The choice of valves can be quite a simple matter, if you are well versed in this area, know reliable manufacturers and use your buyer's right to provide information about products. We offer to understand the points on how to choose a ball valve from those presented on domestic market trademarks.
Producer countries
One of the reliable companies is the company Bugattiball cranes which have been shipped from Italy since 1996. The products have all the necessary certificates that guarantee safe and long-term operation.
It just so happened that the Italians take first place in the ratings of high-quality plumbing, they are not far behind in the manufacture of valves. Not a single system can do without such an important element, whether it be water or gas supply.
Fast and, most importantly, complete and reliable blocking of the fluid flow is a very important task, so professionals take the choice of such taps seriously.
Selecting a manufacturer.
For example, let's focus on the Italian company Bugatti, which produces ball valves in a variety of designs. In addition to this company, you can find Danish Ballomax ball valves on the market, there are also other brands offering products of similar quality. But much more important than the name on the box will be the next item - the place of purchase.
Purchasing process and quality control
There is nothing easier and worse than buying a Bugatti ball valve in the local market, where the chance of acquiring a counterfeit is disastrously high. In addition, if this low-quality part breaks down, no one will even return the money, because, as a rule, no checks are provided on the market. It is better to purchase valves in a certified store, if there is none, then in building hypermarkets with a good reputation. But in order to completely remove all doubts, take an interest in the certificate, which must necessarily come with a blue seal, even if it is a copy.
How to spot a fake
In addition to papers from the manufacturer, you can take the Bugatti ball valve in your hands and carefully examine it. A quality product will not have any sags or bumps. Pay great attention to the inscriptions: it is advisable to look through the catalog in advance and write out a number specific model(for example, ball valve coupling 11b27p1), and already in the store check with the marking on the product. Look at the quality of the inscriptions themselves, which should be easy to read, the letters should be even, clearly distinguishable. Pay attention, also, to the marking of the brand of brass on the tap - Bugatti makes its products from CW617N forged brass.
The thickness of the walls of the case should not only be 2 mm or more, but also be uniform. Look inside, look at the ball - it should be mirrored. If the ball is not polished, then this is not Bugatti ball valves, but a fake. The case can be scratched a little - a yellowish metal will appear, which means brass, while all fakes are usually made of silumin.
In addition, unscrupulous manufacturers, saving materials, make the case itself too thin. So, in some samples, the thickness was only 0.6 mm, which is catastrophically small for reliable operation. It is better to buy an inexpensive, but branded ball valve Marshal than a fake famous brand.
One last thing: check if the ball is magnetic. If so, then do not take such a copy, since the ball must also be made of brass. These simple tips will help in the case when a crane is urgently needed, and the nearest 100% reliable seller is a long way to go.
What is the danger of buying counterfeit
Buying a fake or just a low-quality faucet is not only a chance to flood the neighbors from below, but also to go to the hospital with serious illnesses. It's all about the metals used in the manufacture. So, the quality of brass, more precisely, its chemical composition, is of great importance. As for elements made of zinc, there is nothing to talk about: using such shut-off valves for plumbing, you are at great risk. Zinc + chlorinated water = gradual destruction of both the tap itself and the human body, into which compounds dangerous to health enter. Any ball valves Naval or the same Bugatti that have passed certification guarantee safety for health.
Device
To install correctly, you need to know the device of any device or element, otherwise it can be damaged during the installation process. Actually, the ball valve is named because of the shape of the performing part. Despite the fact that in the post-Soviet countries this type of valves has become widespread relatively recently, the designs have been around for more than a century. It's all about the gaskets, which, until the recent advent of fluoroplastic and synthetic rubber, quickly failed. In addition to the executing movable element, there is a housing in which a sphere with cut ends is fixed with sealing rings. The ball itself has a hole through which water flows.
Opening and closing is done by turning the ball with a handle, gas ball valves have handles yellow color, tap - red and blue. The housing has 90 degree stops for two positions: fully open and fully closed. Also, the case may have a screw-on part, such models are called collapsible and are subject to repair. More often you can find non-separable structures, but even if high-quality materials are used, they can last for a long time.
