EN IEC 60534-4:2022

Industrial-process control valves - Part 4: Inspection and routine testing

IEC 60534-4:2021 is available as IEC 60534-4:2021 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.IEC 60534-4:2021 specifies the requirements for the inspection and routine testing of control valves manufactured in conformity with the other parts of IEC 60534. This document is applicable to valves with pressure ratings not exceeding Class 2500. The requirements for actuators apply only to pneumatic actuators. This document does not apply to the types of control valves where radioactive service, fire safety testing, or other hazardous service conditions are encountered. If a standard for hazardous service conflicts with the requirements of this document, the standard for hazardous service should take precedence.

Stellventile für die Prozessregelung – Teil 4: Abnahme und Prüfungen

Vannes de régulation des processus industriels - Partie 4: Inspection et essais individuels de série

IEC 60534-4:2021 est disponible sous forme de IEC 60534-4:2021 RLV qui contient la Norme internationale et sa version Redline, illustrant les modifications du contenu technique depuis l'édition précédente.L’IEC 60534-4:2021 spécifie les exigences relatives à l'inspection et aux essais individuels de série des vannes de régulation fabriquées conformément aux autres parties de l’IEC 60534. Le présent document s'applique aux vannes dont les valeurs assignées de pression n'excèdent pas celles de la classe 2500. Les exigences pour les actionneurs ne s'appliquent qu'aux actionneurs pneumatiques. Le présent document ne s'applique pas aux types de vannes de régulation destinées à fonctionner dans des applications radioactives, des installations de sécurité à l'épreuve du feu ou pour d'autres conditions de fonctionnement dangereuses. Si une norme sur le fonctionnement dangereux est en contradiction avec les exigences du présent document, il convient de faire prévaloir la norme sur le fonctionnement dangereux.

Regulacijski ventili za industrijske procese - 4. del: Preverjanje in rutinsko preskušanje (IEC 60534-4:2021)

Ta del standarda IEC 60534 določa zahteve za preverjanje in rutinsko preskušanje regulacijskih ventilov, izdelanih v skladu z drugimi deli standarda IEC 60534.
Ta dokument se uporablja za ventile z nazivnimi tlaki, ki ne presegajo razreda 2500. Zahteve za aktuatorje veljajo samo za pnevmatske pogone.
Ta dokument se ne uporablja za tiste regulacijske ventile, pri katerih so prisotni radioaktivni pogoji delovanja, pri katerih se preskuša požarna varnost ali v drugih nevarnih pogojih delovanja. Če je standard za delovanje v nevarnih pogojih v nasprotju z zahtevami tega dokumenta, naj ima prednost standard za delovanje v nevarnih pogojih.
OPOMBA: Po dogovoru med kupcem in proizvajalcem je mogoče uporabiti višje stopnje tlaka, kot jih določa ta dokument.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 03-Feb-2022
• ICS: 17.120 - Measurement of fluid flow
• ICS: 19.020 - Test conditions and procedures in general
• ICS: 23.060 - Valves
• ICS: 23.100 - Fluid power systems
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 65X - Industrial-process measurement, control and automation
• Drafting Committee: IEC/SC 65B - IEC_SC_65B
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 04-Feb-2022
• Completion Date: 04-Feb-2022
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 60534-4:2022 - Industrial-process control valves - Part 4: Inspection and routine testing (IEC 60534-4:2021)

Relations

• Replaces: EN 60534-4:2006 - Industrial-process control valves - Part 4: Inspection and routine testing
• Effective Date: 08-Feb-2022

Overview

EN IEC 60534-4:2022 (identical to IEC 60534-4:2021 RLV) defines the requirements for inspection and routine testing of industrial-process control valves. It applies to valves manufactured in conformity with other parts of the IEC 60534 series, for pressure ratings up to Class 2500, and limits actuator requirements to pneumatic actuators. The standard excludes valves in radioactive, fire‑safety or other hazardous services where a dedicated hazardous‑service standard takes precedence.

