Valve fugitive emission measurement standards

During the early 1990s emissions from valves were estimated to be responsible for 60–70% of plant fugitive emissions. The implementation of legislation in the US governing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), together with EU directives, has provided a stimulus for work aimed at reducing fugitive emissions. This has led to extensive work by plant operators and their suppliers to reduce emissions. An agreed procedure for the measurement of emissions, the qualification of valves and subsequent production testing has yet to be finalized. In this feature Dr David Harrison, the UK Principal Expert on the ISO 15848 Valve Fugitive Emissions Working Group (ISO TC 153/SC1/WG10), discusses the ISO standard, and also some of the alternatives in current industrial use.