ASTM F2138-01

Standard Specification for Excess Flow Valves for Natural Gas Service

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers requirements and test methods for excess flow valves for use in thermoplastic natural gas piping systems. However, it is expected that excess flow valves manufactured to the requirements of this specification may also be used in other natural gas piping systems.
1.2 Excess flow valves covered by this specification are designed for insertion into components for natural gas systems such as pipe, tubing, or fittings in sizes from 1/2 CTS to 2 IPS.
1.3 The tests required by this specification are intended to determine the performance characteristics of an excess flow valve installed in a straight piece of pipe. An excess flow valve could possibly be installed in a straight piece of pipe, in a service tee outlet, as part of a mechanical coupling, or in other configurations. The performance characteristics of the excess flow valve may be significantly different for each installed configuration. Users should conduct their own tests to determine the installed performance characteristics or contact the EFV manufacturer for test data for the installed configuration. Additional guidance on selection and installation of excess flow valves is included in Appendix X1.
1.4 The tests required by this specification are not intended to be routine quality control tests.
1.5 The values given in parentheses are for informational purposes only.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Sep-2001
• Technical Committee: F17 - Plastic Piping Systems
• Drafting Committee: F17.60 - Gas

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F2138-01e1 - Standard Specification for Excess Flow Valves for Natural Gas Service
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F2945-18 - Standard Specification for Polyamide 11 Gas Pressure Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D2513-20 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene (PE) Gas Pressure Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F2785-21 - Standard Specification for Polyamide 12 Gas Pressure Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 2138 – 01
Standard Specification for
Excess Flow Valves for Natural Gas Service
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 2138; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This specification covers requirements and test methods 3.1 Definitions of Terms:
for excess flow valves for use in thermoplastic natural gas 3.1.1 Definitions are in accordance with Terminology F 412,
piping systems. However, it is expected that excess flow valves unless otherwise specified. Abbreviations are in accordance
manufactured to the requirements of this specification may also with Terminology D 1600.
be used in other natural gas piping systems. 3.1.2 bypass flow, n—an intentional rate of passage of
1.2 Excess flow valves covered by this specification are natural gas through an EFVB after trip, which will allow
designed for insertion into components for natural gas systems upstream and downstream pressure to equalize across the
such as pipe, tubing, or fittings in sizes from 1/2 CTS to 2 IPS. device to automatically reset to the open position after removal
1.3 The tests required by this specification are intended to of a fault condition.
determine the performance characteristics of an excess flow 3.1.3 excess flow valve, EFV, n—a device installed in a
valve installed in a straight piece of pipe. An excess flow valve natural gas piping system to automatically stop or limit the
could possibly be installed in a straight piece of pipe, in a passage of natural gas when the rate of passage of natural gas
service tee outlet, as part of a mechanical coupling, or in other through the device exceeds a predetermined level.
configurations. The performance characteristics of the excess 3.1.4 excess flow valve bypass, EFVB, n—an EFV designed
flow valve may be significantly different for each installed to limit the flow of gas after trip to a small predetermined level
configuration. Users should conduct their own tests to deter- and to reset automatically after the pressure is equalized across
mine the installed performance characteristics or contact the the valve.
EFV manufacturer for test data for the installed configuration. 3.1.5 excess flow valve non-bypass, EFVNB, n—an EFV
Additional guidance on selection and installation of excess designed to stop the flow of gas after trip and to be reset
flow valves is included in Appendix X1. manually.
1.4 The tests required by this specification are not intended 3.1.6 leak rate, n—the flow of natural gas through an
to be routine quality control tests. EFVNB after trip.
1.5 The values given in parentheses are for informational 3.1.7 maximum inlet pressure, n—the maximum pressure,
purposes only. as stated by the EFV manufacturer, at which an EFV is
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the designed to function.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1.8 minimum inlet pressure, n—the minimum pressure, as
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- stated by the EFV manufacturer, at which an EFV is designed
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- to function.
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use. 3.1.9 pipe, n—refers to both pipe and tubing.
3.1.10 reset, v—changing an EFV from a closed position to
2. Referenced Documents
an open position.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.11 temperature rating, n—the temperature range, as
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to stated by the EFV manufacturer, within which an EFV is
Plastics
designed to function.
