WaterSaver Faucet Co. offers a wide selection of valves for use with laboratory gases. The selection of a valve for any particular application depends upon many factors, including the working pressure of the gas, the degree of metering or control desired, and the characteristics (including the corrosiveness) of the gas. This Valve Selection Guide is presented to assist in selecting the most appropriate valve for an application. However, care must be taken in selecting valves, and WaterSaver cannot be responsible for the results obtained from using any particular valve in any particular application. In particular, reference must be made to applicable plumbing and piping codes, life safety standards and project specifications when selecting valves.
| Fine Control Needle Valve | Standard Needle Valve | Laboratory Ball Valve | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Models | X2870, X3170, X4870, X5170, X62870, etc. | X2880, X3180, X4880, X5180, X62880, etc. | X4100, X4200, X64200, etc. |
| Construction | Needle Point | Needle Point | Ball Valve |
| Control | Precise Metering | Good Metering | On / Off |
| Body Material | Brass or St Steel | Brass or St Steel (Note 1) | Brass or St Steel |
| Handle | Four Arm | Four Arm | Lever |
| Test Pressure / Media | 375 PSI / Nit | 250 PSI / Nit | 125 PSI / Air |
| Maximum Working Pressure | 250 PSI | 150 PSI | 100 PSI |
| CSA Certified for Natural Gas | No | Yes | Yes |
| ADA Compliant | No | No | Yes |
| Use with Pressure Regulator | Yes | No | Yes (Low Pressure only) |
| Cleaned for High Purity Gas | Standard | When Ordered | When Ordered |
X = L (Standard), CT (ColorTech), BT (ColorTech BT)
| Gas Compatibility by Service (Symbol): | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Air (AIR) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ammonia (NH3) | Yes (St Steel only) | Yes (St Steel only) | No |
| Acetylene (C2H2) | Yes (St Steel only; 15 PSI max) | Yes (St Steel only; 15 PSI max) | No |
| Argon (AR) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Butane (BUT) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compressed Air (CA) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cylinder Gas (CYL GAS) (Note 2) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Natural Gas (GAS) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Helium (HE) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| High Vacuum (HI VAC) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hydrogen (HYD) | Yes | Yes (Specially Clean) | Yes (Specially Clean) |
| Low Vacuum (LO VAC) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Methane (CH4) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nitrogen (NIT) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oxygen (OXY) | Yes | Yes (Specially Clean) | Yes (Specially Clean) |
| Propane (PRO) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Special Gas (SG) (Note 2) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steam (Note 3) | No | No | No |
| Vacuum (VAC) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Notes:
- Also available in polypropylene for nonmetallic application.
- Steam service requires a valve with specialized internal construction only. Refer to a WaterSaver Engineering Catalog for information.