In addition to simple walk-throughs, a ball valve is often used, which is not a shut-off valve, but only redistributes the flow, having one inlet and two outlets, or vice versa.
Installation
They are distinguished according to the method of fastening to welded, coupling and flanged. The latter are rarely seen in everyday life, they are more often used on highways where the diameter exceeds 60 mm. The ld marking also indicates flanged ball valves. They also use models with special automatic closing systems, for example, a ball valve with an electric drive or a pneumatic drive. Welded in this moment practically disappeared from the market, they were replaced by couplings, which are fastened with a thread.
- before installation, remove the handle so that it does not interfere with grabbing the product with a key;
- do not use a gas wrench for installation, as excessive compression force can deform and thereby ruin the part;
- when connecting, use the nearest hexagonal neck for gripping with a key;
- for tight connection, use tow or fum. tape.
DIY repair
To start repairing a ball valve, you should determine the breakdown. most frequent breakdown is the wear of the sealing rings, as a result of which the element begins to leak. To replace, remove the handle by unscrewing the fixing nut, then unscrew the threaded ring with a screwdriver and a hammer. With pliers, carefully remove the chrome-plated dome-shaped part and change the o-rings. After we take out the ball and change the ring under it, do not forget to clean seats under the rings. After completing the procedure, carefully assemble the product in the reverse order. If you do not have new rings available, the old ones can be cleaned in any acidic solution, for example, in citric acid or vinegar, and put in place. Often the tap skips due to contamination and the deposition of calcium salts on the rings.
Such a pipeline element as a Bugatti ball valve is highly reliable. Any consumer pays attention to the quality and functional reliability of shut-off valves. It is for this reason that Bugatti ball valves are in the field of view of most consumers. The products of this manufacturer are the leader in popularity.
At the moment, the manufacturer has developed 25 design lines of ball locking devices, which have significant differences both in design and in purpose. The company produces separate series of Bugatti ball valves, which are designed for the installation of pipelines for heating systems and water supply systems.
At the moment, the manufacturer has developed 25 design lines of ball locking devices
At the initial stage, a constructive line of conventional standard ball valves Bugatti was developed - the 600 series, called Arizona. Subsequently, the engineers of the manufacturer developed a line of reinforced ball valves Bugatti - the 300 series, which was called Oregon.
After the appearance of these two design lines on the valve market, the consumer got the opportunity to choose valves depending on cost, quality and purpose.
For the assembly and further operation of pipelines of heating systems, shut-off valves belonging to the 300 series are used. For the installation of pipelines of cold and hot water supply systems, taps belonging to the 600 series are used.
When connecting radiators to the heating system, it is recommended to use the 300 series shut-off valves, which are equipped with a detachable American special coupling. These taps are available in 1/2" and 3/4" sizes.
For the assembly and further operation of pipelines of heating systems, shut-off valves related to the 300 series
After developing a line of heavy duty cranes, engineers developed a series of heavy duty cranes that were numbered 400 and named Nevada. This type of product is designed to work in conditions with increased loads.
The 400 series features a special design. In the cranes of this line, the use of an internal stem has been introduced. The use of this element in the design made it possible to make the shut-off valves more reliable in operation and prevent the stem from popping out even in cases where the gland special nut is unscrewed, which ensures that the seal is pressed.
Ball Valves Bugatti are certified on the territory of the Russian Federation to work with media of various physical parameters. These environments are:
- water;
At the moment, the manufacturer produces models of Bugatti ball valves, which have thread sizes from 1/8 to 4 inches
Many consumers use the equipment of this company for the operation of systems transporting non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, liquid hydrocarbons. Cases of reliable functioning of this shut-off valve when used in systems transporting slightly acidic or slightly alkaline solutions have also been recorded.
At the moment, the manufacturer produces models of Bugatti ball valves, which have thread sizes from 1/8 to 4 inches. In addition, the company offers the following types of cranes to the consumer:
- standard;
- corner;
- full bore;
- incomplete bore;
- models with coupling connection;
- with union nut;
- with American connector;
- with the possibility of compression connection of copper pipes.
In addition, special models are produced that have a drain fitting or filter.
