For any business that transports water, liquid or gas through pipes, safety shut-off valves help your pipes more than normal valves. If situations arise needing a quick shut-off, you need a valve that closes quickly by hand or automatically.

A safety shut-off valve manufacturer may make valves with simple hand-operated devices like levers or switches. Others are equipped with actuators that will regulate flow and automatically shut it of when necessary. Take these things into mind when selecting safety shut-off valves:

1. There are different valves for transporting liquids or gases.

2. The benefits of automated versus manual safety shut-off valves.

3. Keep the valve material, metal or plastic, consistent with the pipes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy standard relief valves from safety shut-off valve distributors

Most standard safety valves come with simple shut-off procedures. Manufacturers design these valves with hand levers or ring screws for fast and easy safety shut-off. While still requiring a manual shut-off, these valves simplify it in case of an emergency.

I recommend: Boiler and Steam Parts is a direct provider of Kunkle safety valves, supplying several models and styles from the Model 30 air/gas valve to the Model 299 with drip pan. Tyco Flow Control offers pressure relief and vacuum relief valves from manufacturers including Anderson Greenwood, Crosby and Varec.

Purchase safety shut off valves with actuators

Actuators are often attached to shut-off valves to regulate them. They're usually powered by pneumatic air or electricity. Actuators help reduce the time the valves must be manually supervised. Safety shut-off valve manufacturers provide valves with actuators, or they may supply actuators that will attach to other valves.

I recommend: Assured Automation supplies multiple automated valves with actuators, including their VA, 101, 26, 36, 31D and 33D series. CR-TEC Engineering manufactures both pneumatic and electric motor actuators that can work with either CR-TEC manufactured valves or any other brands.

Get plastic safety shut off valves to go with plastic pipes

If you use PVC or other plastic pipes, you need to use plastic valves with them. Because metal pipes and valves are more widely used, plastic valve suppliers are harder to locate. You'll likely need a plastics specialist supplier to find a plastic safety shut off valve supplier.

I recommend: United States Plastic Corporation is one of the largest plastic safety shut-off valve providers. Virtually every valve type--ball valves, gate valves, butterfly valves, check valves--is available in plastic from them. Plastic Engineered Projects sells many types of plastic valves made by Hayward, Plast-O-Matic, George Fischer, Nibco, Conley and Asahi/America.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy safety shut-off valves and actuators from the same manufacturer. While most actuators work with other brands of valves, having the same brand helps when maintenance and repairs arise.