EN 12516 Check Valves
What EN 12516 requires for check valves — applicability, key and testing requirements, the alternative standards, and compliant supply with full certification.
What does EN 12516 require for check valves?
EN 12516 (Industrial Valves - Shell Design Strength, European Committee for Standardization (CEN)) sets the design, material and testing requirements for check valves in its scope. EN 12516 specifies the method for calculating the minimum required wall thickness of valve pressure-containing shells (body and bonnet) and sets the basis for European valve design strength calculations - serving the same function as ASME B16.34 pressure-temperature rating tables do in American practice. EN 12516 is the basis for PED (Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU) pressure rating calculations for CE-marked European industrial valves. It applies to ferrous and non-ferrous metallic valves in all DN sizes and PN classes.
Applicable Pressure Classes
Key Requirements
- 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
- Design temperature range: typically −200°C to +700°C depending on material
- Allowable stress values tabulated by material and temperature in EN 12516-1 Annex A
- Corrosion allowance: min 0.5 mm for standard service, higher for corrosive service per specifier's request
- Burst pressure requirements for non-standard designs verified by EN 12516-3 experimental method
- Compliance with EN 12516 is a pre-requisite for CE marking under PED 2014/68/EU for Category II/III valves
Testing Requirements
- 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
Alternative Standards for Check Valves
Other standards that also govern check valves — useful for spec cross-acceptance.
Connected Engineering
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