Check valves shall be inspected internally every how many years?

Check valves shall be inspected internally every how many years?

• A. Three
• B. Five
• C. Seven
• D. Ten

Answer: (B)

Periodic internal inspection of check valves is essential because the moving parts inside can suffer corrosion, wear, or debris buildup that isn’t visible from the outside. If these issues aren’t found, the valve may not seal properly, which could allow backflow, leakage, or valve failure in service. Five years is the typical interval used in bulk oil operations. It strikes a balance between catching wear and corrosion before they cause a failure and avoiding excessive downtime or disassembly. During the inspection, the valve is opened and the seating surfaces, disc, stem, and trim are checked for pitting, scoring, or erosion, and any debris is cleaned out. If any damage is found, components are repaired or replaced and the valve is tested before being returned to service. Shorter intervals (like every three years) would increase maintenance burden without proven additional safety in this standard practice, while longer intervals (seven or ten years) risk missing wear that could compromise sealing and backflow protection.

Periodic internal inspection of check valves is essential because the moving parts inside can suffer corrosion, wear, or debris buildup that isn’t visible from the outside. If these issues aren’t found, the valve may not seal properly, which could allow backflow, leakage, or valve failure in service.

Five years is the typical interval used in bulk oil operations. It strikes a balance between catching wear and corrosion before they cause a failure and avoiding excessive downtime or disassembly. During the inspection, the valve is opened and the seating surfaces, disc, stem, and trim are checked for pitting, scoring, or erosion, and any debris is cleaned out. If any damage is found, components are repaired or replaced and the valve is tested before being returned to service.

Shorter intervals (like every three years) would increase maintenance burden without proven additional safety in this standard practice, while longer intervals (seven or ten years) risk missing wear that could compromise sealing and backflow protection.