Valve Selection Guide

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 for gas service, 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   L2870, L3170, L4870,
L5170, L62870, etc.
  L2880, L3180, L4880,
L5180, L62880, etc.
  L4100, L4100FH,
L4200, L4200FH, 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   225 PSI/Nit   125 PSI/Air
Maximum Working Pressure   250 PSI   150 PSI   75 PSI
CSA Certified for Natural Gas   No   Yes   Yes
ADA Compliant   No   No   Yes
Use with Pressure Regulator   Yes   No   No
Cleaned for High Purity Gas   Standard   When Ordered   When Ordered
 
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:

  1. Also available in PVC and polypropylene for nonmetallic applications.
  2. For gases not specifically listed here, please consult with factory.
  3. Steam service requires a valve with specialized internal construction only. Refer to pages 32-33 for more information.