Technical parameters of original products
The operating temperature at which the operation of Bugatti branded valves is allowed reaches +150 degrees Celsius, the operating pressure is 64 atmospheres. In the manufacture of products, the manufacturer uses brass, fluoroplastic and rubber.
At the moment, shut-off equipment is being produced, which is equipped with an electric drive for controlling ball locks, and shut-off valves with devices that block the operation of taps. The operation of such a device is resumed only when using a special key designed to unlock the system. Green Line faucets are absolutely environmentally friendly, which allows them to be used in drinking water supply systems.
High environmental The safety of products belonging to the Green Line range is achieved by the fact that brass is used as a material for the manufacture of product bodies, in which the surface layer of the metal contains a minimum amount of lead. Such a layer in contact with water does not release lead into it. In addition, the ball insert used in the shut-off valves of this product series has special grooves that provide additional water circulation in the product cavity, which allows automatic cleaning of the device cavities from mechanical deposits. The use of special grooves on the ball insert helps to prevent the destruction of taps in case of freezing of water in their internal cavity. This design allows you to implement the "antifrost" function in practice.
Modern Bugatti taps of the Bugatti Waterworks special series allow connection to existing water networks without complex assembly operations. This shut-off valve has a blocking function and has the ability to connect pipelines made using polymer raw materials to it.
Manufacturers on Russian market set. There are European, Chinese, Russian ball valves, which differ in technical characteristics, purpose, range, cost. We invite you to familiarize yourself with several brands whose products have been in our product line for many years.
Bugatti is an Italian company that has been known around the world for over 60 years for excellent. The family business has always paid the utmost attention to product quality and has invested in the most innovative and reliable technological solutions. All this has made it one of the recognized flagships in the niche of valve manufacturers.
Based on changing demand, the Italian manufacturer is constantly expanding its range finished products- , weighted valves, cheap ball valves, etc. A notable feature of the Bugatti brand is its maintainability, which is very important for those who want to buy. The finished product includes a nut designed to fit the gland packing. It is enough to turn the nut so that the PTFE ring takes its place. Only due to such a design feature, the service life of a ball valve reaches 20 thousand openings and closings. All products are made of brass exclusively by hot stamping.
Multi-stage production has a quality control system at any technological stage. This allowed the Bugatti brand to receive ISO 9000/2000 certification. Today, dealers from 85 countries are among the company's customers, and thanks to Randstroy, it has been possible to buy in Moscow for more than 20 years. In the nomenclature, as well as for water pipes.
ARCO is a Spanish corporation dating back to 1973. ARCO is well known all over the world as a manufacturer of valves for, for heating and plumbing (). Following the changing consumer demands, the Spanish factory recommends to its customers simple and safe, innovative and rational turnkey solutions, both for residential buildings and for industrial scale production. The company does not have production facilities in Asia and for many buyers this is indisputable evidence of product quality.
Each of the workshops of the brand's plant is equipped with the most modern equipment:- CAD-CAM design solutions development systems;
- Metal-plastic injection machines;
- Lines for the manufacture of brass blanks by hot stamping;
- Machine tools for mechanical processing of products;
- Chrome cameras;
- Continuous automatic conveyor lines for the assembly of ball valves and their performance testing.
Since all technological processes are concentrated entirely in production shops factory, the ARCO brand exercises sole control over the quality of products at all stages of their manufacture. At the moment, the Spanish brand is deservedly recognized as a leader in its field and has a high status as the largest supplier, not only nationally, but also internationally. You can buy at quite attractive prices - this allows you to do the pricing policy of the company. Factories are located in Tunisia and Valencia. The annual volume of deliveries is estimated at 40 million units of finished products. To use means to bet on quality.
In an effort to strengthen its position as a recognized leader, the company is continuously increasing the share of its international deliveries. On all 5 continents, than in 100 states today you can easily find an ARCO representative office. Brand development concept - high quality work and proximity to its customers, so that anyone can buy in the right quantity and performance. This goal is served by 500 specialists who make up a team of professionals working on a solution main task: to make ARCO products even more durable and safer.