Keywords: EN IEC 60534-4:2022, IEC 60534-4, control valve inspection, routine testing, industrial-process control valves.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard prescribes tests, measurement methods and acceptance criteria relevant to valve performance and quality assurance, including:

• Inspection scope and general requirements for routine factory testing.
• Hydrostatic testing - the document refers to hydrostatic testing but defers detailed procedure to the applicable valve design code.
• Seat leakage tests - procedures for measuring leakage and specifying leakage classes; limits and test conditions including reduced-differential and low‑temperature considerations are covered.
• Packing tests - mandatory routines to verify packing integrity and acceptable leakage behavior.
• Rated valve travel tests - verification of travel range and positioner/actuator response.
• Dead band and hysteresis tests - measurement methods and recommended maximum dead band values.
• Stroking time tests - procedures to assess actuator speed and dynamic response.
• Test instrumentation and calibration - pressure, flow and travel measurement requirements; test medium and fixture guidance.
• Documentation - recommended checklists and example calculations (informative annexes) for seat leakage evaluation.

The fourth edition introduces notable technical changes: mandatory packing testing, clarified hydrostatic testing practice, limits for reduced-differential pressure leakage testing, low‑temperature leakage details, extended leakage class VI dimensions, and inclusion of stroking time tests.

Applications and practical value

EN IEC 60534-4:2022 is used to:

• Ensure consistent factory acceptance testing (FAT) of control valves before shipment.
• Provide objective acceptance criteria for seat leakage, packing performance, travel and dynamic behavior.
• Support quality assurance and traceability in valve manufacturing and procurement.
• Reduce field failures by validating valve performance under defined test conditions.

Common application sectors: oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, water treatment, process industries - anywhere precision control valves are installed.

Who should use this standard

• Valve manufacturers and test laboratories
• QA/QC engineers and production managers
• Plant operators, maintenance and instrumentation teams
• Procurement and third‑party inspection bodies
• Design and control engineers specifying valve performance

Related standards

• IEC 60534 (series) - other parts of the industrial‑process control valve family
• IEC 61298 (series) - related actuator/positioner standards (harmonized)
• ISO 15848-2 - referenced for leakage testing of specific applications (noted as EN ISO 15848-2 in Annex ZA)

Using EN IEC 60534-4:2022 helps align valve testing practice with international best practice, improving reliability, safety and contractual clarity for control valve supply and acceptance.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2022
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 60534-4:2007
Regulacijski ventili za industrijske procese - 4. del: Preverjanje in rutinsko
preskušanje (IEC 60534-4:2021)
Industrial-process control valves - Part 4: Inspection and routine testing (IEC 60534-
4:2021)
Stellventile für die Prozessregelung - Teil 4: Abnahme und Prüfungen (IEC 60534-
4:2021)
Vannes de régulation des processus industriels - Partie 4: Inspection et essais
individuels de série (IEC 60534-4:2021)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60534-4:2022
ICS:
23.060.40 Tlačni regulatorji Pressure regulators
25.040.40 Merjenje in krmiljenje Industrial process
industrijskih postopkov measurement and control
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 60534-4

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM February 2022
ICS 23.060 Supersedes EN 60534-4:2006 and all of its amendments
and corrigenda (if any)
English Version
Industrial-process control valves - Part 4: Inspection and routine
testing
(IEC 60534-4:2021)
Vannes de régulation des processus industriels - Partie 4: Stellventile für die Prozessregelung - Teil 4: Abnahme und
Inspection et essais individuels de série Prüfungen
(IEC 60534-4:2021) (IEC 60534-4:2021)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2022-01-20. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60534-4:2022 E

European foreword
The text of document 65B/1208/FDIS, future edition 4 of IEC 60534-4:2021, prepared by SC 65B
“Measurement and control devices” of IEC/TC 65 “Industrial-process measurement, control and
automation” was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2022–10–20
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2025–01–20
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60534-4:2006 and all of its amendments and corrigenda (if any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60534-4:2021 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards
indicated:
IEC 61298 (series) NOTE Harmonized as EN 61298 (series)
ISO 15848-2 NOTE Harmonized as EN ISO 15848-2
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1 Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the
relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60534 (series) - Industrial-process control valves EN 60534 (series) -

IEC 60534-4 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Industrial-process control valves –

Part 4: Inspection and routine testing

Vannes de régulation des processus industriels –

Partie 4: Inspection et essais individuels de série

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 23.060 ISBN 978-2-8322-1059-3

