Do valves in pipelines have to be supported?

This is a question frequently asked by planning and field assembly companies. Depending on the nominal width of the valves, these may even have to be supported as not only the valves’ own weight but also the amounts of water present in the valves need to be taken into account.

This weight cannot always be sustained by the pipeline alone and may also lead to fatigue fractures in the pipeline over time. This is why many valve bodies have a flat resting surface provided for support. Sometimes even special base plates (e.g. for the VAG RIKO® Plunger Valve or the VAG EKN® Butterfly Valve with VAG HYsec Hydraulic Brake-and-Lift Unit) are provided. This always allows the valves to move in lengthwise direction along with the pipeline.

In all circumstances it should be remembered that conventional valves must never be used as anchor points in a pipeline. Valves to be used as anchor points in pipeline systems are special, customised valves which are specially designed for this purpose and sufficiently dimensioned to take up pipeline forces.