The History of Valve Standards
Ever wondered why and how the ASME was formed? Read on!
The history and evolution of valve design and standards makes for entertaining reading. It was not all that long ago when most valves were “one offs” where the only design standards were those imposed by the manufacturer.
The following excerpt is from “Standards Spring from the Need to Protect”, an excellent piece written by Greg Johnson and published in Valve Magazine.
“Most of us in the valve industry take for granted the interchangeability and standardization of the valves produced today. Yet it wasn’t that long ago that valves were individually produced in accordance with the standards of each manufacturer.
Things like end-to-end dimensions, flange sizes and bolt circles, and even pressure ratings, were left up to the engineering and production departments of each company. Such factors were addressed in due time; however, as with many drivers in the manufacturing world, the first valve standard to be drafted covered something much more important—life and death.
Back in the latter half of the 19th century, boiler explosions were occurring at an alarming frequency, and public outcry was heard throughout the land—it appeared that the steam-fired industrial revolution was threatening to literally blow itself up.
In 1880, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was formed and over the next few decades this group of engineers created the first iteration of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (B&PVC). The problem of inconsistent boiler integrity was high on the group’s list of topics to be addressed.”1
1”Standards Spring from the Need to Protect”. Greg Johnson. Valve Magazine. July 9, 2012.
The history and evolution of valve design and standards makes for entertaining reading. It was not all that long ago when most valves were “one offs” where the only design standards were those imposed by the manufacturer.
The following excerpt is from “Standards Spring from the Need to Protect”, an excellent piece written by Greg Johnson and published in Valve Magazine.
“Most of us in the valve industry take for granted the interchangeability and standardization of the valves produced today. Yet it wasn’t that long ago that valves were individually produced in accordance with the standards of each manufacturer.
Things like end-to-end dimensions, flange sizes and bolt circles, and even pressure ratings, were left up to the engineering and production departments of each company. Such factors were addressed in due time; however, as with many drivers in the manufacturing world, the first valve standard to be drafted covered something much more important—life and death.
Back in the latter half of the 19th century, boiler explosions were occurring at an alarming frequency, and public outcry was heard throughout the land—it appeared that the steam-fired industrial revolution was threatening to literally blow itself up.
In 1880, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was formed and over the next few decades this group of engineers created the first iteration of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (B&PVC). The problem of inconsistent boiler integrity was high on the group’s list of topics to be addressed.”1
1”Standards Spring from the Need to Protect”. Greg Johnson. Valve Magazine. July 9, 2012.