LEAKAGE ACCEPTANCE RATES COMPARISON METAL & SOFT

SEATED VALVES ISO 5208/API 598/API 6D/MSS SP-61/FCI 70-2

TESTING & LEAKAGE RATES OVERVIEW
From an engineering point of view, almost all valves leak by some measure. Valves may be said to be ‘bubble tight’
or ‘zero leakage’, but in actuality that is just a term that specifies the allowable leakage of that classification. From
and engineering viewpoint there is no such thing as true zero leakage. Triple and quadruple offset butterfly valve
manufacturers differentiate their product by claiming this style of valve actually is zero leakage. Bear in mind even
solid glass ‘leaks’ 1cc every 3 years per square cm! Did you know, API 6D/API 598/ISO 5208 do not always require a
high pressure and a low pressure seat test to be done as a mandatory requirements for all valves types? Depending
on size, type and class only either a high or a low pressure test but not both. Global Supply Line enforces all our
manufacturers perform both testes.

In the past many products were rated with Cold Working Pressure (CWP) (i.e. 800 psi WOG which meant 800 psi
working pressure for water, oil or gas service), instead of the ASME/ANSI pressure classes used today for most steel
valves. Of course many ‘commodity’, low pressure screwed end valves up to 2000 psi are still produced in CWP WOG
ratings.

The base test specification for most steel valves is API 598 ‘Valve Inspection & Test’. Most metallic seated valves
larger than ANSI 50 NB (2”) size have an allowable leakage rate shown in API 598 and ISO 5208. Soft seated valves
such as ball valves must be zero leakage. Bronze gate, globe & check valves are usually only tested per MSS SP-61
‘Pressure Testing of Steel Valves’.

‘Pipeline Valves’ such as trunnion mounted ball valves, pressure balanced lubricated plug valves and pipeline slab
gate valves are tested to API6D - ‘Pipeline Valves’. API6D now references ISO 5208 leakage rates. The testing
requirements differ slightly from API 598 (ISO 5208 is now mirrored to API598). The primary difference being 6D’s
focus on valves with zero allowable leakage on closure (seating) tests which is achieved as most of the valves built to
API 6D are resilient seated. Of course metal seated valves are also accommodated as API 6D references ISO 5208
leakage rates. However, metal seated API 6D and API 594 check valves do have a seat leakage allowance. API 598/
ISO 5208 does incorporate a zero leakage requirement for soft seated valves used in refineries and downstream but
API 6D is generally specified for pipeline valves.

Conventional metal seated API midstream and down stream valves allow varying degrees of seat leakage. API 598/
ISO 5208. Examples of common ASME/ANSI valves used by Petroleum, Petrochemical & allied industries are:
• API 608 Floating Ball Valves
• API 600/API 603 Gate Valves
• API 623/ASME B16.34 Globe Valves (formerly BS1873)
• API 594/API 6D/ASME B16.34 Swing Check Valves (formerly BS 1868)
• API 594 Wafer Check Valves

EXPLANATION OF ZERO AND LOW LEAKAGE TEST STANDARDS

In general, specification such as API 598 (mirrored with ISO 5208) or API 6D (ISO 5208 leakage rates) that govern
leakage for soft seated valves call for ‘0’ bubbles of air or ‘0’ drops of water under the specified test conditions over the
minimum test time period. These valves are therefore sometimes referred to as ‘zero leakage’ valves. In reality, there
really is no such thing as ‘zero leakage’, since microscopic amounts of material may indeed cross the seat or packing
boundaries, especially if helium or hydrogen or other small molecule gases are used. Another common term for soft
seated valves is ‘bubble tight’.

Less frequently, the leakage performance for soft seated valves is referred to as Class VI (EN 60534-4), which is
the tightest leakage under FCI 70-2, and generally applies to resilient seated control valves (as opposed to metal
seated control valves or soft seated shut off valves). In fact, FCI 70-2 Class VI (EN 60534-4) (formerly ANSI B  16.104)
allows a small number of bubbles and drips per minute, increasing with valve size, during the test, whereas API 598

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Head Office - 1 to 19 Barndioota Rd Salisbury Plain South Australia 5109 Ph +61 (0)8 8285 0000 www.globalsupplyline.com.au

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VALVES AND PIPELINE SUPPLIES
does not (for soft seat, but does for metal seat). FCI 70-2 Class VI (EN 60534-4) is for soft seated control valves but
is frequently used as a leakage acceptance test criteria for metal seated isolation valves such as ball and butterfly
valves. FCI 70-2 only requires a low pressure test, consequently closure and seat tests should also be done per API
598 (ISO 5208 leakage acceptance rates) or MSS SP-61. MSS SP-61 allows only 2.66 drops per minute per inch for
isolation valves and is regarded as tight shut off for many types of industrial valves. It is superior to FCI 70-2 Class VI
(EN 60534-4) (see Table 7).

