API 600 Gate Valves
What API 600 requires for gate valves — applicability, key and testing requirements, the alternative standards, and compliant supply with full certification.
What does API 600 require for gate valves?
API 600 (Specification for Steel Gate Valves - Flanged and Butt-Welding Ends, Bolted and Pressure-Seal Bonnets, American Petroleum Institute (API)) sets the design, material and testing requirements for gate valves in its scope. API 600 is the primary design and manufacturing standard for full-opening steel gate valves in sizes NPS 2 and larger with flanged or butt-weld ends and bolted or pressure-seal bonnets. It is widely specified by oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and pipeline operators for wedge gate valves in high-temperature and high-pressure service. API 600 defines trim numbers, body and bonnet wall thickness, testing requirements, and documentation for all carbon and alloy steel gate valves.
Applicable Pressure Classes
Key Requirements
- Minimum wall thickness calculated per ASME B16.34 plus corrosion allowance
- 14 standardised trim numbers defining body seat, gate face, and stem materials
- Stellite (Alloy 6) hard-facing for Trim 5 (316 SS seats, Stellite-faced) and Trim 12 (410 SS, Stellite-faced)
- Rising stem and non-rising stem configurations with back seat for packing replacement under pressure
- Bolted bonnet for standard service; pressure-seal bonnet for Class 900 and higher
- Hydrostatic shell and seat tests per API 598 required before shipment
- Body cavity pressure relief required for thermal expansion of trapped fluid
- Fugitive emission packing (live-loaded graphite) per ISO 15848 when specified
Testing Requirements
- Shell test: 1.5× rated pressure for minimum 60 seconds
- Seat leakage test: 1.1× rated pressure per API 598 Class VI
- Back seat test: 1.1× rated pressure with packing loose
- Dimensional inspection per API 600 Table 1 face-to-face dimensions
Alternative Standards for Gate Valves
Other standards that also govern gate valves — useful for spec cross-acceptance.
Related Standards
Connected Engineering
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