NT Corporation is a brand owned by the NT Corporation GmbH group. The appearance of the Corporation on the market was predetermined by the need to provide Russian consumers with an alternative to low-quality Chinese-made products and the opportunity to buy the most best quality. The development became possible thanks to the participation of specialists from Russia, Spain, Italy, Germany. The result was a product oriented to operation in Russian conditions, but at the same time meeting European quality standards. It is quite feasible to buy a high-quality ball valve. When creating products, the wishes of the largest consumers of fittings for pipelines and sanitary products were taken into account. The entire range is provided with a guarantee, service support and the most modern sales service, which allows you to buy in Moscow on the most attractive terms.
The Corporation brand specializes in the development of new technological processes and finished products, including a selection of design solution, creation of innovative materials. All products are created specifications, coordination is carried out in the relevant regulatory authorities. A ball valve can be purchased with all accompanying documentation by the NT Corporation service. Tests of products for compliance with quality standards are carried out at the company's enterprises, which is confirmed by the protocols provided when it is required to buy ball valves in Moscow. A ready-made and coordinated solution is placed in the form of an order at the factories of world leaders with an impeccable business reputation. As a result, NT Corporation products reach Russian shelves, and you can buy ball valves fully adapted to local conditions, but at the same time meeting international standards. All items have the widest scope, and are produced in a variety of modifications, differing in individual design, as well as throughput indicators and the applied method of shutting off the flow.
It is possible to buy a ball valve in Moscow of the highest quality. The main parameters of valves:- Connection diameter with other elements of the pipeline;
- Material of the active part and the outer case of the product;
- Flow overlap rate.
Any locking device is made in such a way that the main condition is met: installation takes a minimum of time and effort. To ensure the durability of the product allows careful selection of materials. Responsible for quality technological process product manufacturing, carefully controlled by the manufacturer. you can buy high quality only from a reputable manufacturer. Only under these conditions can you get a high-quality, durable and reliable product of shut-off valves and ball valves to buy at a profit. Such products are used in water supply, gas supply, sewerage, air conditioning and other engineering networks. Installation and operation of a wide variety of household and industrial equipment is unthinkable without the use of shutoff valves, however, if necessary, buy ball valves in Moscow - pay close attention to their brand. It is better to buy a ball valve in a specialized store.
Ball valves buy by design, classification, purpose
The design of any ball valve includes a set of standard elements:- Shutter (ball plug);
- Control knob;
- Stock;
- Saddles (sealing rings).
A through passage is located in the body of the ball valve and a flow of liquid or gas is directed through it. By turning the handle, the shutter closes the flow or clears the way for it. Ball valves can be purchased in the desired design. There are two types of construction of ball valves: with a floating ball or with a ball in supports. You can buy a ball valve in Moscow of any design.
Floating Ball Valves
The shutter (ball plug) does not have a rigid connection with the spindle. This allows it to move freely in relation to the spindle. Under the pressure of a liquid or gas, the congestion is pressed against the sealing ring (seat), which makes it possible to maintain the tightness of the ball valve.
Ball valves buy from large diameters and high operating pressure is possible for high pressure operation on O-rings. Design features such a ball valve initially makes it difficult to operate, so it is better to buy a ball valve with a ball in the supports. For this reason, this category of products is used exclusively for the installation of pipelines with working diameters up to 200 mm.
Ball valve with ball in supports
The ball valve is rotatable and mounted in a support. This support at the bottom is equipped with a trunnion (axial protrusion), which goes into a recess specially designed for this. The fluid presses the O-rings against the plug. Due to this, much less effort is required to turn the shutter. If you need to buy a ball valve in Moscow and at the same time equip it with a drive device, then you need a less powerful unit than for devices with a floating ball. The complexity of the design makes the ball valve more expensive.
There are 4 types of ball valves. You can buy a ball valve according to the type of its installation in the pipeline:- Coupling;
- Flanged;
- Welded;
- Choke.
It is very easy to buy ball valves in Moscow, as they are extremely in demand during the installation of oil pipelines, gas pipelines, as well as other lines for transporting chemical products. The coupling ball valve is most in demand in heating and water supply networks. Flanged ball valves are used in the oil and gas industry, so it is profitable for them to buy a ball valve in a large batch.