In fact even for metal seat valves the API 598 leak acceptance criteria for metal seated valves (excluding check
valves) a llows less leakage than FCI 70-2 (ISA-S75.19) Class VI (EN 60534-4). For zero leakage metal seated
valves, API 6D (ISO 5208 Rate A) or API 598 soft seated zero leakage criteria can be specified (such as triple offset
metal seated butterfly valves and some metal seated ball valves). Special provisions for zero leakage gate valves can
also be specified to BS 6755 (now EN 12266-1) and ISO 5208 under special zero leakage classes. However, metal
seated valves usually have some level of acceptable leakage when tested, defined first as some acceptable amount
of liquid, under test conditions and over the time period of the test. Knife gate valves refer to MSS SP-81/MSS SP-
151 leakage rates for metal seated (for resilient seat refer to MSS SP-61 or the manufacturer or client will nominate
leakage).

ISO 5208 (EN 12266-1) supersedes BS 6755-1 and specifies acceptable leakage rates such as ‘Rate A’ and ‘Rate B’.
Rate A allows ‘no visible leakage’, similar to API 598 for resilient seated valves. API 6D now references leakage rates
in ISO 5208 which in turn corresponds to leakage rates in EN 12266-1 (but only for class A, B, C, D, E, F & G).

COMMON VALVE TYPES & RELATED TEST STANDARDS

Valve type Common test standard
Steel ball, gate, globe and check valves API 598/ ISO 5208
Steel ball, gate, globe and check valves BS 6755*, ISO 5208 (EN 12266-1)
Cast Iron gate valves API 598/ ISO 5208, MSS SP-70
Bronze gate, globe and check valves MSS SP-80
Steel gate, globe and check valves larger than NPS 24” ASME B16.34
Pressure seal gate, globe and check valves ASME B16.34
Pipeline valves API 6D/ ISO 14313, ISO 5208
Cast iron checks API 598/ ISO 5208, MSS SP-71
Cast iron globes API 598/ ISO 5208, MSS SP-85
Cast iron plugs API 598/ ISO 5208, MSS SP-78
Steel ball valves API 598/ ISO 5208
Steel butterfly valves API 598/ ISO 5208
Cryogenic valves API 598/ ISO 5208, BS 6364
Control valves FCI 70-2, ISA-S75
Pressure relief valves API 527, ASME PTC 25
* ISO 5208 (EN 12266-1) supersedes BS 6755.

ANSI/FCI 70-2-2005 VALVE LEAKAGE CLASSIFICATIONS

(Supersedes ANSI B16.104)

Class I. Identical to Class II, III, and IV in construction and design intent, but no actual shop test is made.
Class II. Intended for double-port or balanced single-port valves with a metal piston ring seal and metal-to-metal
seats. Air or water at 45 to 60 psig is the test fluid. Allowable leakage is 0.5% of the rated full open
capacity.
Class III. Intended for the same type of valves as in Class II. Allowable leakage is limited to 0.1% of rated valve
capacity.
Class IV. Intended for single-port and balanced single-port valves with extra-tight piston seals and metal-to-metal
seats. Leakage rate is limited to 0.01% of rated valve capacity (known as metal to metal). Test fluid is
air or water, pressure 45 and 50 psig or the operating pressure if lower.
Class V. Intended for the same types of valves as Class IV. The test fluid is water at 100 psig or operating
pressure. Leakage allowed is limited to 5 x 10-4 ml (= .0005ml) per minute per inch of orifice diameter
per psi differential.
Class VI. Intended for resilient-seating valves. The test fluid is air or nitrogen. Pressure is the lesser of 50 psig or
(EN 60534-4) operating pressure. The leakage limit depends on valve size and range from 0.15 to 11.5 ml per minute
for valve sizes 1 through to 12 inches (known as soft seat classification). Class VI (EN60534-4) is also
frequently used as a leakage bench mark for metal seated control and isolation valves where a tight
degree of shut off is required.

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There are six seat leakage classifications defined by ANSI/FCI 70-2 (supersedes ANSI B16.104). The six valve
Leakage classifications are as follows:

Table 1 - FCI 70-2 Leakage Rates Class VI (EN 60534-4)

Nominal Port Diameter Allowable Leakage Allowable Leakage
(inches) (ml Per Minute) (Bubbles Per Minute)
1 0.15 1
1.5 0.30 2
2 0.45 3
2.5 0.60 4
3 0.90 6
4 1.70 11
6 4.00 27
8 6.75 45
10 9.00 63
12 11.5 81
14 21.6
16 28.4

Bubbles per minute is a suggested alternative to ml per minute; in which a 0.25 inch OD x 0.032 inch wall tube is submerged in water to a depth of
1/8” to 1/4”. The tube is to be cut square and smooth with no imperfections and should be perpendicular to the surface of the water.

