Overview
EN ISO 15848-1:2015 (ISO 15848-1:2015) is the international / European standard that defines a classification system and type‑test qualification procedures for evaluating fugitive emissions from industrial valves. It covers measurement and test methods to assess external leakage from valve stem (shaft) seals and body seals of isolating and control valves used with volatile air pollutants and hazardous fluids. The standard is published by ISO and adopted by CEN (as EN ISO 15848-1:2015).
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and exclusions: Applies to stem/shaft seals and body joints of isolating and control valves. End connection joints, vacuum applications, corrosion and radiation effects are explicitly excluded.
- Type test procedures: Defines preparation, test fluids, test temperature, temperature measurement, leakage measurement and reporting for type testing of valves.
- Leak measurement methods: Includes total leak rate measurement (Annex A) and sniffing method (Annex B). Helium and methane are specified as test fluids in different contexts:
- Helium: used for tightness classes and accumulation / suck‑through measurement.
- Methane: measured using sniffing; tightness classes for methane are defined separately and not correlated to helium classes.
- Classification system:
- Tightness classes (leakage expressed and, for stems, normalized per mm stem diameter)
- Endurance (mechanical‑cycle) classes for isolating and control valves
- Temperature classes to define test temperatures and material suitability
- Test conduct: Covers test equipment, safety rules, stem seal adjustment (SSA), and test descriptions. The standard specifies reporting requirements and rules for extension of qualification to untested valve variants.
- Normative references: Includes other relevant standards (e.g., ISO 5208 pressure testing; EN 13185 tracer gas leak testing).
Practical applications
- Manufacturers: type qualification of valve designs for low fugitive emissions and product classification.
- Test laboratories: standardised procedures for leak detection (helium accumulation, methane sniffing) and consistent reporting.
- Plant operators / EPCs / procurement: specify valve tightness/endurance classes in purchase specifications to meet environmental, safety and regulatory requirements.
- Environmental and compliance teams: demonstrate conformity to accepted measurement and test protocols for fugitive emissions control.
Related standards
- EN ISO 15848-2: Production acceptance test of valves (companion document for production checks)
- ISO 5208: Pressure testing of metallic valves
- EN 13185: Tracer gas leak testing methods
EN ISO 15848-1:2015 is essential for anyone specifying, testing or certifying valves where fugitive emissions control and consistent, auditable type‑testing are required.