EN 12516
Inspection & Test Plan

EN 12516 Inspection & Test Plan (ITP)

A typical stage-wise ITP / quality plan for valves supplied to EN 12516 — inspection activities, tests, acceptance references and verifying documents, with recommended hold, witness and review points for QC and third-party inspection.

What is the ITP for EN 12516 valves?

An Inspection & Test Plan (ITP) sequences every check between raw material and dispatch, and assigns each an inspection level — Review (document check), Witness (inspector may attend), or Hold (work stops until released). The plan below is a typical ITP for valves built to EN 12516 (Industrial Valves - Shell Design Strength); the tests and documents are drawn directly from the standard's requirements. Use it to structure your QAP or coordinate third-party inspection.

Inspection level:ReviewWitnessHold

1. Documentation & design review

Review
  • Approval of drawings, datasheets and QAP against EN 12516
  • Part 1 (EN 12516-1): Wall thickness tables for common valve materials (steel, stainless steel) vs pressure-temperature class
  • Part 2 (EN 12516-2): Analytical calculation method for non-standard geometries and materials

2. Raw material verification

Review
  • Material Test Reports (MTRs) review per EN 10204 3.1/3.2
  • Positive Material Identification (PMI) of pressure-containing parts

3. Dimensional inspection

Witness
  • Dimensional check per EN 12516 / ASME B16.34 / applicable face-to-face
  • Wall thickness verification

4. NDE (as applicable)

Witness
  • Visual, and RT/UT/MPI/DPT of castings/welds per specification

5. Pressure & performance testing

Hold
  • Shell pressure test per EN 12266-1 (industrial valve testing standard): 1.5× rated pressure, 2 minutes minimum
  • Seat leakage test per EN 12266-1, leak rate class A/B/C/D per EN 1267
  • Prototype pressure test to burst (EN 12516-3) if calculation method not applied

Primary hold point — witnessed shell, seat and backseat tests.

6. Marking, painting & preservation

Review
  • Nameplate & body marking verification
  • Painting/coating DFT check, end protection and preservation

7. Final documentation

Hold
  • Design calculation report per EN 12516-2 or wall thickness compliance table per EN 12516-1
  • Declaration of Conformity to EN 12516 and PED 2014/68/EU (for CE-marked valves)
  • EN 10204 3.1 material test certificates confirming actual Rm/Rp0.2 properties
  • CE Technical File including design calculations, test records, and quality documentation

Final documentation review before release/dispatch.

This is a typical ITP framework populated from EN 12516 requirements, for reference. The actual hold/witness/review split is agreed per project between purchaser, manufacturer and the third-party inspection agency in the approved QAP. Confirm project-specific requirements before use.

Reviewed by Valve Standards Engineering, Vajra Industrial SolutionsDiscipline: Industrial Valve Standards & ComplianceLast reviewed: 20 June 2026

Need EN 12516 valves with a full ITP?

We supply EN 12516-compliant valves with a project-specific ITP, in-house QC and third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TUV, DNV) coordination — hold and witness points accommodated. Get a 24-hour quote.

Engineering references