API 598 VALVE LEAKAGE RATES

API 598 (also mirrored by ISO 5208) from the American Petroleum Institute also covers testing/inspection requirements
for gate, globe, check, ball, plug and butterfly valves. API 598 indicates that for shell and backseat tests (backseat only
applies in the case of gate & globe valves), no visible leakage is permitted through body, body liner or joints; i.e. no
visible evidence of drops or wetting of the external surfaces. In the case of ‘metal to metal’ butterfly valves, the client
can specify the acceptable leakage rate. API 598 nominates a low pressure seat test of 80 psi and a high pressure
seat* hydrostatic test of 1.1x the maximum valve cold working pressure rating and a high pressure hydrostatic test of
1.5 x the maximum valve cold working pressure rating.
* The requirements on the body for seat testing under API 598 do vary according to valve type, size & class. For instance trunnion valves 150 NB (6”)
and over seat testing requirements are more stringent. Refer to our technical data sheet on test pressures for API 598. Having said that API 6D/ISO
5208 is the required standard for trunnion ball valves.

API 598’s allowable seat leakage rates are as follows:

Table 2 - API 598 (9th edition 2009) Valve Seat Leakage Rates
All Metal-Seated Valves
Metal-Seated Check Valves
DN NPS All Resilient Seated (except Check Valves)
(mm) (in.) Valves Liquid Test (drops/ Gas Test (bubbles/ Liquid Test (cc/ Gas Test (m3/
min.) min.) min.) hr)
≤ 50 2 0 0b 0b 6 0.08
65 2 1/2 0 5 10 7.5 0.11
80 3 0 6 12 9 0.13
100 4 0 8 16 12 0.17
125 5 0 10 20 15 0.21
150 6 0 12 24 18 0.25
200 8 0 16 32 24 0.34
250 10 0 20 40 30 0.42
300 12 0 24 48 36 0.50
350 14 0 28 56 42 0.59
400 16 0 32 64 48 0.67
450 18 0 36 72 54 0.76
500 20 0 40 80 60 0.84
600 24 0 48 96 72 1.01
650 26 0 52 104 78 1.09
700 28 0 56 112 84 1.18
750 30 0 60 120 90 1.26
800 32 0 64 128 96 1.34
900 36 0 72 144 108 1.51
1000 40 0 80 160 120 1.68
1050 42 0 84 168 126 1.76
1200 48 0 96 192 144 2.02

a) 1 Milliliter and 1 cc is considered equivalent to 16 drops for the liquid test. b) There shall be no leakage for the minimum specified test duration.
For liquid test, 0 drop means no visible leakage per minimum specified test duration. For gas test, 0 bubbles means less than 1 bubble per minimum
specified test duration.

WARNING Even though leakage acceptance rates are shown under API 598 it is not mandatory to do high pressure hydrostatic seat
test or a low pressure pneumatic seat test (see full details next page). This must be specified at time of order. APV seat tests high and
low pressure as standard but many manufacturers do not.

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 Table 3 - API598 Pressure Tests
Valves: DN (NPS) ≤ DN 100 (NPS 4) and ASME Class ≤ 1500
DN (NPS) > DN 100 (NPS 4) and ASME Class ≤ 600
Valve Type
Test Description Butterfly and
Gate Globe Plug Check Floating Ball Trunnion
Mounted Ball
shell required required required required required required
backseat a required required NA NA NA NA
low-pressure closure required optional c required b optional c required required
high-pressure closure d optional c f required e optional b c f required optional c f optional c f
NOTE NA = Not applicable.
a
The backseat test is required for all valves, except for bellows seals valves, that have the backseat feature.
b
For lubricated plug valves, the high-pressure closure test is mandatory and the low-pressure closure test is optional.
c When the purchaser specifies an “option” test, the test shall be performed in addition to the required tests.
d The high-pressure closure test of resilient-seated valves may degrade subsequent sealing performance in low-
pressure service.
e For power-operated and manually operated gear actuated globe valves, including non-return type globe valves,
the high-pressure closure test shall be performed at 110% of the design differential pressure used for sizing of the
operator.
f
A high-pressure closure test is required for all valves specified to be double block and bleed valves.

