ISO 16486-4:2022

This document specifies the characteristics of valves made from unplasticized polyamide (PA-U) in accordance with ISO16486-1, intended to be buried and used for the supply of gaseous fuels.

It is applicable to isolating unidirectional and bi-directional valves with spigot ends or electrofusion sockets intended to be fused with PA-U pipes or fittings conforming to ISO16486-2 and ISO16486-3 respectively.

Valves made from material other than unplasticized polyamide designed for the supply of gaseous fuels conforming to the relevant standards are permitted to be used in PA-U piping systems according to the ISO16486series provided they have relevant PA-U connections for butt fusion or electrofusion ends (see ISO16486-3). The component, i.e. the complete valve, is required to fulfil the requirements of this document.

This document also specifies the test parameters for the test methods it describes.

In conjunction with ISO 16486-1, ISO 16486-2, ISO 16486-3 and ISO 16486-5, this document is applicable to PA-U valves and their joints and to joints with components of PA-U and other materials intended to be used under the following conditions:

a) a maximum operating pressure (MOP) of up to and including 18bar[1], or limited to 16bar under regional CEN requirements, at a reference temperature of 20°C for design purposes;

NOTE1 For the purpose of this document and the references to ISO8233, MOP is considered to be nominal pressure.

b) an operating temperature of −20°C to 40°C;

NOTE2 For operating temperatures between 20°C and 40°C, derating coefficients are specified in ISO16486-5.

This document covers valves for pipes with a nominal outside diameter, d_n, ≤ 400mm.

[1] 1bar = 0,1MPa = 10⁵ Pa; 1MPa = 1N/mm².