F 412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems 3.1.12 trip, n—closure of an EFV.
F 1802 Test Method For Performance Testing of Excess
3.1.13 trip flow, n—the rate of passage of natural gas
Flow Valves through an EFV that will cause the EFV to stop or limit the
passage of natural gas.
4. Ordering Information
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.60 on Gas.
4.1 Purchasers should consider specifying the following
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 2001. Published October 2001.
characteristics when ordering an EFV:
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
4.1.1 EFVB or EFVNB,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.04.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
F 2138
4.1.2 Trip flow (see 9.1.1), the minimum and maximum inlet pressures, when tested in
4.1.3 Maximum inlet pressure (see Section 7), accordance with 12.6.
4.1.4 Temperature rating range (see Section 8), 9.1.6 Snap Acting Loads—The EFV shall not close when
4.1.5 Minimum inlet pressure, and tested in accordance with 12.7.
4.1.6 Special considerations for insertion of EFV. 9.1.7 Cycle Testing—After the cycle testing described in
12.8, the EFV shall meet the requirements of 9.1.1 and 9.1.2 or
5. Materials and Manufacture
9.1.3.
5.1 The physical properties of each material used to produce
10. Samples
an EFV shall be available from the EFV manufacturer upon
10.1 The minimum sample size for testing against the
request.
performance requirements of 9.1.1-9.1.5 shall be 25. The
NOTE 1—Materials in long-term contact with natural gas of line quality
minimum sample size for testing against the performance
should be demonstrated to not adversely affect the performance of the
requirements of 9.1.6 and 9.1.7 shall be 6.
EFV.
NOTE 2—Materials should have a demonstrated resistance to environ-
11. Specimen Preparation
mental stress cracking when exposed, under stress, to chemical com-
11.1 The tests required by this specification shall be per-
pounds encountered in natural gas piping systems. Such compounds
include, but are not limited to, antifreeze solutions used to thaw frozen formed on an EFV inserted in a straight section of pipe. The
lines. The effects of liquid environments such as antifreeze agents,
EFV shall be centered between the pipe ends. There shall be at
odorants, and hydrocarbons are known to be deleterious to some plastics,
least five diameters of straight pipe on each side of the EFV, but
particularly when under service conditions.
the total length of the straight section of pipe shall not exceed
18 in. (45.7 cm).
6. Dimensions
6.1 The EFV shall be of appropriate dimensions for the pipe
12. Test Methods
or fitting in which it is intended to be inserted.
12.1 General:
12.1.1 EFV testing shall be done in accordance with Test
7. Maximum Inlet Pressure
Method F 1802, unless otherwise specified.
7.1 EFVs manufactured under this specification shall have a
12.1.2 EFV testing at temperatures other than those listed in
maximum inlet pressure of at least 125 psig.
Test Method F 1802 may be necessary to establish the EFV
temperature rating.
8. Temperature Rating Range
12.2 Trip flow shall be determined as described in Test
8.1 EFVs manufactured under this specification shall have a
Method F 1802, section 10.3, on Trip Flow.
temperature rating range of -20 to 140°F (-29 to 60°C).
12.3 Leak rate for an EFVNB shall be determined as
described in Test Method F 1802, section 10.4, Bypass Test or
9. Design Qualification Requirements
Leak Rate Test.
9.1 Performance Requirements: 12.4 Bypass flow for an EFVB shall be determined as
9.1.1 Trip Flow—The trip flow shall not be less than the described in F 1802, section 10.4, Bypass Test or Leak Rate
minimum trip flow stated by the EFV manufacturer and shall Test.
not exceed 1.5 times the minimum trip flow stated by the EFV 12.5 Pressure Drop:
manufacturer at any given pressure between the minimum and 12.5.1 The pressure drop testing shall be done as described
maximum inlet pressures, when tested in accordance with 12.2. in Test Method F 1802, section 4.2.3, Pressure Drop at Flow
9.1.2 Leak Rate—The leak rate of an EFVNB shall not Rates Less than Closure.
3 3
exceed 0.40 standard ft /h (0.011 m /h) when operating be- 12.5.2 The pressure drop shall be calculated based on test
tween the minimum and maximum inlet pressures, when tested results obtained from the tests described in Test Method
in accordance with 12.3. F 1802. In Test Method F 1802, section 10.6.1, System Pres-
9.1.3 Bypass Flow—The bypass flow of an EFVB shall not sure Drop, the EFV is replaced by an equivalent length of 1 in.
3 3
exceed 20 standard ft /h (0.566 m /h) at a 10 psig (0.07 MPa) (25.4 mm) IPS pipe. However, when using Test Method F 1802
inlet pressure, when tested in accordance with 12.4. At all other to determine the pressure drop across an EFV, the EFV shall be
pressures between the minimum and maximum inlet pressures, replaced with the same size and length of pipe without the EFV.
the bypass flow of an EFVB shall not exceed the EFV To calculate the pressure drop, subtract the system pressure
manufacturer’s stated value when tested in accordance with
drop in Test Method F 1802, section 10.6.2, System Pressure
12.4. Drop, from the total pressure drop in Test Method F 1802,
9.1.4 Pressure Drop—The pressure drop across the EFV section 10.5.7, Total Pressure Drop.
shall not exceed the maximum pressure drop stated by the EFV 12.6 Reset of an EFVB shall be tested as described in Test
manufacturer at each flow rate listed in Test Method F 1802, Method F 1802, section 10.7, Reset.
section 4.2.3, Pressure Drop at Flow Rates Less than Closure, 12.7 Snap Acting Load Test—A test apparatus shall be
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