The range of finished shut-off products includes ball valves for special purposes:- Three-way redistributive;
- With case heating;
- With leak control.
Ball valves are used everywhere for laying water and gas networks, installing heating equipment, plumbing, etc. The main buyers who often need to buy a ball valve are private companies, developers, utilities. Oil and gas companies and manufacturers of related industries of the national economy are also the largest consumers of stop valves, it is beneficial for them to buy ball valves at a discount. Bugatti, NT Corporation, ARCO products meet all quality requirements, are made of brass and are characterized by the highest performance - up to 20 thousand cycles. These ball valves can be bought in Moscow for everyone. The ball valve is extremely simple and has only 2 positions: open or closed. If the product is not used for its intended purpose (to regulate the flow of fluid), this leads to a multiple acceleration of its wear and contributes to an early breakdown. Ball valves can be bought and then mounted locally in any direction. Installation must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, in particular, it is forbidden to use "gas" adjustable wrenches, as this leads to crushing of the outer case of the product. Ball valves must be purchased together with mounting hardware.
Liquid ball valves buy from NT Corporation, Bugatti, ARCO
Liquid ball valves of the NT Corporation brand are designed for operation in heating and plumbing, hydraulic and pneumatic networks. They are classified as coupling heavy series. In the production, special materials are used that guarantee an exceptionally high tightness of the product, when the consumer needs to buy ball valves of the highest quality. Therefore, they are chosen for the installation of air supply systems, oil products, natural gas, oxygen, solvents, etc. Today, buying a ball valve in Moscow of the NT Corporation brand is simple and affordable.
The bodies are made from CW617N forged brass. Ready-made ball valves can be bought in Moscow with a nickel-plated body or without nickel-plating. From the same material, a hot ball of a crane is made on a stamping machine, after which it is polished diamond discs and chrome. Ball valves can be bought chrome-plated and regular. This method of production allows to achieve high strength characteristics, resistance to heat and high pressure, resistance to mechanical wear and mounting loads. Brass does not rust, so you can buy a ball valve for a very long time. The sealing gasket made of PTFE grade 4/PTFE is responsible for the tightness. To choose from, when you need to buy ball valves in Moscow, products with handles are supplied: "butterfly" and "lever". Test reports of ball valves of the NT Corporation brand of Russian and foreign samples confirm that they can be operated in the operating temperature range from -200 to +1500 degrees Celsius, at a maximum operating pressure of 64 bar. You can buy a ball valve with any required strength.
The nomenclature includes the following popular articles with internal and/or external threads:- Art.NT-300 - handle "lever" (BP)
- Art.NT-302 - handle "butterfly" (BP)
- Art.NT-305 - handle "lever" (BP / HP)
- Art.NT-307 - handle "butterfly" (BP / HP)
- Art.NT-327 - handle "butterfly" (HP)
- Art.NT-322 - handle "butterfly" (BP / HP), radiator
- Art.NT-330 - handle "lever" (BP), with release valve
- Art.NT-332 - handle "butterfly" (BP), with release valve
All NT Corporation ball valve part numbers include a wide range of sizes. The scope of application of Bugatti brand ball valves for liquid pipelines is the same as that of NT Corporation brand products: plumbing, heating, pneumatic, hydraulic systems. Ball valves can be bought for a wide variety of tasks. Very wide the lineup coupling valves allows you to buy a ball valve for any application. Ball valves to buy in Moscow are available in the performance required for specific conditions. For the body of the ball valve, brass grade CW617N (forged) is selected. The finished hull is exposed sandblasting and then nickel plated. The shutter is also made of brass of the same brand, polished and chrome plated. The choice in favor of forged brass when you need to buy ball valves is due to the strength characteristics of the metal and its resistance to heat and high pressure. Brass is resistant to mechanical stress, which inevitably appears during the installation of the product. A huge advantage of the metal is its corrosion resistance, which allows you to buy a ball valve for a long time.
Two types of gaskets are responsible for the tightness of products, made of nitrile rubber (NBR) and fluoroplast 4 / PTFE. You can choose any type of handle: "lever", "globe", "". Handles can be painted with special paints, coated with polymer or chrome. You can buy a ball valve with the right pen. The operating temperature range is -200/+1200С, and the maximum operating pressure varies depending on the model from 4 to 64 bar.
