This Part of BS 341 specifies requirements for the design, materials, manufacture and testing of new and refurbished valves together with the testing, periodic inspection and maintenance of valves in service, for use with refillable aluminium and steel containers manufactured for the suitable conveyance and storage of permanent, liquefiable and dissolved gases for industrial applications, but excluding valves with outlets conforming to BS 1319.
This Part of BS 341 applies to valves limited to a charging pressure (see 1.3.19) of 300 bar1) (developed pressures for particular gases may exceed this pressure).
This Part of BS 341 also gives requirements for the design, manufacture, testing and installation of pressure relief devices, to protect containers up to 130 L capacity from excessive pressure, particularly when exposed to heat.
WARNING. It is essential that pressure relief devices should not be used with toxic gases.
Recommendations for the plating of copper alloy valves are given in Annex A and recommendations for the valving of containers are given in Annex B. A list of the alternative outlets for the less commonly used gases imported into the United Kingdom is given in Annex C.
This Part of BS 341 does not include requirements for the selection of valve outlets and materials for gas mixtures, valves for medical applications complying with BS 1319 and ultra-high-purity gases.
This part of BS341 does not cover valves for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).