3 min. read
by Eng. Paolo Montafia

 

LOW LEAD BRASS VALVES

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STATE OF THE ART OF DRINKING WATER VALVES

 

A new step in safety of valves for drinking water installations is lead free brass products. As many of you knows, lead is one of the hazardous substances that must not be present in drinking water. So, many countries around the world banned lead in contact with water. Pettinaroli developed in the years many products with special brass alloys.

Because of that, our Worldwide successful Filterball valve changed its skin: corrosion resistant and low lead brass version is now available. It keeps all the unmatchable benefits of the standard Filterball valve in a new material: all components are made of low lead brass (Pb <0.1%) and Stainless Steel. Filterball is an isolating ball valve, integrating a stainless steel strainer. So, 1 valve replaces 3 components (2 gate valves and 1 Y-strainer) making the installation more reliable (less possible leaking points) and much more compact. Filtration in drinking water distribution networks is now more than safe since the release of lead in the water is negligible. The range is available from DN15 to DN50. Therefore, wide networks in public buildings, like hotels, airports, hospitals, malls, offices as well as residential buildings are ideal applications for these valves. The valve is already approved according to drinking water certifications, like NSF-61, Watermark, GDV.
 

 

Beside this, low lead brass valve range is enriched by Thermostatic Balancing Valves TBV series. They can balance, based on the temperature, the recirculation loops which are commonly run in large buildings with centralized hot water production (hotels, airports, hospitals, malls, offices): in order to have hot water readily available at the delivery point (faucet, shower, etc.) and avoid any waste of water, hot water is always recirculated. Unfortunately, continuous recirculation generates thermal losses: the less water is recirculated, the less energy is wasted. So, thermostatic balancing valve TBV regulates the flow in order to let flowing the least amount of water to keep the desired temperature, reducing the energy required to keep warm the water in the distribution pipes. Like low lead Filterball, TBV are made of corrosion resistant and low lead brass, making the valve fully compliant to drinking water certifications like NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 + NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 and NSF Reg4. Along with the balancing valve, Pettinaroli supplies full installation kit with ball valve, Filterball and ball valve with integrated non-return valve, all of them with swivel nut for direct coupling with the TBV.
 

 

In order to ensure corrosion resistance is within the limits of ISO6509 and AS2345, all the CR components are treated before machining: the process is called annealing and it consists of a heating up to 500°C. Through this process, β-phase is almost eliminated, to get preponderance of α-phase. This is to ensure that the corrosion resistance properties are met.

So, Pettinaroli Corrosion Resistant and low lead products deliver higher performance for healthier water and lower environmental impact.

 

by Eng. PAOLO MONTAFIA

R&D Dept. Pettinaroli