Since ball valves can be bought from Bugatti for use in a wide variety of areas, they differ in a wide variety of design solutions, and the number of series is also very large:
- 300 Oregon - reinforced type, ISO 228/1 thread*;
- 200 California - reinforced type, ISO 7:2000 thread**;
- 400 Nevada - for difficult operating conditions;
- 500 Montana - industrial;
- 200 AT Virginia - reinforced type with flange;
- 600 Arizona - standard;
- 700 Alabama - full bore***;
- 740 Indiana - with filter;
- 900 New Jersey - full bore medium series.
* ISO 228/1 for non-sealed threads.
** ISO 7:2000 for sealed threads.
*** The diameter of the hole in the ball is smaller than the internal diameter of the pipe.
Within the series of ball valves there is a size range, as well as an additional subdivision according to the type of thread (internal or external), can be supplied with different pens. Additional articles (523, 525, 516, 521) of three-way valves are available in the Virginia series and it is also possible to buy these ball valves in Moscow.
ARCO products - ball valves coupling type can be used in hydraulic, pneumatic, heating, plumbing systems. You can buy a ball valve with the required characteristics. The main difference from the products of the brands Bugatti and NT Corporation is that brass is used brand UNI 5705-65. Both the shutter and the body for the ARCO ball valve are made by hot forging brass, so it is better to buy ball valves just like that. Already after the stamped blanks are processed for sandblasting machine and plated with nickel. The shutters are chrome-plated and ground on diamond machines.
This production technology makes it possible to produce products with high strength and resistance to heat and high pressure, which makes it possible to buy a ball valve with the required characteristics. He is not afraid of mechanical stress, inevitable during installation. The choice in favor of brass, when it is necessary to buy ball valves in Moscow profitably, is due to its resistance to corrosion. Elastomer sealing rings (NBR) and fluoroplastic rings (PTFE) are used to ensure the tightness of the product. The range of handles is represented by models "butterfly" and "lever" coated with a special paint or polymer. Working temperature range -300/+2200C, maximum working pressure 10-50 bar depending on the model.
You can buy a ball valve in any of the following series:- TAJO 2000t - heavy series for industrial use;
- JUCAR - for polyethylene and multilayer pipes;
- NILE - with reduced passage;
- SENA - standard-through, with an optimal price-quality ratio;
- TURIA 3000 - full bore for drinking and hot water, hydraulic and pneumatic installations, increased strength;
- - heavy series for temperatures up to 2200C, extreme internal environments and external conditions.
All products are marked according to standard sizes, threads (BP or HP), supplied with different handles, so you can always buy a ball valve in the desired configuration, and you can buy a ball valve in Moscow from the best manufacturers.
Today, science has established that 80% of all human diseases are associated with poor water quality. At the same time, if water at waterworks after treatment has indicators that meet the requirements of GOST for drinking water, then serious tests await it in the future. Internal surfaces metal pipelines through which water flows are a mixture of rust, chlorinated carbons, carbonate salts, heavy metals and bacteria, which cannot but affect the quality of water. IN Lately to drinking tap water serious claims are made - both for excessive chlorination, and for a high concentration of rust and scale. The population copes with this problem by their own methods: someone defends drinking water, others use filters, the choice of which is huge. But there is another category of people who, due to their ignorance or neglect of their health, exacerbate the problem, that is, not only does not purify water, but turns it into dead water, life-threatening. This article is devoted to this problem. But first things first.
Visitors to the construction markets are witnesses of an unprecedented variety of sanitary valves with ITALY, SPAIN marking. Today, a brass ball valve is a shut-off valve widely used in the world. World leaders in the production of ball valves are Italians.
The same (at first glance) ball valves that overflow the shelves of specialized markets and shops, with complete external similarity, differ significantly in cost: some of them can be bought for 35-40 rubles. apiece, and the other part of the "twins" stubbornly keeps at the level of 60 rubles. Having not received a convincing explanation from any point of sale as to the reason for the existence of a serious “gap” in the cost of cranes, we decided to conduct our own investigation. It is no secret that with the complete external similarity of products decisive role in determining their value, the composition of the metal used to manufacture the product should play.