Table 4 - API598 Pressure Tests

Valves: DN (NPS) ≤ DN 100 (NPS 4) and ASME Class ≤ 1500
DN (NPS) > DN 100 (NPS 4) and ASME Class ≤ 600
Valve Type
Test Description Butterfly and
Gate Globe Plug Check Floating Ball Trunnion
Mounted Ball
shell required required required required required required
backseat a required required NA NA NA NA
low-pressure closure optional b optional b optional b optional b required required
high-pressure closure d required required d required required optional b c required
NOTE NA = Not applicable.
a
The backseat test is required for all valves, except for bellows seals valves, that have the backseat feature.
b When an “optional” test is specified by the purchaser, the test shall be performed in addition to the required tests.
d The high-pressure closure test of resilient-seated valves may degrade subsequent sealing performance in low-
pressure service.
e For power-operated and manually operated gear actuated globe valves, including non-return type globe valves,
the high-pressure closure test shall be performed at 110% of the design differential pressure used for sizing of the
operator.
f
A high-pressure closure test is required for all valves specified to be double block and bleed valves.

MSS VALVE LEAKAGE RATES

MSS SP-61-2009 Test Standards - This is the test standard that covers other below listed MSS valve standards. The
Manufacturer’s Standardisation Society also has a section on valve leakage in Section 5 of their ‘Pressure Testing of
Steel Valves - MSS SP-61-2009’. It covers on-off valves. Not control valves.
The following leakage rates are deemed acceptable by this testing standard:
For comparison purposes, the following are examples of leakage rates as noted in the MSS Specifications below:
• 10ml liquid = 2 teaspoons = 1/3 oz. = .001 litres
• 40ml liquid = 3 teaspoons = 1 1/2 oz. = .004 litres
METAL SEATED - GATE, GLOBE, BALL OR BUTTERFLY VALVES: 10 cc/hr per inch of nominal pipe diameter per
hour. This equates to 2.66 drops/min/inch. For air test 1180 bubbles/min/inch is allowed. (e.g. A 6” globe valve is
allowed to leak 60 cc/hr in a test). Metal Seated knife gate valves to MSS SP-81 are not included, refer to MSS-SP151
(see below) which allows 40ml/min/inch at 40 psi (275 kPa). All shut off or isolation valves specified to MSS-SP-61
must pass the above standards. The seat closure test must be performed at a fluid (liquid or gas) pressure no less
than 1.1 times the 1000°F (380°C) rating rounded to the next 5 psi (0.5 bar).

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The MSS SP-61 leakage rate is specified for resilient and metal seated check valves, however some manufacturers
commonly specify a guaranteed maximum leakage for resilient seated check valves. For metal and resilient seated
check valves the leakage rates referred to in MSS SP-81 for knife gate valves is often specified.

MSS SP-70 Cast Iron Gate Valves

The maximum permissible leakage rate on each seat shall be 10 milliliters per hour, per inch of diameter of nominal
valve size.
(i.e. A 100NB (4”) Gate Valve can have a permissible leakage rate of up to 40 mL liquid per hour).
MSS SP-71 Cast Iron Swing Check Valves
The maximum permissible leakage rate shall be 40 milliliters per hour per inch of diameter of nominal valve size.
(i.e. A 150NB (6”) Check Valve can have a permissible leakage rate of up to 240 mL liquid per hour.)
MSS SP-80 Bronze, Gate, Globe, Angle and Check Valves
The maximum permissible leakage rate for Gate, Globe and Angle Valves shall be 10 milliliters of water per hour per
inch of diameter of nominal valve size.
The maximum permissible leakage rate for Check Valves shall be 40 milliliters of water per hour per inch of diameter
of nominal valve size.
(i.e. A 50NB (2”) Gate Valve can have a permissible leakage rate of up to 20 mL liquid per hour.)
MSS SP-85 Cast Iron Globe and Angle Valves
The maximum permissible leakage rate on each seat shall be 10 milliliters per hour per inch of diameter of nominal
valve size.
(i.e. A 200NB (8”) Globe Valve can have a permissible leakage rate of up to 80 mL liquid per hour.)
MSS SP-151 Knife Gate Valves (MSS SP-81)
Metal seated knife gate valves allow 40 milliliters per minute per inch (@ 275 kPa).
Soft seated knife gate valves must be specified, a commonly applied manufacturer acceptance level for smaller sizes
in elastomer seat is 4 milliliters per minute per inch (@ 275 kPa).

