While the 581 is FM approved it is not UL, which really isn't an important distinction, except that the 581 "Globe Check" has a very small resilient ring surface to seal against, and if you're having this many problems I'd switch valves to say the 582, which is both UL and FM listed and has a larger resilient seat area, or another brand.
T. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Doug Hicks Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 10:03 AM To: sprinkler board Subject: One-way check valve We have been having problems with a Cla-Val 581 check valve. The valve is installed in the FDC line. The valve originally installed leaked, it had a metal to metal seat. The 1 st replacement leaked, it also had a metal to metal seat. The 2nd replacement leaked, metal to metal seat. The 3rd replacement leaked, metal to metal seat. I called Cla-Val several times with out a return phone call. I wanted to know if the valve needed a rubber to metal seat. When I did get a phone call, it was not from Cal-Val, but a dealer who did not know there were valves with metal to metal seats and with metal to rubber seats. That person had to call Cal-Val and ask. The return phone call told me the seat was supposed to be metal to metal. Last week, I took the original valve and the first replacement to my supplier. The supplier phoned Cla-Val and Cla-Val sent a metal seat to rubber seat to my shop. We installed the 4th valve yesterday. Leaked. We took the valve seat out and found a narrow o'ring as the seal. The valves all had an arrow, the arrow was installed to the direction of flow. The 3rd and 4th valves were installed by bolting the valve to the tee first and the water was turned on. The valves immediately leaked. I was in attendance when the 4th valve was installed. The gaskets were in good condition, and had the bolt holes in the gaskets. Other fire check valves I have installed or seen were rubber to metal seats. Plumbing check valves I have seen were metal to metal seats. Does anyone have any suggestions? Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