Ball valves are characterized by their reliability and durability. However, during operation after installation, a branded product sometimes begins to leak, and sometimes even completely collapses, causing catastrophic flooding of the premises with all the ensuing consequences. The fact is that at present the Russian market is literally flooded with counterfeit goods. Their nomenclature is so extensive that it is difficult to name a product range that would not be affected by such a phenomenon. From CDs, clothes and groceries to medicines, fakes are everywhere.
But back to sanitary fittings. The desire of manufacturers to get big profits in the shortest possible time pushes them to produce fakes of well-known European, mainly Italian, brands. At the same time, many owners of registered popular brands suffer huge annual losses, measured in hundreds of millions of dollars.
We purchased all the types of ball valves presented in various retail outlets in Moscow and carried out a chemical analysis of the metal of their constituent parts. It is well known that high-quality brass is the most wear-resistant, durable and safe material in plumbing systems. The content of copper, lead, iron in brass, which is used for the manufacture of ball valves, is strictly controlled by European standards. The data obtained as a result of the analysis allowed us to classify all ball valves according to the quality of body alloys and ball locks into two groups.
I group we tentatively named "The company guarantees". This group includes ball valves with a nickel-plated brass body and a chrome-plated brass ball.
This group includes ball valves of Italian companies GIACOMINI, STC, RASTELLI and a number of others. These firms are constantly improving the quality of their products. For example, until now, STC has produced one model of a ball valve - STC, which was the base and the only one. The introduction of new technologies resulted in two subsequent models: STC-IDRO and STC-VALVEX. The quality of the brass of these faucets is high and complies with European standards. STC-IDRO cranes surpass previous models in their technical performance. As one of the seals on the stem, instead of rubber, a new heat-resistant material Viton was used, which made it possible to increase the temperature of the medium to 1500C, the valve wall thickness to 2 mm. Note that the wall thickness of ball valves from GIACOMINI, one of the leaders Italian manufacturers ball valves - also 2 mm.
II group received the name "No Guarantees". This group includes ball valves having:
- nickel-plated brass body, chrome-plated iron ball (faucet brands RR, TK, FM, kvg);
- nickel-plated zinc body, chrome-plated iron ball (faucet brands kvg, FM).
The most vulnerable in terms of safety are zinc taps. Even if the zinc housing does not burst due to the increased water pressure in the Moscow water supply systems, it is likely that after a year of contact with chlorinated Moscow water, it will simply crumble. The fact is that hyperchlorinated water intensively leaches zinc and, consequently, the tap body becomes thinner. Zinc reacts with chlorine, as a result of which a solution of zinc chloride is formed - the same “dead” water that kills healthy cells of the body and causes a whole bunch of oncological diseases.
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that ball valves with the same marking V or FM come across in different versions: brass body - brass ball, brass body - iron ball, zinc body - iron ball. Almost all ball valves are declared as Italian products, although insiders know which ones are actually Chinese. Thus, we were convinced that the fake armature has only an external resemblance to the original. The body and ball material, wall thickness, tolerances and other parameters of fakes do not meet European requirements, and the installation of such fittings is fraught with big troubles both for health and for the family budget.
In the face of an unprecedented dominance of counterfeit goods the best remedy combating them - education. It is for this purpose that we began our story. Finally, take a few practical tips.
- To determine what the ball (cock shut-off valve) is made of, it is enough to test it with a magnet. If the magnet is attracted to the faucet body, then the ball is iron, and the faucet is short-lived and will definitely let you down.
- Carefully scratch the surface of the faucet body with a metal object. If a light yellow color appears under the nickel-plated, then the body is made of brass, and if it is silver, then the body is zinc. Installing a faucet with a zinc body is strongly discouraged, unless you consider yourself a fan of "dead" water in the form of a zinc chloride solution.
- A ball valve with a brass body, the wall thickness of which is less than 1 mm (the wall thickness can only be checked using a saw cut), should be classified as "dangerous". It can simply burst during installation or after a very short time of operation.