API 6D/ISO 5208/EN 12266 VALVE LEAKAGE RATES

In the ISO 5208 Standard, account has been taken of the valve testing requirement needs of EN 12266 and API 598
with requirements referenced for PN designated valves for the former and Class designated valves for the latter.
There is a loosely defined correspondence between the leakage rate acceptance values of API 598 and the leakage
Rate A as applied to DN ≤50, Rate AA-Gas and Rate CC-Liquid for other than metal seated check valves and for
check valves: - Rate EE-Gas and Rate G-Liquid. Rates A, B, C, D, E, F and G correspond to values in EN 12266-1.
API 6D follows (see table 5) leakage rates specified in ISO 5208 covers pipeline valves. API 6D pipeline standards are
a mirror/joint venture with ISO 14313 pipeline valve standards. ISO 5208 nominate several leakage rate levels (API
6D now refers to ISO 5208 leakage rates). The most common being zero leakage ‘Rate A’ for soft seated ball valves,
pipeline (6D style) gate valves and lubricated plug valves. Refer to table 5 for leakage rates. API 6D/ ISO 14313
require a high pressure hydraulic body test (body 1.5x, seat 1.1x maximum valve cold working pressure) and a low
pressure pneumatic test on the seat. No body leakage is allowed per ISO 5208 during body test. High pressure gas
tests are regarded as ‘special tests’. ISO 5208 (EN 12266-1) supersedes BS 6755.

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 Table 5 - Maximum Allowable Closure Test Seat Leakage Rate ISO 5208:2008(E)/API 6D* (2008)
Unit
Test fluid leakage Rate A Rate AA Rate B Rate C Rate CC Rate D Rate E Rate EE Rate F Rate G
rates
0,006 0,01 0,03 0,08 0,1 0,3 0,39 1 2
mm3/s x x x x x x x x x
No visually detectable DN DN DN DN DN DN DN DN DN
Liquid leakage for the duration of
the test 0,000 1 0,000 16 0,000 5 0,001 3 0,001 6 0,004 8 0,006 2 0,016 0,032
drops/s x x x x x x x x x
DN DN DN DN DN DN DN DN DN
0,18 0,3 3 22,3 30 300 470 3 000 6 000
mm3/s x x x x x x x x x
No visually detectable DN DN DN DN DN DN DN DN DN
Gas leakage for the duration of
the test 0,003 0,0046 0,045 8 0,340 7 0,458 4 4,583 7 7,129 3 45,837 91,673
bubbles/s x x x x x x x x x
DN DN DN DN DN DN DN DN DN

* API 6D - 2008 refers to ISO 5208 (2008-E) for leakage rates. EN 12266-1 also corresponds to ISO 5208 leakage rates but only for class
A, B, C, D, E, F & G.
NOTE 1 The leakage rates only apply when discharging test fluid to the atmosphere.
NOTE 2 The closure leakage rate that applies is either that identified in a valve product standard or a leakage rate identified
in a purchaser’s valve procurement purchase order that is more stringent than that specified in the product standard.
NOTE 3 The meaning of “No visually detectable leakage” is that there is no visible weeping or leakage in the form of drops or
bubbles.
NOTE 4 There is a loosely defined correspondence between the leakage rate acceptance values of API 598 and the leakage
values Rate A as applied to DN < 50, Rate AA-Gas CC-Liquid for other than metal seated check valves and for
check valves Rate EE-Gas and Rate G-Liquid. Rates A, B, C, D, E, F and G correspond to values in EN 12266-1.
NOTE 5 Double block & bleed leakage test is optional only and the client can specify the allowable leakage past the first seat
for larger sizes.
NOTE 6 Valves tested in both directions.

Table 6 - Variations in Basic Test Parameters

Test water
Standard Gas Temperature
chlorides
ASME B16.34 ≥ 80 psi NA < 125 deg F

API 598 60 - 80 psi ≤ 100* 41 - 122 deg F

MSS SP-61 60 - 100 psi NA ≤ 125 deg F

ISO 5208 6 bar +/- 1 bar (73 - 102 psi) ≤ 100* ≤ 5 deg C ≤ 40 deg C (41 - 106 deg F)

API 6D NA ≤ 30** (by mass) ≤ 5 deg C ≤ 40 deg C (41 - 106 deg F)

* austenitic stainless steel valves

** wetted components austenitic & duplex stainless steels

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 Table 7 - Common Isolation Valve Leakage Comparison API 598/API 6D/ISO 5208/ ANSI FCI 70-2/MSS SP-61/MSS SP-70/MSS SP-85/MSS SP-151/AS 2638.1
Diameter API 598 API 6D/ ISO 14323 ISO 14323 ISO 14323 ISO 14323 API 6D/ ISO 14313 ANSI FCI 70-2 ANSI FCI 70-2 MSS SP-61 AS 2638.1 MSS SP-151
(not check valves) ISO 14313 Rate AA Rate B Rate C Rate CC Rate D (2006) (2006) (& MSS SP-85 & MSS Metal Metal
(9th ed. 2009) Rate A ISO 5208*** ISO 5208 ISO 5208 ISO 5208 ISO 5208*** Class VI (EN60534-4) Class V (based on seat diameter) SP-70) Seated Seated
Metal Seated ISO 5208**** Very Tight Tight Shut Off Tight Shut Off Tight Shut Off Metal Seated (based on seat (Isolation Valves) Gate Knife Gate
Zero Leakage Shut Off [per EN12266-1 (BS- diameter) Metal Seated ***** Valves Valves
EN1171 Gate)]

