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Thermoplastic Valves Product Guide & Engineering Specifictions
General Installation Guide
Made in the U.S.A. Suitable for Oil-Free air handling to 25 psi, not for distribution of compressed air or gas Page 828
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Ease of installation and maintenance is one of the major advantages of using thermoplastic valves. As with any product,
certain procedures must be followed for successful installation, service and long life. This section specifies individual instal-
lation and maintenance service instructions for Spears
®
valves. All applicable instructions and procedures should be read
thoroughly before starting. Suitability of the intended service application should be determined prior to installation. Please
review “Material Considerations in Application and System Design”, in the “MATERIALS” section of this manual
for important additional considerations related valve installations.
Plastic piping systems should be engineered, installed, operated and maintained in accordance with accepted standards and
procedures for plastic piping systems. It is absolutely necessary that all design, installation, operation and maintenance person-
nel be trained in proper handling, installation requirements and precautions for installation and use of plastic piping systems
before starting.
Individual valve installation instructions specific to each product type are packaged with product. The following sections o
f
this manual contain safety precautions and procedures for making solvent cement, threaded or flanged joints.
CAUTION: All valve connectors and connecting pipe
should be inspected for any breaking, chipping, gouging
or other visible damage before proceeding. All joining
components must be clean and dry. All valves and pipe
shall be removed from their packaging or containers and
exposed to the environment for a minimum of one hour
in order to thermally balance all components. Installation
temperatures should be between 40°F and 110°F.
CAUTION: All valves with fixed socket end connectors
in the body must be installed in the open position to aid
in evaporation of solvent vapors which can attack internal
components. WARNING: TAKE EXTRA CARE THAT
NO PRIMER OR SOLVENT CEMENT IS ALLOWED
TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE BALL OR OTHER
INTERNAL VALVE COMPONENTS.
CAUTION: Threaded pipe connections require appli-
cation of a quality grade thread sealant to seal joint
assembly. Sealant should be applied to male pipe
threads. WARNING: SOME PIPE JOINT COMPOUNDS
OR PTFE PASTES MAY CONTAIN SUBSTANCES
THAT COULD CAUSE STRESS CRACKING IN
THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS.
Spears
®
Manufacturing Company recommends the
use of Spears
®
BLUE 75
TM
thread sealant which has
been tested for compatibility with Spears
®
products.
Please follow the sealant manufacturers’ application
/
installation instructions. Choice of an appropriate thread
sealant other than those listed above is at the discretion
of the installer.
CAUTION: BEFORE THE VALVE IS CYCLED, all
dirt, sand, grit or other material shall be flushed from
the system. This is to prevent scarring of internal com-
ponents; e.g., ball, cup, wedge, seats, etc.
WARNING: Some Lubricants, including vegetable
oils, are known to cause stress cracking in thermo-
plastic materials. All lubricants should be checked for
compatibility with PVC, CPVC or other thermoplastic
products. Formulation changes by lubricant manufac-
turers may alter compatibility of previously acceptable
materials and are beyond our control. Choice of lubri-
cant is at the discretion of the installer.
WARNING: DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR OR
GAS TO TEST ANY PVC OR CPVC THERMOPLASTIC
PIPING PRODUCT OR SYSTEM, AND DO NOT USE
DEVICES PROPELLED BY COMPRESSED AIR OR
GAS TO CLEAR SYSTEMS. THESE PRACTICES
MAY RESULT IN EXPLOSIVE FRAGMENTATION OF
SYSTEM PIPING AND COMPONENTS CAUSING
SERIOUS OR FATAL BODILY INJURY. All air must be
bled from the system during initial fluid fill. Pressure
testing of the system should not be made until all sol-
vent cement joints have properly cured. Initial pressure
testing should be made at approximately 10% of the
system hydrostatic pressure rating to identify potential
problems, prior to testing at higher pressures.
WARNING: Systems should not be operated or
flushed out at flow velocities greater than 5 feet per
second.
Precautions & Warnings for All Valve, Strainer & Accessories Installations
Typical Valve Support Example
CAUTION: The system shall be designed and
installed so as not to pull the valve in any direction.
Valve and strainers must be supported with conven-
tional piping system support devices.