What is ISO 14246 – Manufacturing tests and examinations of gas cylinder valves about?
ISO 14246 is an International Standard that discusses gas cylinders. The main objective of ISO 14246 is to demonstrate whether gas cylinder vales are fit for purpose.
ISO 14246 specifies the procedures and acceptance criteria for manufacturing tests and examinations (sometimes called "initial inspection and tests") of valves designed and type tested in accordance with ISO 10297.
ISO 14246 is applicable to:
- Cylinder valves intended to be fitted to refillable transportable gas cylinders
- Main valves (excluding ball valves) for cylinder bundles
- Cylinder valves or main valves with integrated pressure regulator (VIPR)
- Valves for pressure drums and tubes
The principles of these manufacturing tests and examinations can be beneficially applied to cylinder valves type tested to national or International Standards other than ISO 10297.
Note: Where there is no risk of ambiguity, cylinder valves, main valves, VIPR and valves for pressure drums and tubes are addressed with the collective term “valves” within ISO 14246.
Who is ISO 14246 – Manufacturing tests and examinations of gas cylinder valves for?
ISO 14246 on the manufacturing tests and examinations of gas cylinder valves is useful for:
- Gas cylinder manufacturers
- Cylinder valve manufacturers
- Product design engineers
- Quality control and testing authorities
- Inspection bodies
- Medical industry applications
Why should you use ISO 14246 – Manufacturing tests and examinations of gas cylinder valves?
Adequate performance of cylinder valves is critical to the operational and functional integrity of gas cylinders.
ISO 14246 covers guidance on the cleanliness of valves, such that introduction of particles and risk of contamination is minimized during the assembly process, to meet the requirements of the intended service.
ISO 14246 also provides best industry practices for carrying out manufacturing tests and examinations, that demonstrate the quality and perfromance of cylinder valves and determine whether the products are fit for the intended end-use application.
Valves conforming to ISO 14246 can be expected to perform satisfactorily under normal service conditions.
Thus, if you are a manufacturer, complying with the manufacturing tests and examinations of cylinder valves recommended by ISO 14246 can be beneficial for quality control purposes. This can ultimately ensure your gas cylinder valves provide adequate leaktightness and pressure required for optimal gas cylinder performance. Through testing and examination, you identify and reject valves if their working pressure is below that of the cylinder.