Air Example Example

Air
Air (*) Air Air Air Air Air** bubbles/ 285 PSI 720 PSI Air Liquid
Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid ml/min. Liquid Liquid
mm. inch. bubbles/ Liquid/Air bubbles/ bubbles/ bubbles/ bubbles/ bubbles/ min. Liquid (150LB) (300LB) bubbles/ drops/
drops/min. drops/min. drops/min. drops/min. drops/min. drops/min. @ 50 ≤ PSI drops/min. drops/min.
min. min. min. min. min. min. @ 50 ≤ PSI Liquid Liquid min. min.
(3.5 bar)
(3.5 bar) Drops/min. drops/min.

50 2” 0 0 0 0.30 9.00 0.48 13.80 1.44 138.00 3.96 1038.44 4.80 1375 0.45 3 4.56 11.52 5.32 2360 32 1280

80 3” 6 12 0 0.48 14.40 0.77 22.00 2.31 220.00 5.94 1557.66 7.68 2200 0.90 6 6.84 17.28 7.98 3540 32 1920

100 4” 8 16 0 0.60 18.00 0.96 27.60 2.88 276.00 7.92 2076.88 9.60 2750 1.70 11 9.12 23.04 10.64 4720 32 2560

150 6” 12 24 0 0.90 27.00 1.44 41.40 4.32 414.00 11.88 3115.32 14.40 4125 4.00 27 13.68 34.56 15.96 7080 32 3840

200 8” 16 32 0 1.20 36.00 1.92 55.20 5.76 552.00 15.84 4153.76 19.20 5500 6.75 45 18.24 46.08 21.28 9440 32 5120
5 x 10 -4ml
250 10” 20 40 0 1.50 45.00 2.40 69.00 7.20 690.00 19.81 5192.20 24.00 6876 9.00 63 22.80 57.60 26.60 11800 32 6400
(=.0005ml)
300 12” 24 48 0 1.80 54.00 2.88 82.80 8.64 828.00 23.77 6230.64 28.80 8251 11.50 81 per minute per 27.36 69.12 31.92 14160 80 7680
inch of valve
350 14” 28 56 0 2.10 63.00 3.36 96.60 10.08 966.00 27.73 7269.08 33.60 9626 21.60 - 31.92 80.64 37.24 16520 80 8960
size per PSI
400 16” 32 64 0 2.40 72.00 3.84 110.4 11.52 1104.00 31.69 8307.52 38.40 11001 28.40 - differential 36.48 92.16 42.56 18880 80 10240
pressure (16
450 18” 36 72 0 2.70 81.00 4.32 124.2 12.96 1242.00 35.66 9345.96 43.20 12376 - - 41.04 103.68 47.88 21240 80 11520
drops per ml)
500 20” 40 80 0 3.00 90.00 4.80 138.00 14.40 1380.00 39.62 10384.40 48.00 13752 - - 45.60 115.20 53.20 23600 80 12800

600 24” 48 96 0 3.60 108.00 5.76 165.60 17.28 1656.00 47.54 12461.28 57.60 16502 - - 54.72 138.24 63.84 28320 160 15360

750 30” 60 120 0 4.50 135.00 7.20 207.00 21.60 2070.00 59.43 15576.60 72.00 20628 - - 68.40 172.80 79.80 35400 160 19200

900 36” 72 144 0 5.40 162.00 8.64 248.40 25.92 2484.00 71.32 18692.92 86.40 24753 - - 82.08 207.36 95.76 42480 160 23040

1000 40” 80 160 0 6.00 180.00 9.60 276.00 28.80 2760.00 79.24 20768.80 96.00 27504 - - 91.20 230.40 106.40 47200 160 25600

API 6D corresponds to ISO 5208 - 2008 leakage rates, ISO 5208 in turn corresponds to EN 12266-1 leakage rates but only for class A, B, C, D, E, F & G
FCI 70-2 Class VI (EN60534-4) does not define leakage above 400 NB (16”)
FCI 70-2 Class VI (EN60534-4) test is performed always at 3 bar independently from the valve rating
(*) API 598 air test is required for metal seated ball and butterfly valves but is optional on globe & check valves. Gate valves see table 3&4.
(**) API 6D air test optional for metal seated
(***) API 6D refers to ISO 5208 ‘Rate D’ for metal seated leakage rates which also aligns with EN 12266-1. Rate ‘AA’ is shown above to compare the next highest level of shut off after rate A. See Table 5 above for all rates
(****) API 6D refers to ISO 5208 (2008 - E) ‘Rate A’ for soft seated, zero leakage which aligns with EN 12266-1
(*****) Resilient seated valves should have no visible leakage.
Rough guide: - 1 ml = approximately 16 drops (as defined API 598) (note, drops per minute shown above for Rate D are from ISO 5208), 1 cc = approximately 25 bubbles, 1cc = 1ml.

