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Valve Selection & Trim Guide

Valve Selection & Trim Guide

Screen manual valve type, construction materials and special-service qualification — then verify the selected design against project specification and manufacturer data.

Step 1

Define the service

A preliminary ranking for manual/on-off valves based on duty and fluid traits.

Priorities

Preliminary ranking

ASME / API Guide
#1

Ball valve

API 608 · API 6D

Best fit
  • Fast quarter-turn isolation.
The body may carry an ASME Class rating, but soft seats frequently govern the usable envelope; metal-seated designs require a manufacturer-specific leakage and torque review.
#2

Gate valve

API 600 · API 602 · API 6D

  • Full-bore, low-loss isolation.
Steel gate valves are commonly available in ASME Classes 150–2500; the allowable pressure at temperature is set by ASME B16.34 material group and the selected valve design.
#3

Plug valve

API 599 · API 6D

  • Quarter-turn isolation for difficult fluids.
The body rating follows the applicable ASME B16.34 material group, but sleeve, sealant, packing, torque and fire-safe construction can reduce the usable pressure-temperature envelope.
Final selection requires size/class, design pressure and temperature, corrosion/erosion, leakage requirement, actuation, piping loads and project PMS review.