N. KISELEVA, expert-analyst
The ball valve is at the peak of well-deserved popularity today. Pipeline and stop valves from manufacturers from different European countries, as well as Eastern countries, deserve serious attention, but Italian products are in the greatest demand, and this is not surprising: in Italy, more than two thousand companies produce ball valves for gas and water. Top brand products have excellent specifications and appropriately certified in Russia. Here are some examples of the most famous companies producing ball valves.
Tiemme manufactures various types of ball valves, valves of this brand are of high quality and reliability. Tiemme ball valves are distinguished by the fact that they have a nut to adjust the gland seal, through which leakage usually occurs in case of wear of the valve. This nut makes it possible to eliminate leakage and increase the working life of the ball valve. The company's products have certificates for ball valves for water, steam and gas, they are recommended by the Fuel and Energy Department of Moscow.
Giacomini ball valves have a special cube-shaped plug bearing the inscription DADO. hallmark Giacomini products are a holographic sticker on each ball valve and a date of manufacture on the handle, which is applied in a special way so that it does not wear off during its entire life.
Ball valves are especially popular and pipeline accessories Italian company Bugatti (Bugatti). This is one of the leaders in sales, which managed to prove the quality and reliability of its products in practice. Since 2001, the stem of the ball valve has been placed outside the body, which has greatly improved product safety. This technology for the production of ball valves eliminates the overhang of the stem with a sharp increase in pressure in the pipes.
A similar technology is used in the production of Enolgas, which also mounts the stem on the outside of the ball valve body. Also in Enolgas ball valves there are Teflon washers, which play the role of a sealant and an anti-friction component. Like most Italian manufacturers, Enolgas ball valves perform well in plumbing, gas, steam, oil, compressed air and hydrocarbon applications.
Itap manufactures ball valves different kind, the assortment includes semi-port and full-port valves, ball valves for gas and ball valves for water with lever and throttle system handles, angle valves and other products of this company are different long term operation and reliability.
Among other world-famous brands, the Italian brands Remer, Valtec, STC, Ferrero, Bossini, F.I.V., Rastelli, RBM, German Oventrop sanitary ware and Chinese Ser taps deserve attention.
But, as you know, the glory obtained by labor, modern developments and quality materials, does not give rest to falsifiers. In the market of our country, about half of the sanitary products are fake, this fully applies to ball valves. Manufacturers of fake cranes set themselves only one task - to achieve external similarity and make a profit by investing a minimum of funds in production. Fake ball valves cannot be compared with the original ones either in terms of safety parameters or in terms of service life. Before buying ball valves wholesale or retail, you should pay attention to distinctive features goods that can be used to recognize a fake.
Each original ball valve is marked accordingly. The company logo, its name and other elements must be written clearly and without errors. To know exactly how a ball valve is marked, you should find information in advance on the company's official website. The ball valve must have flat surface, no cracks or bulges. If this is not the case, it means that the casting method was used in the production, which does not allow obtaining high-quality products, like the stamping and forging method. Also, the use of the casting method is indicated by the increased thickness of the walls of the crane. The mirror of the ball valve should not be cloudy or dull. Genuine ball valves from leading manufacturers have a diamond-cut ball. The counterfeiters do not have the funds for such a thorough and expensive processing, hence the uneven, muddy surface of the ball.
A high-quality ball valve should be made of brass, and the chemical composition of the alloy is determined by state standards. Counterfeits often contain an increased amount of lead, which is dangerous to human health, or are made from zinc. It is not uncommon for unscrupulous manufacturers to use non-ferrous scrap metal for the manufacture of ball valves or make a ball from steel that is susceptible to corrosion. Sometimes a simple scratching of the surface of the tap helps to distinguish a fake: if a metal of a different color appears under the nickel layer, then the ball valve was produced by counterfeiters. It is also worth paying attention to the wall thickness of the faucet: if it is thinner than it should be, the faucet will not last long and will not withstand the pressure surge.
It is not always possible to distinguish a fake. For research chemical composition alloy requires a whole chemical laboratory. To be sure of the quality of the purchased products, you need to contact the official representatives of companies that have proven themselves in the plumbing market. Do not be fooled, use the services of reliable and trusted plumbing suppliers.