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To provide some perspective here is an example of the time it would take to fill up a regular small size take away
coffee cup.

Table 8 - Control Valve Seat Leakage vs. a Cup of Coffee

Liquid Test 100NB Leakage Rate
Time to fill small coffee cup
diameter seat ml/min
ISO 5208 Rate A 0 -
ISO 5208 Rate B 0.06 110 hours
ISO 5208 Rate C 0.18 36 hours
ISO 5208 Rate D 0.55 12.5 hours
ANSI/FCI 70-2 class V 0.60 11.5 hours

K AGE
L EA
AT
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(N/
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tA

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I7 ate
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FC
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1.7
R 0.6

SI/ eD
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8-
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at
in

AN 0m
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O5
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IS
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0 6 1 0.
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52 ea at
mL L/
m

P-
0 .0 m
18
S 00
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I
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Global Supply Line specifies stringent leakage rate requirements.

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GLOBAL SUPPLY LINE
 Table 9 - Metal Seated Check Valve Leakage Comparison Check Valves API 598/ISO 5208/FCI 70-2/MSS SP-71/AS/EN
ANSI FCI 70-2
Rate A
Rate G (2006) ANSI FCI 70-2 MSS SP-71
ISO 5208 Tight Rate AA AS 4794
API 598 * API 598 * Rate B Rate C Rate CC ISO 5208/ (isolation valves) (2006) (2006)
Shut Off ISO 5208 Rate D Rate E Rate EE Rate F Check Valves
Valve Size Metal Seated Metal Seated ISO 5208 ISO 5208 ISO 5208 (EN 12266-1) Class VI Class V Check Valves ***
BS EN 16767 Very Tight Shut ISO 5208 ISO 5208 ISO 5208 ISO 5208 Resilient
Check Valves Isolation Valve Tight Shut Off Tight Shut Off Tight Shut Off BS EN 16767 **** (EN 6053-4) (EN 6053-4) (metal seat)
(was BS EN 12334) Off Seat
API 6D ** (based on seat (based on seat diameter) (MSS SP-61)
(resilient seat)
diameter)
Example Example
Air Air Swing Tilt
285 PSI 720 PSI
Liquid Gas Air Liquid Air Liquid Gas Air Liquid Air Liquid Air Liquid Air Liquid Air ** Liquid Air Liquid Air Liquid Air Liquid Air ml/min. bubbles/ Liquid Air Check Check
DN NPS Liquid (150LB) (300LB)
drops/ bubbles*/ drops/ bubbles*/ drops/ bubbles/ drops/ bubbles*/ drops/ bubbles*/ drops/ bubbles*/ drops/ bubbles/ drops/ bubbles/ drops/ bubbles/ drops/ bubbles/ drops/ bubbles/ @ 50 ≤ min. @ 50 Liquid drops/ bubbles/ Liquid Liquid
(mm) (in.) drops/min. Liquid Liquid
min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. min. PSI ≤ PSI min. min. drops/ drops/
drops/ drops/
(3.5 bar) (3.5 bar) min. min.
min. min.

≤50 ≤2” 96 133,333 0 0 0 0.30 9.00 0.48 13.80 1.44 138.00 3.96 1038.44 4.8 1,375 14.4 13,750 18.6 21,312.5 48 137,500 96 275,019 0.45 3 4.56 11.52 21.28 9440

65 2 1/2” 120 183,333 0 0 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 124 357,525 - - - - - -

80 3” 144 216,666 6 12 0 0.48 14.40 0.77 22.00 2.31 220.00 5.94 1557.66 7.6 2,200 23.0 22,000 29.78 34,100 76 220,000 153 440,030 0.90 6 6.84 17.28 31.92 14160 32 24 ~ 96

100 4” 192 283,333 8 16 0 0.60 18.00 0.96 27.60 2.88 276.00 7.92 2076.88 9.6 2,750 28.8 27,500 37.2 42,625 96 275,000 192 550,038 1.70 11 9.12 23.04 42.56 18880 32 32 ~ 96

125 5” 240 350,000 - - 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 240 687,547 - - - - - - 32 40 ~ 96

