Common valve storage and preservation issues

Proper valve storage, preparation and handling is key to preventing damage and corrosion to the valve to ensure proper delivery to client.

Stacking Problem

To reduce shipping cost, Valves are often shipped in bulk. A common method of valve packaging is stacking the valves with their flanges facing up, however, stacking valves in this manner can lead to many potential problems. • Valve flange Facings Deformation – facing may be damaged from blunt trauma and deformation from the weight of the valves untop; • Severe Rusting of Facing – The bottom flange face, if exposed to moisture, can retain water and lead to severe facing corrosion. • Bent Accessories and Handwheels – Many valves are equipped with handwheels and fittings larger than the valve, often damaged during stacking. • Valve Flange Deformation – Small stainless products may have flanges that are compliant, but weak. These flanges will deformed when stacked. • Compacted Flange Protector – Plastic flange protectors typically have tapered retaining tabs. These tabs can become compacted when stacked, causing them to be very difficult to extract. Best case scenario; extra time are spent removing it. Worst scenario; workers damages the valve facing with prying tools. • Corrosion Inhibitor Cross Contamination – Thinner oil based rust preventives commonly used for the internal cavity of the valve may drip down and attack raise face corrosion inhibitors • Improper Flange face Protection – Many times, third party will conduct testing of the valve and put grease on the raise faces as corrosion preservation, These preservation immediately gets pushed away from the facing when stacked; render the corrosion protection ineffective Bonus tips: Refer to ASME B16.5 for guidance on allowable raise face “imperfections“. A fit for service mindset using that standard and the expecting sealing area of the gasket