– 2 – IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Requirements . 8
4.1 General . 8
4.2 Hydrostatic test . 9
4.3 Seat leakage test . 9
4.4 Packing test . 10
4.5 Rated valve travel test . 10
4.6 Dead band tests . 10
4.7 Additional tests . 10
5 Tests procedures . 10
5.1 Measuring instruments . 10
5.1.1 General . 10
5.1.2 Pressure measuring instruments . 10
5.1.3 Flow measuring instruments . 10
5.1.4 Travel measuring instruments . 10
5.1.5 Calibration . 11
5.2 Test medium . 11
5.3 Test fixtures . 11
5.4 Hydrostatic test . 11
5.5 Seat leak test . 11
5.5.1 Test medium . 11
5.5.2 Actuator adjustments . 12
5.5.3 Test procedure . 12
5.5.4 Leakage specifications . 12
5.6 Packing test . 14
5.6.1 General . 14
5.6.2 Procedure A . 14
5.6.3 Procedure B . 15
5.7 Rated valve travel test . 15
5.7.1 General . 15
5.7.2 Control valves with positioners . 15
5.7.3 Control valves with spring-opposed actuators without positioners . 16
5.7.4 Control valves with double-acting actuators without positioners . 16
5.8 Dead band tests . 16
5.8.1 General . 16
5.8.2 Test equipment . 16
5.8.3 Test procedure . 16
5.8.4 Acceptance criteria . 17
5.9 Stroking time test . 17
5.9.1 General . 17
5.9.2 Test equipment . 18
5.9.3 Test procedures . 18
Annex A (informative) Example calculations of seat leakage . 19

IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021 – 3 –
A.1 General . 19
A.1.1 Overview . 19
A.1.2 Valve description . 19
A.1.3 Test differential pressures . 19
A.1.4 Calculation of rated valve capacity. 19
A.1.5 Calculated maximum allowable seat leakages . 22
A.2 General . 22
A.2.1 Overview . 22
A.2.2 Valve description . 22
A.2.3 Test differential pressure . 22
A.2.4 Calculation of class VI maximum allowable seat leakage . 23
Annex B (informative) Inspection and routine testing checklist (per IEC 60534-4) . 24
Bibliography . 25

Figure 1 – Hysteresis and dead band . 7

Table 1 – Tests . 9
Table 2 – Maximum seat leakage for each leakage class . 13
Table 3 – Maximum recommended values of dead band . 17
Table A.1 – Maximum seat leakage for each leakage class . 22

– 4 – IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
INDUSTRIAL-PROCESS CONTROL VALVES –

Part 4: Inspection and routine testing

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC Publication(s)”). Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 60534-4 has been prepared by subcommittee 65B: Measurement and control devices, of
IEC technical committee 65: Industrial-process measurement, control and automation. It is an
International Standard.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2006. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) remove details about hydrostatic test but state that to be performed according to valve
design code;
b) include mandatory test for valve packing;
c) put in evidence limits of reduced differential pressure seat leakage test procedure;
d) introduce details about low temperature seat leakage test;
e) extend dimensional range for leakage class VI to less than 25 mm and over 400 mm seat
diameter;
IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021 – 5 –
f) include stroking time tests.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
65B/1208/FDIS 65B/1211/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60534 series, published under the general title Industrial-process
control valves, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
– 6 – IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021
INDUSTRIAL-PROCESS CONTROL VALVES –

Part 4: Inspection and routine testing

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60534 specifies the requirements for the inspection and routine testing of
control valves manufactured in conformity with the other parts of IEC 60534.
This document is applicable to valves with pressure ratings not exceeding Class 2500. The
requirements for actuators apply only to pneumatic actuators.
This document does not apply to the types of control valves where radioactive service, fire
safety testing, or other hazardous service conditions are encountered. If a standard for
hazardous service conflicts with the requirements of this document, the standard for hazardous
service should take precedence.
NOTE This document can be extended to higher pressure ratings by agreement between the purchaser and the
manufacturer.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60534 (all parts), Industrial-process control valves
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in the IEC 60534 series and
the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
bench range
range of pressures to the actuator within which the nominal travel is performed in both
directions, with no pressure in the valve, but including friction forces
Note 1 to entry: The actuator operating range, i.e. when the valve is installed under actual process conditions, will
be different from the bench range.
3.2
dead band
finite range of values within which reversal of the input variable does not produce any noticeable
change in the output variable (see Figure 1)

IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021 – 7 –

a) Hysteresis
b) Dead band
c) Hysteresis with dead band
Figure 1 – Hysteresis and dead band
3.3
dead band error
maximum value of the span of the dead band (over the measuring range)