150 6” 288 416,666 12 24 0 0.90 27.00 1.44 41.40 4.32 414.00 11.88 3115.32 14.4 4,125 43.2 41,250 55.8 63,937 144 412,500 288 825,057 4.00 27 5 x 10 -4ml 13.68 34.56 63.84 28320 32 48 ~ 96
(=.0005ml)
200 8” 284 566,666 16 32 0 1.20 36.00 1.92 55.20 5.76 552.00 15.84 4153.76 19.2 5,500 57.6 55,000 74.4 85,250 192 550,000 384 1,100,076 6.75 45 18.24 46.08 85.12 37760 32 64 ~ 96
per minute
250 10” 480 700,000 20 40 0 1.50 45.00 2.40 69.00 7.20 690.00 19.81 5192.20 24.0 6,876 72.0 68,760 93.0 106,578 240 687,600 480 1,375,095 9.00 63 per inch of 22.80 57.60 106.4 47200 32 80 ~ 96
valve size
300 12” 576 833,335 24 48 0 1.80 54.00 2.88 82.80 8.64 828.00 23.77 6230.64 28.8 8,251 86.4 82,510 111.6 127,890 288 825,100 576 1,650,114 11.50 81 27.36 69.12 127.68 56640 32 96
per PSI
350 14” 672 983,335 28 56 0 2.10 63.00 3.36 96.60 10.08 966.00 27.73 7269.08 33.6 9,626 100.8 96,260 130.2 149,203 336 962,600 672 1,925,133 21.60 - differential 31.92 80.64 148.96 66080 32 112
pressure
400 16” 768 1,116,669 32 64 0 2.40 72.00 3.84 110.4 11.52 1104.00 31.69 8307.52 38.4 11,001 115.2 110,010 148.8 170,515 384 1,100,100 768 2,200,152 28.40 - 36.48 92.16 170.24 75520 80 128
(16 drops
450 18” 864 1,266,669 36 72 0 2.70 81.00 4.32 124.2 12.96 1242.00 35.66 9345.96 43.2 12,376 129.6 123,760 167.4 191,828 432 1,237,600 864 2,475,171 - - per ml) 41.04 103.68 191.52 84960 80 144

500 20” 960 1,400,002 40 80 0 3.00 90.00 4.80 138.00 14.40 1380.00 39.62 10384.40 48.0 13,752 144.0 137,520 186 213,156 480 1,375,200 960 2,750,190 - - 45.60 115.20 212.8 94400 80 160

600 24” 1,152 1,683,336 48 96 0 3.60 108.00 5.76 165.60 17.26 1656.00 47.54 12461.28 57.6 16,502 172.8 165,020 223.2 255,781 576 1,650,200 1,152 3,300,228 - - 54.72 138.24 255.36 113280 80 192

650 26” 1,248 1,816,670 - - 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,248 3,575,247 - - - - - - 160 208

700 28” 1,344 1,966,670 - - 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,344 3,850,266 - - - - - - 160 224

750 30” 1,440 2,100,004 60 120 0 4.50 135.00 7.20 207.00 21.60 2070.00 59.43 15576.60 72.0 20,628 216 206,280 279 319,734 720 2,062,800 1,440 4,125,285 - - 68.40 172.80 319.2 141600 160 240

API 6D specifies Rate ‘G’ for check valves. (Air test is optional) There is a correspondence between the leakage rate acceptance values of API 598 and ISO 5208 and the leakage values for metal seated check valves:
Rate EE-Gas and Rate G-Liquid.

(*) API 598 air test is required for metal seated ball and butterfly valves but is optional on globe & check valves. API 598 does not specify a separate leakage rate for resilient seated check valves, the metal seated leakage rate is used
unless client specifies otherwise.
(**) API 6D & ISO 5208 (corresponds to EN 12266-1) specify leakage rate ‘G’ for Check Valves for liquid and Rate ‘EE’ for gas. API 6D/ISO 5208 air test optional for metal seated. API 6D & ISO 5208 do not specifiy a leakage rate for
resilient seated check valves, hence the metal seated leakage rate is used unless client specifies otherwise.
(***) MSS SP-61 clause 5.7.2 specifies a leakage allowance for metal seated check valves of 4 times the rate for isolation valves.
(****) BS 5153 metal seated check valve was superceeded by BS EN 12334 which specified ISO 5208 (EN 12266-1) Rate G (metal seat) and Rate A for resilient seat. BS EN 16767 replaced BS EN 12334 and does not mandate a leak-
age rate hence Rate G for metal seat remains the manufacturers default. (Rate A for resilient seat).

Rough guide: - 1 ml = approximately 16 drops (as defined API 598) 1 cc = approximately 25 bubbles, 1 cc = 1 ml. For gas test 1 ml is equivalent to 100 bubbles.

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Valve Leakage Rates & Test Standards R22 - AS GLOBAL SUPPLY LINE