar| Water DN≤50: 25bar from -30°C () to 100°C, max 10bar at
180°CWater DN50: 25bar from -30°C () to 75°C, max 10bar at 180°C| Liquids,
group 2| SEP ()
380| Water/air DN≤50: 40bar from -10°C () to 95°C, max 10bar at 185°C
Water/air DN≥65: 25bar from -10°C () to 95°C, max 10bar at 185°C| Liquids,
group 2
Gases, group 2| DN≤32: SEP ()
DN≥40: Cat. I
380 Solar| Water: 40bar from -30°C () to 100°C, max 10bar at 200°C| Liquids,
group 2| SEP (*)
380LN| Water/air: 25bar from -10°C () to 110°C, 16bar from 110°C to 150°C|
Liquids, group 2Gases, group 2| SEP ()
39BV0| Water DN≤50: 64bar from -20°C to 85°C, 20bar from 85°C to 180°C
Water DN≥65: 50bar from -20°C to 85°C, 10bar from 85°C to 180°C| Liquids,
group 2| SEP (*)
390| Air: 16bar from 0°C to 90°C| Liquids, group 2| SEP (***)
() = Temperatures below 0°C only when used with air.
() = Only for below zero water temperatures where antifreeze fluids have
been added.
() = “Sound Engineering Practice”, free of CE marking (Art. 4.3 Dir.
2014/68/EU)
The operative conditions shown above are intended for non-shock operating
conditions: water hammer, impacts, stress loads, corrosive or erosive external
environmental elements and the transport of fluids with abrasive properties
should be avoided.
Please verify applicability off these instructions to models not specifically
indicated in the table by contacting VIR.
MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS
Before proceeding with the installation, please ensure the valve is suitable
for the pressures, temperatures, operating fluids and environment in which it
will be installed. A correct installation must ensure adequate drainage and
venting of the circuit, the prevention of harmful effects such as sediment
deposits, cavitation, corrosion and/or uncontrolled chemical reactions; it
must also ensure easy cleaning and easy periodic inspection and maintenance of
the system, if necessary.
VIR valves are designed for loads of an efficient and perfectly calibrated
plant; abnormal stresses, such as those due to an incorrect installation
and/or fine tuning of the system, to traffic, wind, earthquake, were not
considered in the design.
It is the responsibility of the installer and/or of the plant designer to
ensure that the application does not exceed the limits of pressure and
temperature of the valve and is carried out in accordance with local current
laws and regulations.
VIR ball valve referred to in the table of the previous paragraph can be
installed in any position (vertical, horizontal, inclined), with flow going in
both directions. The position chosen for the installation should allow for
accessibility to the valve during operation, inspection and maintenance.
Please avoid that any material used to connect the pipes or that any burrs
present on the pipe ends themselves protrude inside the bore and obstruct part
of the flow (it’s advisable to flush the line before its start or after
eventual maintenance on the system).
The valves should be installed in such a way so that the pipeline does not
subject the valve to any torsion, bending or tension. We recommend the use of
pipe brackets. Those must be in adequate numbers, carefully aligned and placed
at a distance suitable to the size and type of the pipe that has to be
supported. In any case, be careful not to overload the valve with any
unexpected additional stresses, not considered in the design stage, due to
unsatisfactory numbers or incorrect positioning of the brackets.
Threaded Connections
The valves shall be installed on pipes using, if necessary, a sealant suitable for the application and the expected type of fluid. The pipe threading shall be suitable to the valve threading and in accordance to the applicable standard requirements (please refer to the valve technical sheet). The pipe threading shall also be free of abrasions, bruises or sprains that could impair the correct coupling with the valve and, in consequence, the outwards seal.
Additional stresses on the body to body-end junction (with resulting
possibility of rupture of the joint itself and/or fluid leakage) must be
avoided during installation. Therefore, the pipe clamp or the key wrench must
always grasp onto the hexagon/octagon portion of the threaded end that needs
to be screwed to the pipe. Never grasp the other end or the junction itself.
Be careful not to tighten the pipe at an excessive distance from the threaded
area, in order not to induce additional bending moments on the valve.
Lastly, please avoid to screw male threaded pipes too far into the valve. This
could result in a damage of the valve seats with resulting leakages once the
valve is operational.
Flanged Connections
The flanges on the pipes should correspond to those on the valve and should be
in accordance to the applicable standard requirements (please refer to the
valve technical sheet). Flanges should already be available on the pipes and
should not be welded once the valve has been installed.
To guarantee tightness, a gasket must be placed between each couple of
flanges. It’s up to the Installer to choose and mount a proper gasket.
A proper place with the same length as the valve must be available on the
pipeline. Do not use bolts to bring the pipes closer. Clamping bolts must be
cross tightened.
Grooved Connections
VIR ball valves have grooved connections according to ANSI/AWWA C606, with
the exception of DN65 which has Metric grooves. Suitable joints for these
connections are available in a wide range of materials, ratings and different
applications. It’s up to the Installer to choose and mount a joint suitable
for the application.
Please refer to the installation instructions of the chosen joints for more
information on how to use them as well as how the pipes should be prepared for
the installation.
USE AND MAINTENANCE
The valves need to be operated on a regular basis of (at least once per
month) with an open/close cycle. VIR ball valves do not need any additional
maintenance requiring disassembly and/or tampering of the device; the joints
are sealed and sealing devices are unreachable without complete disassembly of
the valve.
Valves must be replaced in case of leakages and/or damages to their structure.
Only for models with adjustable packing, leakages through the stem may be
stopped by tightening the packing nut. Rotate the nut clockwise taking care
not to damage the valve body with excessive strength. Wear proper protection
gear before executing this maneuver. For models without blow-out proof stem
(for example 340LN, 340LDm 380LN and 5020LN – please refer to technical
sheets) remove pressure from the line before taking any action. If leakage
doesn’t stop, the valve may have to be replaced anyway.
The valves have been designed and manufactured to be exclusively used as shut-
off valvestherefore they shall be used in the fully open or fully closed
position only. They must be operated only by acting on the lever (straight
lever or butterfly lever) provided by VIR without any otheadditional device.
VIR declines any direct or indirect responsibility in case of improper use,
tampering, modification or dismantling of the valves. The improper use,
tampering and/or modification, makes void any warranty or Certification
applicable to the valve.
For product traceability purposes, the manufacturing batch number is indicated
in a dedicated label onto the valve box. The year and week of production (in
the YYWW format) is also printed on the lever of some specific valve models.
DISPOSAL
At the end of their life cycle it will be possible to remove the valves from
the system, following a procedure adequate to the type and conditions of the
system. Once un-mounted, protect the ends of the valves to avoid any contact
or leaks into the environment of eventual polluting or dangerous residues
which may be trapped inside.
Dispose of the valves according to the current environmental, health and
safety regulations in force in the place of the installation. If no specific
regulations apply in the region, VIR recommends:
– to recycle the metal parts as raw material;
– to dispose of the seals and/or sealing elements (PTFE, NBR, EPDM, FKM, etc.)
through specialized companies, as they may have been contaminated by fluids
and/or lubricants while in use;
– to dispose of the packing elements through the separate collection system
available in the place of installation.
References
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