– 8 – IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021
3.4
hysteresis
property of a device or instrument whereby it gives different output values in relation to its input
values depending on the directional sequence in which the input values have been applied
(see Figure 1)
3.5
hysteresis error
maximum deviation between the two calibration curves of the measured variable as obtained
by an upscale going traverse and a downscale going traverse over the full range and subtracting
the value of the dead band
3.6
type inspection and testing
inspection and testing carried out by the manufacturer in accordance with its own procedures
to assess whether products made by the same manufacturing process meet the requirements
of the purchase order
Note 1 to entry: The products inspected and tested need not necessarily be the products actually supplied.
3.7
actual inspection and testing
inspection and testing carried out, before delivery, according to the technical requirements of
the purchase order, on the products to be supplied or on test units of which the product supplied
is part, in order to verify whether these products comply with the requirements of the purchase
order
4 Requirements
4.1 General
Each valve shall be submitted to the mandatory tests specified in Table 1. Supplementary tests
given are subject to agreement between manufacturer and purchaser. An inspection and routine
testing check list as specified by the present document is given in Annex B.

IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021 – 9 –
Table 1 – Tests
Test Category Reference
1. Shell hydrostatic test M 4.2 and 5.4
2. Seat leakage test M 4.3 and 5.5
b
4.4 and 5.6.2
3. Packing test M
b
4.4 and 5.6.3
S
a
M 4.5 and 5.7
4. Rated valve travel
a
S 4.6 and 5.8
5. Dead band
6. Flow capacity S 4.7 and IEC 60534-2-3
7. Flow characteristic S 4.7 and IEC 60534-2-4
8. Stroking time test S 5.9
M = Mandatory
S = Supplementary
The shell hydrostatic test shall be performed first for safety reasons. Other tests should be done in the sequence
given above.
a
The results of tests of a valve under static conditions in a factory generally do not correspond to performance
under working conditions. This document is intended only to provide guidance for negotiations between the
manufacturer and the purchaser relative to tests of a specific valve.
b
The packing test shall be performed during the shell hydrostatic test if packing is installed during that test in
accordance with 4.4 and 5.6.2. The supplementary packing test can also be performed in accordance with 4.4
and 5.6.3 if desired or specified by the customer.

4.2 Hydrostatic test
All control valve assemblies, excluding welded on fittings, with or without the actuator fitted,
shall be subject to a hydrostatic test as specified in 5.4.
4.3 Seat leakage test
The manufacturer shall advise if the achievable leak rate is less than the maximum allowed leak
rate. If agreed to by the manufacturer and the user, the actual leak rate and allowed leak rate
and the corresponding test pressure may be reported on the final certification.
Leakage shall be specified by the following code:
X X X
↓ ↓ ↓
Leakage class Test fluid Test procedure
as shown in Table 3: G: air or nitrogen 1 or 2
I to VI L: water
Example: III L 1
The seat leakage test as described in 5.5 shall be performed on each valve.
These seat leakage provisions do not apply to control valves with rated flow coefficients less
than the following:
K = 0,086;   C = 0,1
v v
Class VI is intended to apply to resilient seated valves only.

– 10 – IEC 60534-4:2021 © IEC 2021
NOTE 1 This part of the standard cannot be used as a basis for predicting leakage when the control valve is installed
under actual operating conditions.
NOTE 2 The actual and allowed leak rates, along with the corresponding test pressure, can also be included in the
test certification upon agreement between the manufacturer and the buyer.
4.4 Packing test
This test, as described in 5.6, applies to the main valve packing. Secondary packing of the
bellows may be excluded from this test when it is not under pressure during the hydrostatic test.
4.5 Rated valve travel test
Travel adjustment of control valves shall be verified by test in the factory as described in 5.7.
4.6 Dead band tests
The purpose of the dead band test is to measure the change in operating signal required to
produce a reversal of stem (or shaft) movement at approximately 25 %, 50 % and 75 % of the
rated travel of the valve actuator. These tests as described in 5.8 shall be performed on the
assembly as it will be supplied.
4.7 Additional tests
Additional tests such as flow capacity, flow characteristic, stroking time, hysteresis, etc. (which
are outside the scope of this standard), if required, shall be the subject of agreement between
the manufacturer and the purchaser.
5 Tests procedures
5.1 Measuring instruments
5.1.1 General
Performance of measuring instruments is based on IEC 61298. The installation of all
instruments shall be capable of meeting the requested accuracy.
5.1.2 Pressure measuring instruments
The analogue or digital pressure measuring instruments used in testi
...