Technical guides
Guides & resources
Practical guides covering valve selection, EU standards, materials, installation and procurement of industrial flow control equipment. Full articles in preparation.
Selection & specification
Choosing the right valve, strainer or fitting for the job: function, sizing, operating envelope.
Choosing a valve type: gate, globe, butterfly, ball, check
When to use each valve type, with selection criteria for isolation, throttling, backflow prevention and quick shut-off.
Read guideStrainers and filters: simplex, duplex, Y, basket
How to select a strainer type for upstream protection of pumps, valves and measurement equipment.
Read guideDN vs NPS: the size conversion guide
European metric (DN) and American inch (NPS) sizing side by side, with a conversion table from DN15 to DN1200.
Read guideHow to read a valve datasheet
Key fields to check when reviewing a manufacturer datasheet: ratings, materials, trim, end connections.
Read guideStandards & ratings
EU and international pressure, dimensional and certification standards used across the catalogue.
Pressure ratings: PN, ANSI Class and JIS K compared
European (PN), American (Class) and Japanese (K) pressure ratings, with crossover values and when each is required.
Read guideEU dimensional standards: EN 558, EN 1092, EN 12266
Face-to-face, flange and testing standards used for valves placed on the EU market.
Read guideAPI 6D, 600, 602, 6A: oil and gas standards
When API ratings apply, what they certify, and how they differ from EN-compliant equivalents.
Read guideAWWA and waterworks specifications
Water-industry standards (AWWA C504, C509, C515) and how they map to EN drinking-water requirements.
Read guideMaterials & application
Material selection for the service: pressure, temperature, fluid, corrosion.
Body materials: cast iron, ductile iron, carbon steel, stainless, bronze
A guide to the common valve body materials, with typical applications and EN material grade references.
Read guideSeat and trim materials for chemical service
Choosing soft seats (EPDM, NBR, FKM, PTFE) and metal trim for compatible fluid service.
Read guideMarine and offshore: corrosion-resistant selection
Bronze, super duplex and coated grey-cast solutions for seawater, ballast and shipboard systems.
Read guideHigh-temperature and cryogenic service
Material and design changes required outside the standard ambient temperature window.
Read guideInstallation & operation
Getting valves and equipment into service safely and keeping them running.
End connections: flanged, threaded, wafer, lug, butt-weld
Choosing the right end-connection type for your pipework, with installation and removal trade-offs.
Read guideActuation: manual, gear, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic
When to specify an actuator, sizing for torque and frequency, and signal/feedback options.
Read guideOrientation, support and accessibility
Best-practice mounting for gate, check and butterfly valves, including support around heavy actuators.
Read guideFire-protection installations: hydrants and isolation valves
Specification and placement considerations for fire-system valves and aboveground/underground hydrants.
Read guideProcurement & documentation
Getting from specification to delivered equipment with the right paperwork.
Submitting an effective RFQ
What to include in a request for quotation so the response comes back fast and accurate.
Read guidePre-order checklist for industrial valves
A specification checklist covering type, size, ratings, materials, trim, ends and any project conditions.
Read guideMaterial and test certificates: MTR, EU declarations, 3.1, 3.2
What certification to ask for, what each certificate actually proves, and when third-party testing is needed.
Read guideEU delivery, customs and lead times
How EU-based delivery, customs documentation and typical lead times work for industrial equipment.
Read guideLooking for guidance on something specific?
We're happy to advise on specification, standards or application questions. Drop us a line with your scenario and we'll come back with practical input.
Email sales@euroflowcontrol.com