Hot Spot API 6FA Fire Testing of Valves Ballot

What is it?

API have released the new draft standard API 6FA Fire Testing of Valves 6th edition for public review and API ballot. This standard identifies the requirements for fire testing of valves meeting API 6A or API 6D in the upstream oil and gas industry.

BVAA members were able to download and comment on the standard by following the link to the API website API | Balloting System using the ballot ID Number 6652. The ballot closing date was 24th April 2025.

Why is it Important?

The proposed changes to this standard are important as it is widely used in the upstream oil and gas industry, and it is also likely to influence the content of future editions of API 607 Fire safe testing of downstream valves and the widely used general fire testing standard ISO 10497.

The proposed 6th edition contains several significant changes:

• Rules for hybrid qualifications.
• Updates to metallic materials scaling rules.
• Addition of section on required records.
• Addition of Annex B to allow for modified external leakage only fire testing.

The inclusion of the new Annex B may be particularly significant for control valve manufacturers who currently are not required to fire test products due to their inherent seat leakage performance.

Supersedes

This document will replace API 6FA Edition 5 when published.

Continuous Improvement - Did we miss anything?

Hot Spots are intended to alert members and provide a brief overview of new standards, activities or procedures that are being introduced in the industry. If there is key information missing that would be helpful, please let us know so that we can improve our future service.

Please Note: This Hotspot is for information purposes, and we invite comments from BVAA members only. Please also note that at time of publication ballots may be closed. For more information, please contact the Secretariat.

BVAA Members: Did you know we have a hotspot tab on the BVAA website? Head over to www.bvaa.org.uk/login-here.asp and log into the member only area. You then need to select ‘Hotspots’ for the latest. For information on how to access the member only area of the website please contact jane@bvaa.org.uk.  

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