Safety Valves Are the Last Line of Defense—Make Sure They’re Ready.
Essentially a fail-safe device, safety valves release excess pressure while protecting equipment, employees, and the environment from damage or harm.
But when overlooked, these devices can lead to catastrophic failures, equipment damage, environmental harm, and threats to human life.
MCE’s Flow Control division has teams of experts who help you avoid these failures with consulting in choosing the right valves for your application, ensuring you meet critical specifications, providing onsite services and training, and getting product to when you need it.
Safety relief valves (SRV): A general term used to describe a valve that automatically opens to relieve excess pressure and re-closes after normal conditions are restored. They can function as either a relief valve (typically for incompressible fluids like liquids) or as a safety valve (typically for compressible fluids like gas or steam). SRVs are commonly used in ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) standards to refer to valves that handle both gas and liquid applications.
Pressure safety valves (PSV): A type of safety valve specifically designed for compressible fluids like gas or vapor service (e.g., steam, air, or hydrocarbons). PSVs open rapidly at a set pressure to prevent equipment overpressure. They are commonly used in the oil and gas, chemical, and power generation industries for compressible fluids.
Depending on the installation, safety valves and pressure relief valves can either:
Note: What’s the difference between an SRV and a PRV (pressure relief valve)? SRVs stop operation until the system pressure reaches a safe level below maximum operating levels. PRVs operate to control pressure increases without stopping the system’s operation.
SRVs matter in industries that handle volatile materials, temperature and pressure swings:
Valves may malfunction for a number of reasons, often due to wrong calibration, wrong size, damage, blockage, or simply wearing out.
No matter the reason, improperly operating safety relief valves can cause your system to discharge fluids or gas at extremely high pressure and velocity, causing:
Valve failure= $1.5M/day in losses — Here’s how one call saved it all:
One MCE customer placed an after-hours call-out fee without hesitation because their site was losing over $1.5 million in daily production while waiting for a relief valve replacement. MCE division Precision Pump & Valve’s rapid response and access to in-stock valves got them back online fast. Precision Pump and Valve is a VR-Certified shop for all Section I and Section VIII safety valves.
Safety valve failures in oil and gas can have severe consequences, including explosions, fires, and dangerous chemical releases. Avoiding potentially catastrophic events requires careful valve selection and design scrutiny.
One example of the importance of safety valves is the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear reactor accident. In which a pressure relief valve failed to close, leading to a loss of coolant in one of the reactors. This caused the reactor core to heat to levels resulting in a partial core meltdown and small amounts of radiation leakage. While there were no injuries or death, the accident drove the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S. NRC) to implement stricter safety regulations and testing programs, especially for components that ensure safe operation. (Source: U.S. NRC Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident).
This is a worst-case scenario, but failure doesn’t have to be this extreme to be costly and dangerous. Even small valve failures can lead to multi-million-dollar shutdowns.
>> How to Minimize Downtime for Oil and Gas Operations with Emergency Valve Repair Planning
Neglecting SRV repair or replacement creates a domino effect:
All valves, especially safety valves, are prone to eventual failure. Plan ahead with a trusted supply partner like MCE to reduce downtime and improve operational resilience in the future.
>> How to Spot Early Signs of Safety Relief Valve Failure
How do you keep operations running smoothly? It requires strategic planning with a supply partner who provides expert assistance when you need it.
We work with your team to develop a smart inventory plan that addresses critical parts needs and lead times as well as necessary maintenance programs and inspections.
>> A Guide to Efficient MRO Inventory Management
We promise a proactive and comprehensive approach to valve health. From knowledgeable consulting and technicians to readily available products and services, MCE’s team will keep your facility safe, productive, and regulation-ready.
MCE’s flow control division offers certified precision repair, replacement, and testing services for safety relief valves as part of a broader strategy to help your operation minimize unplanned downtime.
Our expert technicians can assess valve performance, identify issues early, and provide fast turnaround on necessary repairs—all while ensuring compliance with API and ASME standards. In addition to a broad selection of parts from top-rated manufacturers, we offer:
The cost of doing nothing is far greater than proactive repair. Talk to an MCE valve expert today to schedule a consultation.